Hello World! Welcome Friends! It is extremely hard to recuperate after a fire disaster but you need to think about your next steps. Hopefully, you already have a trusted insurance agent you can contact to help you plan ahead and some family and friends to rely on during this tough time. Here are your options after your house gets damaged by a fire.
Find Temporary Housing
Very rarely after a fire has been extinguished will firemen consider your home safe to stay in. You will have to find temporary housing until your home has been restored. Homeowners’ insurance will pay to rebuild your home and replace your belongings, hopefully, as quickly as possible. Until then, your options are to stay with a friend, family, or at a hotel. You will be given loss of use coverage to pay for expenses like relocating. It is recommended, however, that you call your insurance agent to make sure you are covered and have them go over everything with you to ensure you are comfortable and are provided with all the necessities.
Get An Advance From Insurer
In a disaster like this, you were most likely forced to evacuate your home to ensure all your family members are safe. In this case, you probably weren’t able to grab any necessities from clothing to toiletries. Luckily, you can get an advance in your homeowners’ policy which covers the costs to replace all necessary items. The great thing is you don’t need to wait for approval to get these basic necessities; all you need to do is get an advance against your costs of living. You can request that the insurance company representative bring you the check to your current address.
There are a few considerations to keep in mind, however. First, make sure that you have a replacement clause in your policy that will cover personal items as well as the house. Then, make sure you save the receipts of your purchases, make sure they’re reasonable. If you head to designer stores to replace your everyday clothes from The Gap, you will be expected to pay the difference.
Secure Your Property
There are a few things to keep in mind to restore your home. First, you want to secure your property to avoid further damage to it. This means, even with a policy, you still need to take some matters into your own hands; you must mitigate damages. The good news is that your insurance company will cover the costs when you file a claim. Here in Chicago, Illinois, insurance companies have 45 days to send you a notice of intentions after receiving your claim. It should go without saying that you must contact the fire department to ensure there’s no smoldering and prevent a flare-up. Then, board up the property and consider getting a chain-link fence to protect your property from vandals. Finally, keep in mind that it is your responsibility to check on your home and make sure there are no disturbances.
During this time, you’ll want to look for restoration services. While you won’t have to worry about covering the costs, you’ll want your home restored by a reliable team of Chicago’s best builders. When looking for a company to restore your home, do your research to find a full-service company. This means hiring specialists that will not only rebuild the house but can also come and secure the home with emergency tarping. Most companies offer clean-up, packing, and reconstruction in one package.
File Insurance Claim
You must file a claim as soon as you can; you can call your agent or send an email. You will have to show proof of loss in which case you will list your items and their value. If you have already done a home inventory in case your property gets damaged or items get stolen, then this will be easy. The main thing to remember here is to be as organized as possible when dealing with insurance companies. You don’t want to miss a single piece of crucial evidence. It’s a good idea to make a note of every conversation you have with your agent to ensure you have all the information and provide them with accurate information. Store everything from bills, invoices, estimates, and repair contracts. When you are shown any original documents, always make a copy for yourself.
Documenting all the aforementioned information will ensure you get reimbursed for these additional costs. This is also why you need to keep track of all your living expenses after the fire has taken place. However, keep in mind that additional is the operative word. If you are eating out in restaurants when you used to eat at home regularly, you will only be entitled to the additional expenses. So if you used to spend no more than $250 on groceries a week for dinner, and are now spending $350 a week, you can only claim the $100 difference.
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