Fire Claims
What to Look for When Making A Fire Claim
Dealing with a house fire is an extremely traumatic experience, which is why you need a public insurance adjuster to help you with fire claims. Whether your entire home was destroyed, or you are dealing with partial damage, it is crucial to understand how fire claims work.
If the fire did not completely damage your home, this is known as a “partial loss” since only a portion of the home is destroyed. Some of the things covered under these types of claims include hidden damage like water leaks, smoke, ash, mold, soot, and air quality problems. Make sure you document everything after a house fire and take plenty of photographs showing the damage since you may need this to substantiate your insurance claim.
We advocate for you and can help you through the process and make sure that you receive the right amount of compensation from your insurance company. Many times these types of claims require expert inspections and a careful examination of the fire report completed by the fire department. These are complex but often support the estimate of damages we create and report to insurance. Insurance companies do not often understand the degree of damage. This is when a public adjuster's experience comes into play. Soot damage that is incorrectly cleaned up can result in the home smelling like there was a fire for years to come. So, it must be mitigated properly and not just covered up with paint. Knowledge is power! You can't ask for something you don't know! So be smart and protect your biggest investment and call us!
In addition to the insurance adjuster’s inspection, you will also need to use a licensed inspector or engineer to make fire damage claims. This inspector will look at all of the major components of your home to verify which areas have been damaged, and which ones need repair. The roof will be inspected to look for burning embers and determine the scope of the damage. The inspector will also take a closer look at the siding, stucco, or concrete to look for cracks, melting, and other forms of fire-related damage. Window frames can melt or become discolored after a fire. Make sure the inspector looks at every window and door to determine whether or not it needs to be replaced. Examine the plumbing and HVAC in your home to confirm there is no damage. All ductwork should be checked as well as pipes and your HVAC unit. Most importantly, the inspector will check the framing and interior walls of your home. With the right information, we can process fire claims quickly so that you can go back to a normal life.