Fire Insurance Claim Tips

Fire Insurance Claim Tips

The fire insurance claim process can be complex and confusing to navigate, even for a season insurance claim professional. Whether you’ve just started the fire insurance claim process or you’re in the thick of it, here are 6 fire insurance claim tips that will ensure your claim is on the right track. Ronald F. Delo, President of public adjuster firm, Insurance Claim Consultants, gives us the inside scoop.

1. Report & Request
You must report your fire damage to the insurance company as soon as possible. This can be done by contacting your insurance agent or by calling the insurance company directly. As important, request in writing a certified copy of your insurance policy. This document will in many ways dictate what fire damages will and will not be covered during the claim process.

2. Get Organized
Purchase a binder or notebook to keep your claim organized. Have three separate sections. First, a working list of every single person who is involved- big or small- with your fire claim. This includes name, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses of insurance adjusters, restoration contractors, fireman, investigators and every person your insurance company sends out to you.

Second, a detailed diary of all communications between you, vendors and the insurance company. Include dates, times, names and a brief re-cap of the communication, or notation of emails sent. Print and track all documents sent to you by the insurance company and ones you submit.

Third, safe keep receipts and a tally of all expenditures incurred due to the fire claim. You should be reimbursed for all extra expenses but proper documentation will be necessary.

3. Photos & Video
Nowadays most people have a mobile phone with built in camera and video capabilities. Right after reporting your fire claim, go room by room and take pictures of everything. Video the fire damage if possible. No item is too small. Nothing is “too damaged” to document. Make sure you cover the interior and exterior of the home as well.

4. Protect, Secure & Gather
Board up your property and gather up all your valuable possessions such as jewelry, firearms or collectibles. It’s common for fire damaged homes to be targeted by thieves. Remove the items from the loss site to a secure climate-controlled storage room. Keep track of everything you remove from the home.

5. Stay in Control of Your Content / Personal Property
This is perhaps the most important fire insurance claim tip: Don’t let anyone other than the Fire Marshall remove any personal belongings from your property. Restoration companies (and possibly your insurance company adjuster) may attempt to convince you that your personal property needs to be restored or salvaged. Allowing any company to remove your items to be restored is one the most wasteful ways to exhaust insurance proceeds. Nothing should be cleaned or restored until you know all your rights and options available to you. If you’ve hired a restoration company then you may want to consider consulting with an experienced public insurance adjuster or fire damage adjuster to see what your options could be.

6. Don’t Succumb to Pressure
Wait to hire a general contractor until you know all your rights and options and certainly, never agree to an “assignment of benefits” contract. These types of contracts take you out of control of your fire insurance claim and allows the contractor to bill your insurance company as they see fit. If you’re properly insured then you likely have many options available to you and your family. Don’t limit your options by being pressured into signing a contract prematurely.

[cynthiacarl]

Can you tell me why insurance companies use an archaic system for the intake of your personal contents? I have asked if we can use the spreadsheet to merge and utilize all the same information as their app but I have not gotten a positive response. This could take nine months.

[pallabitachatterjee]

If you are a victim of fire damage. Come at claimwhatsdue. They are efficient enough to handle any type of house fire insurance claim.

[vLife]

Is it possible to buy ONLY fire insurance for residential homes in Florida? And would it cover an electrical fire or fire resulting from kitchen fire or lightning?