What Should You Do After a House Fire?
How many times have you doubted whether or not you left the stove on? Curling iron? Did you leave any candles lit? Did you put out that cigarette all the way? We try to be as careful as we can when it comes to fire safety but unfortunately accidents do happen. It can take a while to get over the loss you suffer if you become a victim of fire damage. It can be very emotionally draining but there are things you can do to make the recovery process easier when disaster strikes.
Don’t Go Back In After a Fire
Safety is the most important thing when it comes to the moments after fire damage. You’ll be tempted to run inside to see what can be salvaged. Don’t do it. Only fire fighters and emergency responders will be able to tell you when or if it’s safe to return to a fire damaged structure. Nothing is worth risking your life for.
Call Your Insurance Agent
Before we talk about this step, it’s important to note how important insurance is. It’s a good idea to be fully covered. Make sure to get a policy that will cover you in case of a fire. If you have coverage, contact your insurance agent first. Not only will they tell you what you need to do in order to get money to repair your damages, they can help assist you with immediate action.
Immediate Fixes
Once the fire crew has given the all clear, you will want to do a few specific things first. If you had a sprinkler system go off you will need to start pumping out water. Cover any damaged windows and doors. If the damage leaves you feeling overwhelmed, get a hold of your agent. They can guide you through the process.
Make a List of What Needs Replaced
Many insurance agents will ask that you do make a list of your valuable belongings before any type of damage happens. It is a good idea to keep an up to date list because it will save you a headache if the worst happens. If you didn’t already have one, take a survey of your belongings so you can know the amount of loss you need to report to your insurance agency.
Save Your Receipts
Anything that you buy to repair your home after fire damage has the potential for reimbursement from your insurance company but you do need those receipts. If fire damage has made your home unlivable ask a friend or family member for a safe place to store all of your documentation. It will come in handy later.
Start Replacing Valuable Documents
There are a lot of things you’ll be thinking about after the fire. Family heirlooms, jewelry, furniture; these are all things to worry about, but they might not be as important as you think. Don’t forget about important documents you owned. Look for birth certificates, social security cards, passports, credit cards and other important documents. You don’t want to end up needing them only to find you don’t have them anymore. Replacing them is very time consuming. You want to get started as soon as possible.
The most important thing to remember when recovering from fire damage is to try and stay calm. The safety of you and your family come first. You can replace anything else. Rely on professionals like insurance agents to do the hard stuff for you, after all it’s their job. And when you’re ready to get your house restored, be sure to get in touch.