We are pleased to offer you advice concerning Fire Disaster Restoration and Water Damage Restoration.
Fire Disaster and Restoration Advice
We know that experiencing a fire loss can be an emotionally devastating experience for anyone. For this reason, it is vital for you to be well informed of the basic procedure for recovering from a fire loss. We hope this advice will be of assistance to you in settling your loss and making your house a home again.
After the fire:
- Report the loss to your Insurance Company as soon as possible and follow their claims reporting instructions carefully. Make sure you ask them what to do about the immediate need of the dwelling (whether it requires an Emergency Service Board-Up) and what specific actions are required of you (some insurance providers require policy holders to make an inventory of damaged personal property showing in detail the quantity, description, and cost of the items).
- File the claim with your insurance company. Some of the standard necessary information includes the date of the loss, type of claim (loss), location of damage, detailed list of any injuries incurred, full condition of home, complete list of all damages, police report and all estimates for repair or replacement.
- Secure your property from further damage. Hire a contractor to board up exposed openings (broken windows, doors, and holes in the roof), winterize the plumbing system and complete any other tasks necessary to limit further damage to your property.
- Remove your valuable personal property to a protected area or safe place.
- Make sure you take pictures of all destroyed items for your own records. Do not throw away any destroyed items until after your insurance adjuster has examined them. If possible, you may also need to prepare a listing of the destroyed items with any known info concerning them.
- Work with a licensed professional contractor who specializes in all phases of disaster repair. This is essential in the course of making your house a home again in a reasonable amount of time.
Water Damage and Restoration Advice
We know that experiencing water damage can be an emotionally devastating experience for anyone. Unfortunately, water damage is usually a touchy subject with insurance companies because homeowners insurance only covers certain types of damages associated with water. For this reason, it is vital for you to know the coverage provided by your insurance policy.
These types of water damage are generally not covered by homeowners insurance:
- Damages due to a flood
- Gradual water damage (example: water damage developed from a long term leak)
- Mold damage from a gradual leak
These types of water damage are generally covered by homeowners insurance:
- Sudden water damage from a storm
- Mold damage from a covered peril (storm, natural disaster)