With floodwaters still rising in Rockhampton, and other towns such as Theodore completely evacuated, assessors will not be able to get into flood-affected areas for some time.
Rebecca Ailey from Suncorp, which includes insurers such as AAMI, Suncorp and APIA, says the number of claims lodged so far has been quite moderate with around 1500 received, but they expect that to rise sharply as more people are allowed back into their homes.
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Ms Ailey says they have already dispatched three mobile teams of assessors; one is heading to Toowoomba to cover the Darling Downs, another to Bundaberg and the third will be ready to go into Rockhampton when access to the city is restored.
"We do encourage people to lodge their claims early. So if customers actually have sustained damage or believe they have sustained damage and haven't lodged a claim yet we recommend that they do so as soon as possible," Ms Ailey told AAP.
"That will actually help us ... to start to assess their claims as quickly as possible and get those repairs under way so we can start helping them get their lives back on track."
Ms Ailey also offered a few tips for people cleaning up so they can make their homes more liveable while at the same time making it easier for assessors to do their job.
"The first thing is to make sure yourself and your family are safe, that's got to be everyone's immediate priority, and not to do anything that puts yourself in jeopardy."
Once it is safe to return, Ms Ailey said the following will help:
"If you've got damaged contents items ... take them outside of the home and put them in the garage and make a list. If you are throwing out any items in council clean-ups ... it's important if you can to try and take photos of the damaged belongings and also make a note of brands and model numbers of electrical items.
"If your carpet has been damaged do get it out of the home... but keep a piece of the damaged carpet or photograph the back where the make and brand is stamped."
Ms Ailey said people will not be disadvantaged if they try to make their homes comfortable before assessors arrive, but if they have any doubt to contact their individual insurer for advice.
She said their main concern was for customers not to do anything that would jeopardise their safety.
For information regarding the QLD floods go to http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/, or to make a donation call 1800 219 028. You can also make a donation online.
