Experiencing a fire in your home or business can prove to be quite devastating. A fire will not only destroy the structure, but the contents within the premises can also sustain heavy smoke damage. It is important that you always be prepared for such emergencies. You should have a full inventory list that shows all of your appliances, electronics, antiques and jewellery. A copy of this list should be kept at an off-site location. You could have your insurance agent keep it for you.
The following are some of the steps and procedures that you should take when filing a fire damage claim:
-The first thing you should do after a fire is contact your insurance company or agent. They will conduct an investigation so that restoration can start as soon as possible. You should provide them with all your contact information so that they can easily reach you after they are through with their investigation. In addition, they will also give you access to progress reports as to what happened.
-After a fire, you should protect the property from any further damage. This usually means extracting water or covering a hole that could be in the roof. You should also submit any receipts or expenses that show the costs you incurred to your claim representative. However, you have to keep in mind that a deductable amount was chosen when you took out your insurance policy. This amount will be withheld from your total payment.
-You have to preserve the scene of the fire by not allowing anyone to enter the building, other than the public authorities or contractors. In addition, no items should be removed from the premises.
-After the fire, take photos or video of the damaged property. This will help you to eliminate any burden of proof as to which items were actually in the home at the time of the fire.
-In addition to making an inventory of the items damaged by fire, you should also make a list of those damaged by smoke. This means items that have a smoke discoloration or odour. It could be the walls, beddings, clothing, furniture, carpeting, curtains or rugs. Electronic components such as heaters, air conditioning units and other appliances may also be damaged because of the soot left by the smoke. In your claim, you can also include any marble or tile that need to be replaced because of discolouration.
-Once you have done all the above, submit your inventory lists and photos to the insurance representative who has been assigned to handle your claim. From this point, if all seems all right, the representative will assign you a restoration vendor who will provide you with estimates of repair and replacement costs. They will also facilitate the cleanup process.
When filing a fire damage claim, you have to be completely truthful. Make sure that you cooperate fully with any investigations. If requested, you should provide documents that show proof of purchase or replacement. This will help to ensure that your fire damage claim is processed smoothly and quickly.
The following are some of the steps and procedures that you should take when filing a fire damage claim:
-The first thing you should do after a fire is contact your insurance company or agent. They will conduct an investigation so that restoration can start as soon as possible. You should provide them with all your contact information so that they can easily reach you after they are through with their investigation. In addition, they will also give you access to progress reports as to what happened.
-After a fire, you should protect the property from any further damage. This usually means extracting water or covering a hole that could be in the roof. You should also submit any receipts or expenses that show the costs you incurred to your claim representative. However, you have to keep in mind that a deductable amount was chosen when you took out your insurance policy. This amount will be withheld from your total payment.
-You have to preserve the scene of the fire by not allowing anyone to enter the building, other than the public authorities or contractors. In addition, no items should be removed from the premises.
-After the fire, take photos or video of the damaged property. This will help you to eliminate any burden of proof as to which items were actually in the home at the time of the fire.
-In addition to making an inventory of the items damaged by fire, you should also make a list of those damaged by smoke. This means items that have a smoke discoloration or odour. It could be the walls, beddings, clothing, furniture, carpeting, curtains or rugs. Electronic components such as heaters, air conditioning units and other appliances may also be damaged because of the soot left by the smoke. In your claim, you can also include any marble or tile that need to be replaced because of discolouration.
-Once you have done all the above, submit your inventory lists and photos to the insurance representative who has been assigned to handle your claim. From this point, if all seems all right, the representative will assign you a restoration vendor who will provide you with estimates of repair and replacement costs. They will also facilitate the cleanup process.
When filing a fire damage claim, you have to be completely truthful. Make sure that you cooperate fully with any investigations. If requested, you should provide documents that show proof of purchase or replacement. This will help to ensure that your fire damage claim is processed smoothly and quickly.