Finding a water leak

Few things are as demoralising as discovering a water leak. If you’re waking up to wet carpet, damp plasterwork or a suddenly noticeable musty smell, this is usually a signal that water is making its way into your home and causing damage. The second pain point is that it’s going to cost you a lot of time and effort dealing with insurance – never mind coordinating the project itself.

Document the water leak damage

Document the water leak. Take photographs and or videos of the damaged area and belongings to submit to your insurer. These will also be helpful to show your builder.

The insurance claims process

At this stage, your stress levels will be ‘up there’. The insurance claims process can be frustrating, but most New Zealand companies are quick, efficient and polite. Call your insurance company or broker to establish what cover you have in place for repairs and remediation for a water leak. While fear of claims denial is a ‘thing’, you’ll be comforted to know that most claims go through without a hitch.

Your insurer may ask you to find your own builder to come in and do a damage assessment and provide costing, or they may refer their own contractor. Your builder will identify the source of the water leak. Be aware you will likely have to pay for their time and consultation when it occurs. However, your insurer will reimburse you the cost as part of your claim.

The builder will also provide you with an estimate and the scope of work to be carried out, which you can then forward to your insurer for processing the claim. Bear in mind the insurer may have additional questions or, at times, seek to reduce the scope of work.

Once your claim is approved, schedule in time for your builder to carry out the repairs. Not all builders will be available immediately, depending on the extent of damage and the size of the project. It’s also advisable to find alternative accommodation until the remediation is complete, if the work is likely to cause disruption to your daily life.

Setting expectations

As straightforward as the process is, don’t expect it to be quick. Navigating a home insurance claim process can be quite stressful and time-consuming. It often involves a lot of back-and-forth communication, all while living in a partially demolished house. This is because your builder may need to dismantle sections of the house or lift carpets to minimise long-term damage and remediation costs by drying things out as quickly as possible.

Curb your expectations, particularly when you’ve suffered an extreme weather event with hundreds or even thousands of other Kiwis. Some claims can take up to eight months to be actioned following a disaster.

Engage a building surveyor

On a related note, Cain Built recommend employing a building surveyor while investigating the damage from the water leak, during the scope of work assessment with your builder. 

Although this is not a free service, it can provide considerable value. A building surveyor can assess the extent of the water leak damage to the structural elements of your house. This will determine whether replacement or restorative efforts need to be carried out in conjunction with your chosen building practitioner.

A major plus – some building surveyors are also qualified to re-certify timber. This can significantly reduce replacement costs, sometimes up to four or five times.