Restoring your property after fire damage is a big undertaking. Fortunately, it’s not something that you have to take on entirely by yourself. In addition to your insurance company assisting with the costs of fire damage restoration, there are experts who can help with the securing the home, debris cleaning and the smoke and fire damage restoration process so that you get the best outcome. These property restoration pros spend their careers cleaning up after fires and other catastrophic events and they are the best people to have on your side if you’ve been devastated by a house or business fire.
Property restoration from fire damage starts with an assessment of what is damaged and how severe the damage is. In some cases, properties will be a total loss, which means they will need to be demolished and rebuilt entirely. In other cases, there may be the need for minor repairs and damage restoration, and the scope of the job is much smaller.
Get Accurate Fire Damage Estimates
The first step is to make sure that you’re working with a reputable, professional fire damage restoration team. They will help you understand exactly what you need to fix and how much it will cost. Also important is to know that even if your insurance is paying, you have the option to hire who you want. It’s a good idea to get comparable rates to know your getting the best service for property restoration.
Resist Doing Anything Yourself
While it’s tempting to go right in and start cleaning up, you shouldn’t touch anything in your home or do anything until you have the green light from a few sources:
- The fire inspector or fire chief that clears the scene after the incident
- The insurance adjuster who has completed their examination of the property
- The fire damage restoration team, who can advise whether or not it’s safe to do so and what’s best for your property
When you have the green light from these three, then you can go in and start assessing your own damage and trying to collect anything that can be salvaged. Going in before that can be dangerous or cause problems with insurance if you disturb the scene before they get an accurate picture of what happened.
What to Expect
Fire damage to your property can be a traumatic event. It’s going to be crucial that you take the time to expect the absolute worst, just so that you’re prepared in case it does happen. You should also plan for the best possible outcome and try to remain positive because it may be easier than you think to get your home back in shape.
Property restoration from fire damage has so many variables because no two fires are the same. That’s why educating yourself can go a long way in helping you get the best outcome.
Fire damage is serious business, but when you work with the professionals and let your home insurance company take care of the details, you’ll be able to focus on getting your life back while they help you get your home or business back in pre-fire condition.