Fire can cause a lot of damage to your home and belongings. It can also damage the surrounding environment through smoke, soot, and water used to put out the flames. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to mitigate the damage and get your home back in working order.
One of the most important things to do is evacuate your house until you are given the green light by a professional. Even if the fire is out, you could still be dealing with other issues such as unstable structural damage, electrical problems or asbestos contamination (ask your insurance agent for advice).
Don’t try to clean up anything until a professional has examined it. This can be dangerous as the fire may have left behind toxins that are poisonous to touch. Also, there may be live electricity or gas and you don’t want to get electrocuted.
As soon as it is safe to do so, take photographs of the damage without disturbing anything. This can help document the extent of the damage later on, especially if you are disputing your settlement amount with your insurance company. Also, make sure to write down what was damaged and the approximate cost damaged buy fire to repair it. It’s a good idea to have a notebook or binder that contains everything you do related to the claim, including conversations with your insurance company and restoration contractors.
If you have to stay elsewhere while your house is repaired, keep receipts for additional expenses such as lodging and food. You may be able to file a claim for these costs under your loss of use coverage in addition to your personal property and contents policy.
It’s also a good idea to create a family disaster plan and practice it periodically. This will help you know what to do if your house does ever catch on fire again and give everyone a sense of safety and security.
Fire damage can be expensive and difficult to clean up. It can affect your home’s value, and it can also damage your health. It’s important to have a fire damage restoration company by your side to assist you in every step of the process.
A team of experts can restore your home and provide a livable space. They can help with cleaning up, rebuilding, and painting, as well as installing new drywall. They can also make any necessary repairs and replace your roof, if it was compromised by the fire.