2. Make a list of everything you've lost and don't throw anything away

This is arguably the most critical step to get right in order to maximize the amount of your house fire insurance claim. Review any proof of loss form sent to you by your insurance agent, but don’t sign anything that suggests whatever you initially submitted indicates the full amount of your claim. It will take a while — potentially months — to inventory every item lost or damaged, so you should attempt to submit an initial proof of loss with an “undetermined” amount listed.

It is important that you do not throw anything that is damaged away, even if you forgot to include it on your initial inventory list of lost property. When working with an attorney, it is far easier to prove that there is something you missed in your initial inventory when you still have the object itself in your possession. Keeping damaged objects also works as physical evidence of the item’s existence, as well as the exact damage it received during your house fire.

Get this part done before finding out that it’s too late and you can’t remember trivial-but-significant necessities in time to file an insurance claim. Do not throw away anything–  keep items and receipts as evidence to get your possessions back. This will help give a more realistic picture to the insurance company.

Make a loss list you’ll want to make a list of everything you lost in the fire, which can take some time and reflection from everyone in your household. You want to be sure to start making this list as soon as possible so that you will remember to include everything lost by the time you file your fire claims. Keep everything, especially fire-damaged items be sure not to throw anything away. It’ll be easier to prove that you really lost the items on your list if you hold on to them for the insurance adjuster to see the damage. If you throw them away, the insurance company may refuse to compensate you.

4. Secure your property to mitigate damage

No two fire insurance claims are alike. However, the first steps may be similar. To ensure a smooth claim, follow these steps: secure the scene. Call 911. Protect life before property. Make sure all people and pets are safe. Contact your insurer. Your insurer can explain the next steps. Your insurer may dispatch an emergency contractor to the scene or provide a list of contractors. Document the damages. Take photos and videos. The more evidence you have, the better. Get multiple estimates. House fire insurance claims are complicated. Get multiple estimates from multiple contractors or contact a public adjuster. Some contractors may spot damage the insurance company adjuster missed.

Fires are destructive, affecting everything from structure foundations to hvac systems, and they are often responsible for very large losses on commercial properties—even when precautions have been taken to mitigate the risk. Because fire insurance claims can represent so much value, and because the damage and recovery can be so complex, attorney bill voss recommends that the policyholders for commercial properties take extra care in considering any settlement offered by the insurance company. Business owners often miss out on the insurance coverage they pay for, and many don’t understand that the first offer from the insurance company may not actually cover the full extent of covered damage to their commercial property.

Insurance policies require that you “mitigate damages. ” in short, this means that you must take reasonable steps to minimize further harm to your property. This includes taking action to protect it from the elements, vandalism, and looters.

As you move through your property, take photos of the damage in the fire’s immediate aftermath. You may be tempted to immediately leap into repairs or to take steps to help mitigate future damage. However, as you go, take extensive photos of the damage to your property. You may want to highlight areas of smoke damage, things that burned in the fire, and water damage. Take photos of: the structure of your home, including any obvious points of damage to the structure. Damage to key items throughout your home or business, including artwork, electronics, and other valuables. Damage to any items that you have specifically insured, including jewelry and collectibles.

5. Keep track of your living expenses.

Make filing your claim simple and keep close track of all of your expenses while your home is unusable. Here are a few tips for keeping track of expenses and organizing them for your claim: hold onto all of your receipts for expenses and sort out which ones are covered by your insurance policy later rather than making a split-second decision to keep the receipt every time you make a purchase; organize receipts for all expenses in a physical folder, three-ring binder, or in a digital folder; prepare evidence of your normal expenses for comparison in case the insurance company questions them.

6. Get the right repair estimates and keep receipts and documentation for everything

Provide thorough and accurate documentation of the damage. Ensure your repair estimates are comprehensive and reasonable. Be prepared to provide additional information or evidence to support your claim. Consider hiring a public adjuster, like alconero and associates, to help you navigate the negotiation process.

If your home has suffered fire damage, it’s essential to take the following steps: contact your insurance company the first step is to contact your insurance company and file a claim. You should do this as soon as possible to start the claims process and get the ball rolling on repairs or replacement of damaged items. Be prepared to provide your policy number and a description of the damage. Your insurance company may also send an adjuster to assess the damage. It’s crucial to document the damage caused by the fire. Take photos or videos of the damage and make a list of all damaged items.

Once your claim is approved and the amount finalized, you will receive your payout — or at least the first installment. Typically, payment comes in the form of a check, which you can use to replace damaged belongings and pay for the cost of repairs. The first payment will be based on estimates provided by the claims adjuster. You may receive a second check once you have a final bill from the contractor and have submitted receipts for your actual expenses. Claim history: your first home insurance claim will affect your rates less than subsequent claims. Insurers can see your entire claims history, including claims filed with another company.

7. Keep paying your insurance premiums

When a fire breaks out, it can have harmful effects upon the structure of a house and the people who reside within. One of the numerous effects of fire damage is smoke damage. The trapping of smoke inside a building discolors the walls, but more importantly, it takes its toll upon human health. Here are some health risks of smoke damage. Fire restoration is a comprehensive process that consumes a lot of time. But what’s more time-consuming is the settlement of insurance claims. Insurance claims are denied, underpaid, or kept on pending by the insurance carriers. A public adjuster exerts pressure on the insurance carrier so as to settle the claims filed.

Fire damage insurance claims can be complicated because insurance carriers often deny claims based on allegations of insurance fraud even when official investigations have concluded a fire was not intentionally set. Maintain insurance payments after your loss even if you have a current pending claim for fire damage, this does not mean that you cannot submit a claim for subsequent losses caused by other perils. For example, your house could be vandalized or burglarized while you are waiting for your home to be repaired. Unless your home and the contents are a total loss, you might have property with substantial value that you want to protect from subsequent perils, so you should not stop paying your premiums.