What Happens After Fire Damage to Your Home?

9/9/2019 (Permalink)

Follow these steps after being faced with fire damage

Fire damage can be devastating. As a homeowner, the steps you take after fire occurs can determine the speed at which your home will be restored. Follow these steps after you suffer through a fire in your home, to make it as easy as possible after a difficult time: 

1. Call your insurance agent immediately. 

2. Contact a fire restoration company. Immediately after a fire, you’ll need to clean up any soot or water damage. Sometimes windows will need boarding up and other construction may need to be conducted. It is important to hire a reputable service to deal with these issues. Contact SERVPRO of Omaha Southwest and let us know about the fire. Once contacted we will send a project manager to your home to assess the damages and work with you and your insurance carrier to get your home back to preloss condition. 

3. Separate damaged property from undamaged property. The insurance company will need a detailed inventory list from you after they inspect the loss. Separating your damaged property from your undamaged property will make it easier for you to make a list of your damaged items.

4. Save undamaged property from further destruction. Any items that are not damaged should be put in a safe place, even if it means putting them in storage. 

5. Cooperate fully with the insurance company’s investigation. When a fire claim is reported to an insurance company, it is given top priority. Usually the adjusters come out to see the loss within 24 to 48 hours. 

6. Find somewhere to stay if you can’t live in your home. Most homeowner’s policies include “Loss of Use or Loss of Rents” coverage, which will pay for the food, clothing, and shelter that you and your family may need for a specified period of time.