Aftermath Adjusters & Consulting is here to help if you’ve suffered a house fire. These are some tips on how to get the most the money from your house fire claim.
1. Find Your Insurance Policies
You should have an up-to-date copy of your policies. Request a copy from your insurance agent if they were lost or destroyed in the house fire. You should have notified your agent of the damage after the fire. If you can’t remember who that is, talk to your bank. Your bank will tell you who your insurer is. Your insurer will tell you who your agent is.
2. Ask for an Advance
You can find out about getting an advance from the insurance company. It could cover any immediate expenses from the house fire, including:
- Clean up
- Temporary repairs
- Securing the property
- Temporary housing costs
- Other day-to-day expenses
3. Take Inventory of Lost/Damaged Items
This is one of the most critical steps to get right in order to maximize the amount of your claim. Look over any Proof of Loss forms you receive from your insurance agent. Don’t sign anything, however, that indicates whatever you initially submitted is the full amount of your claim. It can take a while to inventory every item lost or damaged, sometimes months. You should submit a Proof of Loss with an “undetermined” amount listed, initially.
4. Get Help From Friends and Family
Consider enlisting the some of the following people to help you with inventory:
- Friends
- Family
- Neighbors
- Bankers
- Accountant/attorney
- Anyone you trust to research the value of your lost/damaged items
Your inventory should include photos and detailed descriptions of as many items as possible. Keep records and receipts of the costs the inventory process incurs. You can submit them as part of your total claim. You should keep track of any other costs after the fire, as well as any money your insurance company gives you. Remember what you used those funds for. You should cooperate fully with your insurance company. Keep records of all your communications with them. Take detailed notes during all conversations and ask for anything they tell you to do in writing.
5. Get Help From Professionals
Your insurance company cares about you and your property. You have different goals, however, in the claim process. They want to give you the minimum amount for your claim. You want to get the most possible. It can seem like an impossible scenario, but it doesn’t have to be. A public adjuster from Aftermath Adjusters & Consulting can help you navigate your house fire claim process. We can act as a liaison between you and the insurance company. Your State Insurance Commissioner can help as well if you feel you’ve been treated unfairly during your house fire claim process.
A house fire is stressful and traumatic. The claim process for it doesn’t have to be. Our public adjusters care about you. We know your property is valuable, and the memories with it are priceless. Let us help you get the most out of your claim.
