What’s In This Articles

• Introduction
• What Should You Do After a Fire at Your Home?
• Why Are Pictures Important?
• Why is a Home Inventory Important?
• Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value
• Get Support From a Public Adjuster Today

For anyone, having a fire in your house is a traumatic event. Of course, you are relieved that no one was injured. However, you are now going to be filing a claim with your homeowners’ insurance company for the damage to your home and belongings. And making a home inventory list after a fire can be intimidating and frustrating.

But if you want to make sure your home insurance company pays you your full claim, make a complete and accurate home inventory list.

What Should You Do After a Fire at Your Home?

One of the first things you should do is contact your insurance agent or home insurance company to report the fire. Importantly, there are reporting deadlines in your homeowners’ policy for making insurance claims. Additionally, you will want to start the claims process as soon as you can. Indeed, most insurance companies have 24/7/365 phone lines to report claims.

Consequently, the sooner you report the claim, the sooner an adjuster will come to inspect the damage, prepare a report for his supervisors, etc.

As soon as you can safely, go into your home to inspect the damage (check with the fire department first). Also, wear protective clothing and have a certified mask or respirator- breathing in ash/soot can be hazardous to your health.

Take As Many Pictures You Need to Show All the Damage to your Home and Possessions

Remember, your insurance company will want proof of all the damages the fire caused at your house. Therefore, go room to room to take pictures of the damage to flooring, walls, etc.

Moreover, you should take pictures of the fire damage to furniture, appliances, clothing, etc. In addition, take pictures in rooms, closets or drawers that may have damaged items.

Create a Home Inventory List

You will want to create a home inventory list as a record of your home belongings. Actually, the better practice is to maintain a home inventory list as you buy new furniture, jewelry and appliances. That way, you can record the serial numbers of the of appliances, computers and televisions. Also, you can note the purchase price and keep the purchase receipt.

Creating a list of items damaged in the fire after a fire is more difficult and time-consuming-but it needs to be done. As a matter of fact, you can still capture important individual items to include in the insurance claim.

Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value

How much money your home insurance company pays you for your damaged property will depend on the type of coverage you have.

For instance, if your policy provides for actual cash value (ACV), the company will pay you the value of your property at the time it was destroyed. ACV is the value of property, considering depreciation and ordinary wear and tear. As an example, if you bought a refrigerator five years ago for $1,2000, that refrigerator may be worth $700 today.

As a result, the insurance company would only offer you $700 for your damaged or destroyed refrigerator. Consequently, if you want another $1,200 refrigerator, you will have to pay the additional cost yourself.

Conversely, if you have replacement cost (RC) coverage, the insurance company will first pay you the ACV of the appliance. After you purchase the new refrigerator and send the insurance company a copy of the receipt, they will send you a second check to cover the entire purchase price.

If You Need a Public Adjuster to Help You With a Home Inventory List, Call AllCity Adjusting

We are a family-owned claims company with five decades of combined adjusting experience. Consequently, if there’s one thing we understand, it’s that you need 100% of your claim value.

Insurance companies undervalue your claim 8 out of 10 times. Moreover, they hire expensive claims adjusters to ensure they maintain a strong profit margin. In addition, they have experienced actuaries that help their team of agents challenge your insurance claim’s validity and value.

We Can Help You Make a Home Inventory List After a Fire

Obviously, having a fire in your home means you have already gone through a tumultuous event. However, you should prepare an accurate and complete home inventory list so that you get fully paid on your claim. And preparing an accurate and complete house fire inventory list can be a challenge for any homeowner.

If you already prepared a home inventory list, you should keep it in a safe place, such as a safe deposit box. However, if you didn’t, we can help you make one. Indeed, it will include your expensive Lenox service for twelve and every salad plate, bowl or cup that was lost in the fire.

At AllCity Adjusting we work to ensure you get 100% of your claim value. With over 50 years of combined adjusting experience, we know insurance companies and understand where they cut corners. Therefore, we help you build a larger claim, maximize your claim value, and get you back to normal fast.

Don’t get fooled, get the company that gets you more. Call us today at 844.692.3587 or visit our website to find an office near you.