We all know to call 911 right away when there is an active fire at our residence, at least we hope so! However, who should you call after the fire has been put out? Here's a hint: it's NOT your insurance company.
Instead, you should always call a public adjuster like us at Liberty Adjusters FIRST. We know how daunting it can be to have to navigate the complex claims process after a fire during such an emotionally taxing time and how easy it is to miss important details. Sadly, your insurance company will use any misstatements or inaccuracies against your settlement.
When faced with fire damage to your home or office, we’re here to help make things right. Scroll on to see what you should do next.
Always Call a Public Adjuster First
After a house fire has been extinguished, contrary to what you may initially believe, it is not yet time to call your insurance company. In fact, doing so can hurt your position and reduce the amount of coverage for your losses.
Call an experienced public adjuster before filing any claims will likely get you MUCH more money for repairs. Your insurance company makes the process complicated by design and will use every bit of info they can to undervalue your claim. We’ll manage all the calls to your insurance company and know how to report the damage.
When you call your policyholder, they will likely tell you a loss adjuster will meet with you to help determine the damage which may seem helpful; however, it is important to keep in mind whom that loss adjuster is really working for.
By calling a public adjuster, you will have someone educated on the claims process in your corner, ready to have your back in the face of questioning. We are only compensated by getting you more for repairs; so, we have your property’s best interests at heart. Plus, we know the fire claims process well and can handle every aspect of the claim on your behalf – giving you much-needed peace of mind, when you need it most.
Next Up: Call a Restoration Company
Especially when it comes to fire damage, you need to act fast in order to stop the damage from spreading. Although the fire is out, the soot left over by the smoke can cause immense damage to your possessions and the home itself.
It’s also very important to fulfill your “duty after loss”, a requirement in your insurance policy mandating that you take every action possible to prevent future damage. For instance, say a fire left a hole in your roof and you decided to not tarp or board up the hole; if it rains that night, your insurance will NOT cover any of the subsequent water damage.
The same goes for failing to call a restoration company after a fire. Luckily, we partner with trusted restoration experts in our area, and can refer you to the best crew for the job!
More on our Blog > How Public Adjusters Partner with Restoration Companies
Fixing Fire Damage
As public adjusters, our job is to make sure your claim is handled correctly. Your job after a house fire should be to focus on recovering, not dealing with stressful claims and phone calls.
You do not need to feel like you are alone in this process, we are here to help. Call our professionals at Liberty Adjusters today for a free evaluation.