Do you know how to file a fire damage claim if a fire breaks out in your home? In the United States, fire departments respond to a fire every 24 seconds. Of course, no one wants to become part of these statistics. Whether you’re a fire victim, living in a fire-prone area, or simply curious about filing a fire damage claim, you’re in the right place.
This article will help you understand a fire damage claim, and learn the best thing you can do during a fire incident. As a homeowner, this will help you cover the losses and damages caused by the fire.
What You Should Do After A House Fire
You must remain calm and collect your thoughts, when your house catches fire. You have to think ahead and be ready to file a fire damage insurance claim. Here are some important things you need to do after a fire incident.
Secure what remains of your property
Insurance companies require that you take the necessary steps to minimize fire damage to your property. As a homeowner, you must mitigate the destruction as best as possible.
Collect and keep all your personal items
After a fire incident, you must gather your personal belongings, like money, jewelry, firearms, etc., and keep them safe. Without anything valuable left in your fire-damaged property, vandals won’t be thinking about going through your property and doing more damage.
Keep your property intact
This is an important step when you start preparing an inventory for the list of damaged personal items from your insurer. If needed, inform the local authorities to drive by the area to deter thieves from stealing other things from your property.
Does My Homeowner’s Insurance Cover Fire Damage?
A typical homeowner’s insurance policy usually covers fire and smoke damages, including accidental fires in and around your home. If you need to familiarize yourself with the coverage of your policy, it’s best to consult with your insurance provider or a public adjuster for an explanation of the ins and outs of your insurance policy.
An obvious exception to the policy coverage is that it will not cover claims for a fire purposely caused by anyone whose name is written in the policy. It should be general knowledge that any property damage caused by a man-made, intentional act is not covered in any insurance.
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Fire damage claims are known to be extremely difficult to process. Most often, the claims depend on the severity of the damage and the intricacy of the claim. Here’s what you need to do when filing a claim for any damage caused by fire.
- Inform your insurer.
- Provide details of the incident (include the date and the condition of your home).
- Ask for an advanced payment if your home is uninhabitable (Additional living expense coverage).
- Don’t throw anything (This evidence will help support your claim).
- Hire a public adjuster.
Why You Need to Hire a Public Adjuster
As mentioned earlier, a fire damage claim is a complex process that could take a long time to accomplish. In detail, you need to understand your insurance policy, you have to negotiate with an insurance adjuster, and you will be talking with contractors.
Instead of going through the arduous process, you’re in a better position if you hire a public adjuster when filing for a fire damage insurance claim. Below is a list of the advantages of hiring a public adjuster if your house gets damaged by fire in Sarasota.
- They will help you save time and money.
- They will manage insurance claims on your behalf.
- They will negotiate with your insurance company.
- They work on a contingency basis.
- They submit information faster.
The Bottom Line
Homeowners need to take reasonable actions to help them succeed with their fire damage claims. It will take you more time, resources, and effort to do everything by yourself, so hiring a trusted public adjuster like SRQ Public Adjusters will help make things easier for you. If you need help with damage claims in Sarasota, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
