A fire damage in your home is devastating in every sense of the word. Your family and you are lucky if you survive such a traumatic experience. Watching fire destroy your valuables and property is one of the most heartbreaking experiences. Once the flames have been extinguished, you have to deal with the aftermath by doing the stressful paperwork with your insurance provider. It is inevitable that fire will leave destruction in its wake. The recovery and insurance claim process can be made less stressful and easier by working with an experienced public adjuster.
However, there are a few things you and your family need to know before getting in touch with an experienced public adjuster. Here are a few tips for handling fire damage in your home.
The Dos after a fire damage
Here are some suggestions on how to handle the aftermath of a fire damage:
You and your family’s safety is the number one priority. Following a fire, every action must be taken with caution. Avoid going back if you believe it isn’t safe to do so. And it is best to let professionals handle the situation if you are uncertain. Some walls or debris may still fall or break after the fire.
Do gather evidence and documentation as soon as you can. The most important aspect of an insurance claim is the evidence. It is important to take photos (and video if you can) to demonstrate how bad the damage is. Save the images and video clips to a secure location as soon as possible. It is likely that they are the only evidence you will have of the scale of your losses and financial cost.
Fire damage insurance comes into play right after a fire outbreak. You should get in touch with an experienced public adjuster once you have the photographic evidence. Hopefully, after speaking with them, you’ll have a much better understanding of what will happen next, such as emergency water extraction, board up of doors and windows, and whatever else needs to be done.
Turn off electronics, particularly computers in and around the damaged area. Your damaged electronics pose a safety risk following a fire. All of them should only be turned on after speaking with a professional. If you turn it on, the corroding acids of the smoke may immediately damage and at worst cause another fire.
The Don’ts after a fire damage
Now let’s talk about some don’ts of dealing after a fire damage has occured:
Do not go back to your home to try to save anything. Return only when the fire department confirms it is safe to do so.
Do not wipe surfaces such as walls, ceilings, and floors. Your public adjuster or insurance company needs to first assess the extent of the damage. So wait for their advice before doing anything else.
If there are smoke residues or debris in carpets or furniture, don’t clean them. In order to avoid compromising your health, you should leave cleaning to the qualified professionals.
You should not consume food items or even canned goods that have been exposed to heat or fire. Fire-damaged or smoke-affected food or drink should not be kept or consumed. In the event that your freezer’s power is cut, do not attempt to refreeze thawed food. The smoke is toxic and can seep into your food, likewise thawed food is likely perished.
Wait until the water, electricity, and gas systems have been inspected by a qualified professional before turning them on. This especially applies to electronic devices and other appliances.
Alconero and Associates offers services in Miami Dade, FL, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Palm Beach, FL, Fort Myers, FL, Cape Coral, FL, Orlando, FL, Tampa, FL, Naples, FL, Bonita Springs, FL, Sarasota, FL, Kissimmee, FL, Winter Park. FL, Lehigh Acres, FL. Contact Us for a FREE inspection at 855-642-5246.
