What to Do and What Not to Do After a House Fire

A house fire can be devastating. Imagine working so hard to pay off your home mortgage only to find your house burn down to the ground. We don’t like to think about it, but this is the reality of many people. If it happens to you, you should know what to do, including finding a public adjuster in Fort Lauderdale.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, around 300 thousand home structures are caught on fire every year, with 11,000 civilian fire injuries and an estimated 7 billion dollars worth of property damage.

The Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s  

Do hire a professional mitigation contractor to cover roofs, windows, and doors to reduce the damage to your home. You should also document everything so that when you discuss it with your public adjuster, it will be easier to trace your policy and identify what’s included in the coverage.

Check the scope of the loss and the type of damage that the fire has done to your home. Moreover, check the quality and quantity of the materials, including labor costs and repairs needed to restore your home back to its previous state. 
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Create an inventory of the number of damaged items in your home and attach receipts and bills to your documents to justify what’s written in your inventory. It’s also a good idea to hire a contractor and ask for recommendations and estimates.

If all these pieces of information are starting to overwhelm you, do know that you can always count on a public adjuster for assistance, especially if you feel that you are being wrongly treated by your insurance company.  

Don’ts

No matter how devastating a house fire is, you should think and act fast. Don’t delay communicating with your insurance company. Let them know about the loss as soon as possible. 

It can be tempting to start repairing your home after the unfortunate incident, but we discourage you from doing so. Wait for your public adjuster in Fort Lauderdale to contact your insurance company. It’s ideal that you let them know and agree on the scope of loss. 

Avoid throwing away items in your home that have been damaged by the fire. Wait until your public adjuster has inspected the items. House fires can drain you financially, physically, and emotionally, but don’t allow these emotions to overcome you when it comes to deciding on a settlement. Don’t be quick to accept an offer unless you’ve discussed it thoroughly with your public adjuster. 
 
Are You Looking for a Public Adjuster in Fort Lauderdale? 

House fires are a pain, but you can get through them and receive fair compensation if you ask for help and assistance. At Reliant Insurance Adjusters, we have your best interest at heart. We treat every property damage as if it were our own. 

Although many companies offer the same services as we do, we strive to give you nothing but the best service by offering our knowledge, resources, and experience so you can get the highest possible settlement for your claim. Give us a call to learn more about what we can do for you.