Losing your home to a fire is a very devastating event. Filling out a fire insurance claim in the aftermath of a fire can have its own special challenges.
5 Hassle-Free Tips for Filing a Fire Insurance Claim
Even if only part of your home was damaged by fire, you still will have to fill out a partial loss insurance claim.
Contact Your Insurance Company Right Away
Here is a list of things you need to gather in order to file your insurance claim with your insurance company: date of loss, type of claim (loss), location of damage, detailed list of any injuries, full condition of home, list of all damages, repair or replacement estimates, and any police reports filed.
Keep All Receipts
Purchase a simple file folder and put any receipt that relates to your loss and subsequent expenses in it. Whether it is food, housing, clothing and transportation, postage, or repair costs, you want to document every possible expense that you can.
Assess the Damages
The next thing you are going to want to do is have a detailed inspection of the damage done to your home. The insurance company will send out someone to do an inspection. At the same time, you should call a professional fire damage restoration company to give you a complete report on the damages and how much it would cost to repair your home. You are welcome to come along yourself and bring a
You are welcome to come along yourself and bring a video camera or camera to record the damage, but most people find it easier and safer to rely on professionals to get the job done.
A few of the different areas that will be inspected are the outside, such as the lawn, driveway, and surrounding acreage. Next, the assessor will look at the exterior of the house, such as the roof, chimney, porches, and siding. The final inspection will be inside the home, examining everything possible to see what is left intact and what has been destroyed by the fire.
The final inspection will be inside the home, examining everything possible to see what is left intact and what has been destroyed by the fire.
Getting Your Home Repaired After Fire Damage
Get an estimate from a reputable company in your area
At this point, you may be wondering how to find a good fire damage restoration company. One of the best places to call will be your insurance company, as they have many solid companies they have worked with in the past, and know from experience which ones are good and reliable.
However, if you are worried about some possible bias, you could find an independent contractor through an internet search or by calling the Better Business Bureau. Either way, ask for an estimate first before you sign any contracts with a fire damage restoration company.
Inform your insurance company before getting repair
In this way, you can make sure that the actual costs of repairing your home is what is actually covered by your insurance company. Make sure that you use only a properly insured professional restoration company to do the work.
This will make it easier to process claims, will protect you from further damage by the contractor, and the work can begin more quickly to prevent further damage to your house such as mold and mildew.
