4 Essential Steps for Broken Windows

Our windows on our homes are not as indestructible as we sometimes think they are. They are made of glass and even the toughest home window breaks under violent conditions. It could be because of severe weather, a clumsy attempt to move a piece of furniture, or from someone trying to find an easy way into your home.If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of having a broken window, here are 4 essential steps that you need to take to get things back to normal.Step 1: Record the Window DamageTaking pictures or a video of the broken damages will not be the first thing on your mind, but it is the first thing you need to do. This is especially important if you plan on filing an insurance claim for your homeowner’s insurance to pay for the damage.The police may need to have the photos for evidence also, but if your window is the result of a break-in, call the police before you start recording the damage.Record where the glass was broken, where the glass ended up, and what broke the glass (if present). If you think it’s relevant to the broken window, record it. The police and the insurance company can sort out what they need and what they don’t need from your recordings later.Step 2: Contact Your Insurance Company If you plan on trying to have your homeowner’s insurance pay for the damage contact them immediately. They can tell you if your insurance policy will cover the damage or not.Most likely after you file the claim you will be told to mitigate the damages. All this means is to clean up the area and secure the hole where the window glass once was to prevent further damage. If you fail to prevent more damage, your insurance company will not cover the additional damages.Step 3: Cleanup the Broken WindowClean the broken glass as soon as you can to prevent anyone from getting injured. Keep in mind that shards of glass can fly long distances, so when you are cleaning do a wide area sweep to make sure that you get it all.Step 4: Replace the Broken Window As soon as you can, contact a company to come out and replace your broken window. Ideally, contacting two or three different companies for estimates will help you choose the best one to replace your broken window, and get you back to where you where before it happened.