Fire Damage Restoration MI
A home or business swept fire can be very devastating and can cause major hardship to a family or business. However, just like any difficult time there is a way to handle the hardship to minimize the difficulties going forward. Making the right decisions on hiring your contractors and understanding the process at this point is mission critical and will dictate the process going forward. The following steps can assist you in making the right moves from the start. Please understand that every situation is different and will require special instructions based on your personal situation.
First things first…
1. Secure an emergency services contractor – A work authorization will need to be signed for emergency services. This is a standard requirement that all contractors will need to have to start work on your project and adjustors will ask for it in order for the contractor to be considered an agent for the homeowner.
- Board up of home or business - You must first secure the home or business from onlookers who might want to enter the home or business out of curiosity or intent. Board up of broken windows, lock down doors and tarp the roof to make secure from weather conditions.
- Make a claim – If you have a relationship with your insurance agent contact them first if during business hours. If no relationship exists or after hours call the 800 number from your insurance policy and make a claim to obtain a claim number.
- Cause of Origin - Most insurance companies require a cause of origin specialist to enter the home or business shortly after the fire to determine the cause of the fire. You must not disturb the area where the fire started as that area will be where the investigation will take place. This process could take a few days, and depending on the severity and the circumstances this process could take many days to complete.
- Remove personal items – If your home was affected and you have personal items like wedding rings, cash, family heirlooms or guns they should be removed from the home or business immediately as many people will be coming through the home and could be stolen from onlookers during the first few days of the fire.
- Insurance Adjustor will be assigned to your fire within 24hrs of making a claim - depending on the size of the loss you may meet multiple insurance adjustors in the process. Typically you will have an adjustor for the structure, another for contents, and another for loss of business. Many insurance companies may invite a contractor they have used in the past if you do not have a company secured. It is YOUR CHOICE who you decide to handle your contents or rebuild of your home or business.
2. Secure your mitigation specialists – another work authorization will need to be signed for content and electronic mitigation services if the contractor is different from above.
- Depending on the level of severity of the fire and how much water was used to put the fire out will determine your next step.
- Larger fires will require water extraction and dry down of structure as to avoid moisture from becoming a mold problem. In the event that the home can be saved drying equipment and removal of wet plaster or drywall might be necessary in order to dry structure while waiting for the adjustor to make decisions on what is approved during the next step.
3. Secure content, electronic and dry cleaning mitigation specialists - Another work authorization will need to be signed for content, electronic and dry cleaning services if the contractor is different from above. It is not uncommon to have one company hire multiple subcontractors to handle the contents, electronic and dry cleaning services.
- All contents i.e. furniture, appliances, electronics and household items, food, clothing and anything not attached to the home is considered a content. A typical insurance policy contains a section and a dollar amount for contents aside from your structure amount.
- At this point the level of severity will determine next steps with the adjustor and the contractor, all contents will either need to be cleaned on or offsite, electronics and appliances cleaned on or offsite. Clothing will always be cleaned off site and emergency clothes can be cleaned and returned within 24hrs.
- If it is necessary for contents, electronics and appliances to be stored off site the contents contractor will be required to make a complete inventory of items that will be boxed, cleaned and stored, THIS MEANS EVERY SINGLE ITEM. This can be a large undertaking and can be very overwhelming. All questions are good questions at this point and should be asked of your contractor.
4. Secure a building contractor to make repairs - Another work authorization will need to be signed for reconstruction services if the contractor is different from above. It is not uncommon to have two different companies handle the contents and rebuilding.
- It is suggested at this point that an insurance restoration contractor who has the experience of mitigating a fire is hired. Many mistakes have been made at this point and contractors have been hired with no experience to remove necessary charred wood and smoke that has penetrated open crevices, drywall, plastics, attics, insulation and the like. IF NOT MITIGATED CORRECTLY YOU COULD SMELL SMOKE INDEFINITLY.
- During the time it takes to determine the loss of contents and pack out of contents. Your building contractor will have been working with your adjustor to determine items that will be replaced during reconstruction. It is not uncommon for the contractor and the adjustor to each write their own scope of work for the reconstruction.
- Once the scope of work is determined each estimate will be reviewed and agreed upon with the owner, contractor and the adjustor and work will then commence.
There are many things to consider and many more steps to the process at this point. Hiring the right company can make this difficult situation a smooth and seamless process with no hassles.
ConstrucTeam is the company that can provide all these services rolled into one and will get you back in your home quickly or back in business with minimum disruption.
If during business hours, contact our Control Center Manager at 866-372-1272. If after business hours, push the emergency button and our Director of Response will IMMEDIATELY contact you within minutes.