Dealing with Fire Damage

12/11/2019 (Permalink)

A fire is scary and cleanup can be stressful

No matter how big or small your structure is—whether it’s a house, business, mobile home, or garage—the damage from a fire can be devastating. First things first: Take a deep breath. A fire is scary and cleanup can be stressful, but the best thing you can do now is keep a level head and take on the next steps calmly and deliberately. 

1. Contact your insurance company right away.

If you have insurance on your property, you’ll want to call them as soon as the fire is safely extinguished. The faster you file a claim, the sooner you’ll receive payment and your life can get back on track.

2. Have the damage inspected by a third-party, licensed professional.

This is why it can be in your best interest to hire a licensed contractor or structural engineer to accurately evaluate the extent of the destruction, determine the integrity of the structure, and provide an honest estimate of the overall cost of repairs.

3. Decide if you should repair or demolish and rebuild.

Once the inspection is completed and you have an accurate estimate, you’ll be able to determine whether you want to repair the damage or demolish and rebuild.