Property damage

More claims & insurance terms

• Premium

  What the policyholder pays the insurer for coverage, usually monthly or annually. Contractors should not quote it or adjust a scope to fit it, because the premium reflects the policy's limits and deductible, and the loss is priced from the damage.

• Proof of loss

  The signed statement the policyholder submits to the insurer listing the amount claimed and swearing the loss facts are true. The policy sets the deadline and the carrier supplies the form; state law can change both, so get the specific requirement in writing before signing or filing. An incomplete or amended form can delay payment, so match the numbers to the estimate and keep a dated copy.

• Proximate cause

  The event the law treats as the direct cause of the damage, even when other conditions contributed. Carriers use it to decide coverage, so document the chain from the storm or event to the damage rather than only the damage itself.

• Public adjuster

  An adjuster hired by the policyholder, not the carrier, to document the damage and negotiate the claim on their behalf.

• Re-inspection

  A second look at a property or a completed repair, usually requested by the carrier, a reviewer, or the homeowner. It can confirm the work, reopen a disputed item, or trigger a supplement, so keep the same documentation package ready and note who attended.

• Rebuttal

  A written, evidence-backed response explaining why the carrier's estimate does not fully cover the loss.

Common questions