We know that a fire may be devastating and life changing to you and possibly your loved ones. Listed below is our quick guide on how to approach the journey ahead of you as well as the answers to our most common questions when dealing with a fire related loss. We deal with people like you every single day, and hope to provide you with our best information from our well trained professionals. We want to put you first, and help get you the most that we can. May God be with you through this journey.
We have the opportunity to see insurance claims every day. Each claim is unique due to every policyholder and circumstance being individual. There is not a simple solution to any situation that involves potentially or definitely making a claim with your insurance. We prioritize educating and explaining to every homeowner the state of their situation and all their potential steps forward. The questions and answers below were designed to hopefully give you direction on how to begin your road to recovery. At a minimum, you should know that your insurance company is a for-profit business that you are able to NEGOTIATE with. They have their own self-interest in mind, and understand how to move forward through every situation. It is up to you to stand your ground and dictate what your premium pays for.
What To Do After a Fire
You should find someplace to stay. The ashes, lingering effects from smoke, and burned house material are all not safe to breathe also known as a carcinogen. Our Additional Living Expense goes over the available living options that are at your disposal. Your insurance company will want to flood your property with vendor's they suggest. This should be avoided at all costs. These service providers have a mutual relationship with your insurer. They get consistent work and your insurance gets to save money. You only get one shot at getting the money you're owed. You deserve quality services with the premium you pay. Sadly, in your worst moments all sorts of people and service providers will hunt you down to get access to your insurance money. Be CAREFUL get educated before making decisions. This is your problem and it's your insurance money, guard it. Contact us to get in touch with an insurance expert that can walk you through this journey.
The unknown effects that a fire can have.
Most instances the adjuster who works for your insurance will try to clean rather than replace items. This is because it’s cheaper to clean than replace. It’s your duty to protect your health and your property from any further damage. The ash resulting from a fire will damage furnishings and building materials. The smoke will penetrate deep into the property and its furnishings leaving a toxic residue and odor. This odor is impossible to clean and get rid of. The heat from a fire can cause permanent damage to building electrical and plumbing materials. The heat will also damage the roof surfaces as the hot air rises. The heat will cause natural humidity found in buildings and furniture to be rapidly removed causing a contracting effect. This can cause damage to glues used in furniture and building material will split and splinter. The water introduced to put out the fire will then rehydrate the contracted materials which will then expand the furnishings and building materials. The water will carry toxins to other areas also opening the door for mold. This is not good to repair and all affected material should be checked for potential replacement. Your insurance company will not be thorough and will offer minor repairs. This exposes you to health hazards. It is up to you to negotiate the proper recovery amount to address these issues. A licensed service man can be contacted to assist with determining the price. Contact us to get in touch with an insurance expert that can walk you through this journey.
Should I hire a public adjuster to deal with a fire claim?
By law your insurance company will make you an offer to settle a claim. The law does not require the offer to be accurate or fair. The insurance company has no obligation to teach you how to get the best results out of your claim. A public adjuster is a person who specializes in handling an insurance claim. Check the licenses and referrals of any public adjuster you are talking to. A lot is on the line after a fire, having a person who handles claims everyday will not hurt you. Insurance companies know that loss victims are novices at handling a claim and generally prey on property owners' ignorance. A public adjuster levels the playing field because they are trained and educated the same way as the adjusters who work for your insurance company. They can identify what your duties are to your insurer and the same; they can identify what your insurer owes you. The public adjuster takes out the emotional aspect thus making the claim less personable and dealing with it as a contractual obligation. Your own claim professional will greatly impact what money you recover. A good public adjuster will meet and discuss your coverages and damages under no obligation. After all the information is reviewed both the public adjuster and the claimant can decide if it makes sense to work together. Contact us to get in touch with an insurance expert that can walk you through this journey.
These last bits of information are something every property owner should be aware of, no matter the type of claim. The adjuster your insurance will send you has no training in construction or estimating. Relying on their opinion is the same as relying on your auto mechanic or barber on what it would cost to fix your damaged property. It’s also never the obligation of an insurance company to make sure that any repair restores the resale values of your property. Your insurance company's only obligation is to pay the claim. You should seek expert advice on how to have a successful insurance claim outcome.