How Do You Make a Fire Restoration Claim?
2/23/2022 (Permalink)
When you experience a fire, the only thing on your mind after survival is fire restoration. The thought of being able to walk back in your front door and have your home back is encouraging, and it is a thought that can seem so far from reality, which is why you hire a remediation specialist in Sandy, UT, to help you realize the vision. The specialist will go through a series of steps, including:
- Water removal
- Debris removal
- Smoke cleaning
- Repair and restoration
However, before a restoration can begin working on your home, a company needs some form of payment. The best way to pay for a restoration is by filing an insurance claim and taking advantage of your coverage.
Fire Restoration and Insurance Claims
Filing a fire insurance claim can seem overwhelming. It is a lengthy, somewhat lengthy process and so much depends on a claim's approval. Thankfully, a restoration company can help you with the claims process. Many companies even act as a sort of intermediary between the client and the insurer. However, it is still beneficial to understand the necessary steps you must take to help the claims process along.
1. Call Your Insurer
Before you consider fire or smoke cleaning, it is necessary to call your insurance provider. Making that one phone call is the initiation of the claims process. Reporting the disaster is also when you schedule an insurance assessment. Unfortunately, insurance adjusters are often backlogged, so the adjuster can take a few days or more to arrive on location. Thankfully, you do not have to wait to call a restoration service. As soon as you report the disaster, you can call a service to come and assess the damage.
2. Mitigate Further Loss
Most insurance companies will require homeowners to take action against further loss, meaning you will need to mitigate potential damage. A restoration company can help you because most offer mitigation services. Fires can lead to extensive structural damage, such as holes in the roof or walls. Restoration companies will typically offer board-up, tarping, and fencing services to help protect your property and your claim.
3. Take a Loss Inventory
When the property is safe to walk through, you can help move the claims process along by preparing for your meeting with the adjuster. A loss inventory is a collection of photographs and receipts to help the adjuster assess your losses. Usually, you will take pictures of damaged items and collect receipts into a lass statement.
4. Wait for Insurance Adjuster
The last thing you need to do is wait for the insurance adjuster. Most adjusters will try to prioritize disaster claims so that an adjuster will show up within a few days in many instances. However, the timeline does depend on the adjuster and their schedule. A fire restoration often depends on the claims process. Unfortunately, the claims process takes time, and it can feel overwhelming.
Thankfully, restoration companies can often help streamline the process by communicating with the insurance company on behalf of the client, making the process easier to comprehend and manage.