Five Tips to Get the Most Money for Your House Fire Claim

Insurance companies are not in the business just to pay insureds’ claims. Instead, they’ll do everything in their power to save money by denying your claims. Alternatively, they may give you less money than you deserve. We understand how troublesome it can be to deal with insurance companies. Therefore, below are five house fire claim tips to help you get the most money for your house fire claim.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Fire Damage?

Homeowners’ insurance typically covers accidental fires not just in your house. For example, you have insurance coverage if a fire at a neighbor’s house causes smoke or ash damage to your property or your personal belongings. This means your property insurance company will cover all or a part of the cost to repair your home if it is damaged in a fire. Your home insurance claim will also cover the cost to rebuild your home if it is a total loss.
Additionally, the company will pay for lost damaged items. About 35 percent of insurance claims filed in the US are related to file damage. There are, however, two types of policies: replacement cost value and actual cash value. You will get reimbursed based on your insurance type and limitations. Therefore, it is a good idea to check with your insurance agent to see which type of coverage you have.

Make Sure to Report Your Loss

The first step is to report your loss. Consequently, waste no time and get in touch with a representative to notify them of your loss. You can contact your insurance agent if you have lost your insurance policy due to fire or other causes. Additionally, most insurance companies have 24/7/365 phone lines to report claims. You need to make a timely report of the fire in order to get the most money for your house fire claim.

Don’t Shy Away From Asking For an Advance

Fires can be unforgiving. They can destroy much of your home and personal property. in addition, they could leave you homeless and force you to spend a few nights at a motel.
If this happens, you may not have time to grab essentials such as clothes and toiletries. Therefore, call your insurance company and ask for an advance so you can purchase necessities. They’ll typically offer a check to cover the daily living expenses. However, do not go overboard; only purchase what you need. Remember that the amount offered will be deducted when you receive full payment from your insurance company.

Create a List of Damaged Items

Create an inventory of everything that has been lost or damaged due to the fire. For instance, go room by room in your house and take detailed notes. Additionally, we suggest that you also click some photos (if safe) as you may need to prove the damage later on. Also, do not make the mistake of throwing anything away. You will need damaged items to prove their existence.

Don’t Wait for The Insurance Company

Do not wait on your insurance company to make a move. However, money can take a while to arrive. Therefore, pay for temporary and emergency work from your pocket and keep receipts.
Conversely, you may have to use emergency funds to cover these expenses as the average company takes about 85 months to fully reimburse homeowners.

Waste No Time and Ask Them to Be Quick

Act fast and put pressure on your insurance provider to be quick. Insurance policies usually put a time limit on when claims have to be filed. They could deny your claim if you are too late. As a result, make sure you file your claim within the time stated in your policy. Additionally, you will have to complete a proof of loss form. Indeed, the company will send a company or an independent adjuster to inspect your damaged property.
Below is the information you will have to include when you file a claim:

Date
Type of damage and loss
Location and cause
Related injuries
A list of damaged contents
A police report
Necessary temporary repairs

Also, timing is of huge importance. Consequently, the sooner you file your claim, the sooner the insurance company will open a claim file. Moreover, the sooner you file, the sooner the company adjuster will come to inspect your damaged property. Equally important, your insurance agency might not always be fast. Therefore, send emails and make calls to ensure they provide the insurance coverage that you need.

Work to Secure Your Property

Your insurance policy requires you to protect your property after it is damaged in a covered event. As a result, you must take steps to protect your property and mitigate your loss.
For instance, you must protect your property by covering holes and broken windows to prevent intruders. Furthermore, your insurance company will not be liable if your valuables get stolen after the incident. Likewise, if there is a heavy rainstorm, water could get in holes and broken windows you did not cover. In that instance, the company may refuse to cover any water damage caused by the storm.

Contact a Professional Fire Restoration Company to Repair Your Damaged Home

Lastly, work with a fire restoration company that helps you gather proof of loss and makes it easy to file a fire claim and work with a public insurance adjuster. We have been in the business for years and offer a variety of services including fire restoration, water damage restoration, and more. This is all you need to know about homeowners insurance coverage and the insurance claims process. We hope these house fire claim tips will help you get the most money for your house fire.

By Holly Kelsven | June 15, 2022 | News