Steps to Take After a House Fire

Whether your home was destroyed or partially damaged in a fire, the experience can have a long-lasting mental and financial impact on you and your family. In the aftermath of a house fire, it’s important to ensure family members, including pets, are safe and have temporary shelter if needed. You should file a claim with your insurer as soon as possible to avoid delays in making your home habitable again.

Tips for what to do after a house fire

1.Find shelter

If a house fire has damaged your home extensively, you may need to secure a safe place for you and your family to stay. You might stay with a family member or friend or in a hotel. If you have loss of use coverage on your homeowners policy, then you may be reimbursed for food, lodging, and other additional expenses, up to your policy’s limit.

2.Take care of family pets

Once you’ve secured shelter and ensured your loved ones are safe, you may want to have your pets checked out by a veterinarian. They’ll likely be scared and disoriented, so take time to comfort them. That can help in your mental recovery, too.

3.Notify the proper authorities

Begin by reaching out to your local police department and let them know if you’ve had to leave the property unattended because of a house fire. Next, connect with your utility companies to temporarily stop service. If you have children, check in with their teachers and principals so those individuals can provide additional support and resources, if needed.

4.Secure your home

Cover up any broken windows or doors with plywood, as well as any other openings to the outside. This will protect your home from the elements and deter any would-be thieves or burglars. If you must vacate the home for a while, make sure to check on it regularly to ensure no one has broken in and nothing else has been damaged.

5.Contact your agent or insurer

Whether your house suffered minor damage or destruction, you should contact your insurance provider as soon as possible to file a homeowners insurance claim. Your insurer will assign an adjuster to review the damage, determine coverage, and work with you to arrange repairs.

Important note: If you must make emergency repairs to prevent further damage to your home, your insurance could reimburse you. Keep copies of all receipts related to the repairs and include them with your claim filing.

6.Collect supporting materials and documents

Before your insurer can create an estimate that outlines how much repairs will cost and factor in deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs, they’ll need more information. Be prepared to submit photographs and videos of the fire damage, including the interior of your home and any personal belongings (assuming it’s safe to enter your home). If you have a home inventory, you should provide it to your insurer to speed up the claims process.

Remember to keep copies of everything you share with your insurer. Your insurance adjuster will set up time with you to inspect your home, verifying the extent of the damage to your house and personal property. Take notes as you walk through your home with the adjuster. That way you have a point of reference once the adjuster provides their estimate of how much your insurance will pay. Learn more about the property claims process at Progressive.

7.Begin repairs

You may want to get a handful of estimates for the repairs, so you can vet multiple contractors and their previous work for other clients. Be sure to collect and keep all receipts or invoices related to the repairs, even if your insurer is paying the contractor directly. Hold on to damaged items until your insurance adjuster has had a chance to assess your home and property.

If the fire completely damaged your house and you must stay elsewhere, retain receipts of all additional expenses incurred. That includes lodging, food, basic living expenses, and even temporary boarding of pets because you may have coverage for such expenses. Learn more about loss of use coverage and personal property coverage.

Important note: For covered home repairs or rebuilds, many insurance companies pay contractors directly on behalf of their customer. Others may provide a check to the customer to pay for the work. Once the repairs are done, make sure you’re 100% satisfied with the work before your insurer delivers the final payment to any contractor.

for more info plz visit: insuranclaw.com