Insurance (house) query

We have a black patch on our carpet by our ranch slider and we think it must be water damage. Has only come up over the last few months and the carpet was new 2 years ago. We're thinking we might put in an insurance claim but get that part of the carpet (and a bit further) replaced with lino instead of carpet, so that our "dining room" (part of lounge) will then be less of a nightmare.

We've never done a house/contents claim before and I have no idea where to start. Get quotes first? Get carpet vs lino quotes? Talk to insurance first? I don't even know what to say to them for starters.

we got our carpet replaced in our house by insurance. give them a call and go from there.
we are with ami and they sent a carpet cleaner out to see if he could get rid of the stains first (hair dye). which he couldn't so we got the whole house replaced, just paid the extra $$ for hall and bedrooms.