Experiencing a fire at home can be one of the most stressful situations you can find yourself in. After evacuating the house and finding a place to stay for the night, you feel like you’re at a loss as to what to do. There are so many things you’re concerned about at once, and you don’t know where to start. If you’ve just experienced a house fire, you need to ensure that you follow these steps to make a speedy recovery.
Contact the fire department before returning
After a fire, you’re going to be eager to survey the damage and see what you can recover. After your home has experienced a fire, you should never simply walk in and start sifting through things. Always check with the fire department on whether or not it’s safe to enter your residence. There may be some areas of the home you can enter, and others may be off limits. They may also want to only want you to enter the home supervised. You may be eager to get inside, but you always need to check with professionals first.
Be aware of dangers
The fire department may say it’s okay to get inside your home, but you still need to be careful. Be cautious when you’re walking through your home. Many furnishings, steps, and building parts may have become damaged during the fire, so be careful when you’re maneuvering around them. If you hear a hissing noise or smell any hint of gas, leave the property immediately. Also be aware that there may be some unwelcomed pests in the area. Rodents, insects, spiders, and snakes may have taken temporary shelter in your house.
Think about what could be saved
As a homeowner, you’re going to eager to see how much damage the fire caused. There may only be some burns on the wallpaper and other smoke damage, or some things may be completely destroyed. When you’re going through your home it’s important to be realistic when it comes to salvage. You may have a personal attachment to some things, but they may be damaged beyond repair. Restoring some items may also be more expensive than it is to replace them. That’s why it’s always worth it to get a professional opinion.
Find an adjuster
Insurance policies can have some confusing language and may not be easily understood by the average policy holder. You want to ensure that you aren’t missing anything important when you’re making your claim, that’s why it would be in your best interest to contact a fire damage public adjuster that knows everything about the right way to file claims. You can focus on helping your family and rebuilding, and your adjuster can handle everything insurance related.