Construction & Contractors Blog
One of the most devastating events you may ever need to prepare for is knowing what to do after you and your family have experienced a house fire. After the smoke and ash clears and the fire trucks have left, it is time for you to pick up the pieces and move forward. In order to do this, you will need to clean up and salvage whatever you can. These tips can help you know what needs to be done once the fire has gone out.
Contacting Your Insurance Company
One of the most important things to do is to contact your insurance company so you can get the claim moving. Tell the agent your home was damaged or destroyed by fire and you need to file a claim. You will need to get a copy of the fire report from the fire department in order to proceed. If your home was completely damaged by the fire, you probably didn't think to grab even
basic necessities such as clothes and shoes. Realistically, you probably left with the clothes on your back. Your homeowner's insurance policy will definitely cover these items, and you typically do not have to wait until the claim goes through to receive replacements. Simply ask your agent for an advance on your claim and they can provide a check for you that will come out of your final award.
Collect Your Belongings
Before you leave your property, you need to make sure you secure the area by boarding up broken windows, covering your roof with a tarp and collecting any loose belongings that are still of value that haven't been destroyed. You can also visit your hardware store and purchase a portable fence to help keep people out of your property until it is repaired. You will still need to check on your property regularly to guard against looters. In some instances the damage may be so severe that the fire department will not allow you back inside.
Hiring Contractors
If your home has suffered damaged but was not destroyed, you need to begin thinking about cleanup. Once your insurance company comes out and inspects the fire damage and looks at the fire report, they may cut you a check on the spot. All insurance companies are required to send you a "notice of intentions" letter within 30 days of your claim. This will let you know what your policy will cover and how much money you can expect to receive. Part of this money should be used to hire contractors and builders to do the repairs, unless you plan on doing the work on your own. The damage to your home generally will go beyond what you can see just by looking. There will typically be structural damage that you can't see, so it's best to leave extensive damage to a professional. Other types of cleanup can include soot, extinguisher residue, and water damage.
Anyone who has ever been in a fire can attest to the fact that it is a scary and emotional experience. There are steps you need to take in order to make sure your home and family are secure and you can rebuild. By following a few tips, you can be on your way to recovery and can get your home back.
Share17 September 2014
My name is Debbie Greenberg. I’m a single woman who owns her home, and like most homeowners I dread home repairs. I’m not very handy with do-it-yourself projects around the house. I can do a few minor repairs when necessary, but for the most part I have to call in a professional. Last year I had a leak in my roof. When it rained, water would leak into my kitchen. What appeared to be a simple fix turned out to be anything but simple. It took over four months to finally identify the problem, and double the money I was initially quoted to fix it. The problem ended up being that the flat part of my roof didn't have shingles, but a sheeting material. I learned a bit about home roofs along the way, and that is what I want to share with you.
