No one ever thinks it will happen to them, but house fires do happen. Whether the fire is small and only impacts a small area of the home or is large and massively destructive, you need to follow the same process. Hopefully, your home is never affected by fire, but if it is it is important to know what to do. Here are the first three steps to take when your home sustains fire damage.
Assess the Damage
The first step after a fire, once all is in the clear and you are permitted back into your home, is to assess the damage. Make a list of everything that has been damaged or destroyed. This list shouldn’t be limited to actual fire damage but should include smoke and water damage as well. You may need to shine a bright light on shadowed areas such as ceilings, closets, and basements. It can be difficult to see smoke damage in these areas. Once you have assessed and recorded the damage yourself, you are ready to contact your insurance company.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Hopefully, your home is insured. If so, the next step is to contact them and file a claim for the fire. Your home will be visited by an insurance adjuster who will tour the property and do their own inspection of the damage. Because you have already carefully assessed the damage you can help point out spots that the insurance adjuster might have missed. It is vital for the insurance adjuster to include every bit of damage in their review. The insurance adjuster will then recommend a company to restore your home.
Go Through the Restoration Process
With a restoration company selected and a payout amount determined, you are ready to go through the restoration process on your home. Depending on how much damage has been sustained, you might have to procure temporary housing for a time. This should be included in the amount you are given by your insurance company (Coverage D- Loss of Use). If you can still live at home, be ready for some disruption to your normal life. You might have to live without some of your usual conveniences for a while, so plan accordingly.
A house fire can range from a minor inconvenience to major devastation. However, with homeowners insurance and a positive attitude, you should be able to recover in time. Try to keep a level head as you deal with the situation. Doing so will help you to move past it much more quickly. Stay safe and protect your home against any and all fire perils!
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LEGAL DISCLAIMER
Views expressed here do not constitute legal advice. The information contained herein is for general guidance of matter only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. Discussion of insurance policy language is descriptive only. Every policy has different policy language. Coverage afforded under any insurance policy issued is subject to individual policy terms and conditions. Please refer to your policy for the actual language.
