Handling Fire Damage At Your Home.

8/10/2022 (Permalink)

If you have experienced a house fire, you understand exactly how disheartening it can be. Even for fires that are put out right away, smoke, soot and flames can still cause significant damages in a short span of time and be a traumatizing experience.

Though the aftermath is difficult to navigate, we have assembled some tips for helping you navigate the aftermath of a fire so you can make sure you are handling it as efficiently as possible.

Tips to Help You Navigate the Aftermath of a Fire

Prepare yourself for what to expect. While we have likely all seen photos or videos of fire damage, seeing it firsthand in your own home is always different. To allow smoke to escape, firefighters often break glass and doors, and because of how smoke travels, soot may be on items that were nowhere near the flames. If the fire was extinguished with water, there may also be moisture damage to items nearby as well.

Wait to enter your home. Though things may appear to not be damaged enough to make your home a hazard, never enter without first checking with officials to determine that everything is safe. A fire can undermine a home’s structural elements via invisible damage, and a second combustion may even be possible depending on the source of the fire. Make sure to always wait for the OK before reentering your home.

Contact your insurance company. Once you can reenter the home and assess the damage, you should contact your insurance provider to let them know what happened and learn about coverage in the event of a fire. It is important to not make any changes to the home before you contact them in order to not unwittingly do something to sabotage your claim.

Document the damages. To help you prepare for your insurance claim before you begin cleaning up, take a complete inventory of what has been damaged and be sure to snap clear photographs. This will not only help your claim, but it will also help you keep track of what to replace around the house.

Contact your restoration company. Working with the right restoration company can really make all the difference during your recovery period after a fire. Fires take a significant emotional toll on the entire family, so working with a company that you trust is a great way to gain peace of mind throughout the recovery process.

If your home is damaged in a house fire, you can count on us to help you. Get in touch at any hour for a quick response.