A fire at someones property can be one of the most devastating things that can happen. Damages can range from a small smoke damage from an over cooked turkey to a total destruction from a candle fire. This results in the family misplaced out of their home for months while their house is getting reconstructed. Living in an extended stay hotel room or rental home with rental furniture is not enjoyable and it is stressful. Nothing can really make this situation an enjoyable one but maybe, just maybe, we can provide a couple tips to help make it a little less stressful.

Pick your restoration contractor quickly.

At the same time, don’t pick one that you’re not comfortable with working with for months. Contractor selection is a tough choice but having your house sit there will only make your situation more difficult. The damage will worsen the longer it sits dormant. Soot will start to stain and bleach what ever material it sits on and sometimes this secondary damage will not be covered by your insurance company. If the secondary damage is a result of you delaying the process, it is not covered. If the delay is caused by your insurance company, government agency, or Cause and Origin, it should be covered.

Don’t Pick a general contractor, home builder or family member.

You want to pick a restoration contractor to perform your services. A normal remodeler, home builder or family member do not know the insurance requirements or process to properly deodorize your home. A good restoration contractor should guarantee that you will have no residual odor from the fire that devastated your home. Also, they know how your insurance adjuster likes to see the estimate written, paperwork flow and plan. Most normal remodelers don’t even know where to begin or have the products to clean and deodorize properly.  If you hire your family member, it is going to be quite awkward if you have to ask “When is this going to be done.”

You don’t need an estimate to pick your contractor

Most insurance companies have a “Premier Service Company” list. This is a list of contractors they have pre-approved based on applications, history and quality. This is the best choice for you. Please ask your adjuster for recommendations. Plus, if you go this route, they can get started with demolition of the the work based primarily by verbal approval from the adjuster. This can save weeks of time, because they can start while an estimate is being written. It’s okay to trust the insurance companies list of contractors. Most of the big insurance companies have done a lot of time and homework to find quality restoration contractors. This can consist of background checks, financial background check and interviews.

Be prepared for the long haul.

The process to restore you home or property will take longer than a normal remodel or home build. The process is completely different. When you have the relationship triangle of an insurance company, insured and restoration contractor it gets a little crazy with paperwork and communication. It could take a month from the date of the loss for a worker to even begin to start hammering a nail. Estimate, permits, building code and money from the insurance company are all factors of delaying the start of work.

You can plan on your contractor to able to do $25,000 – $50,000 worth of work at your property per month. If the structure part of your loss comes to $100,000, you can plan on a 3-4 month process. That is, if you are doing your part of getting things done in the loss.

Don’t be a part of the delay.

You, the insured, can be one of the biggest delays in the whole process. Getting selections from the insured can delay the process weeks and even months! Some material needs to be ordered and getting it in can take weeks to be delivered. Kitchen cabinets, for one, can take 4 weeks to come in. Carpet can take up to 7-10 days to be delivered. The windows have a 2-4 week lead time. If you think to yourself “oh, the contractor is no where near to installing kitchen cabinets, I have time,”… your delaying the process. You want to make sure everything is selected and ordered for when the time comes to install the material, it is already in their possession.

Get your paperwork in.

You will have your share of paperwork to complete throughout the process. Getting these completed in a timely manner will only help your chances of a smooth, efficient work flow. Mortgage Company Forms, Proof of Loss, Unrestoreable Contents List, Selection Sheets, Contracts are just a couple of examples of some forms you will have to fill out. Please, read them carefully, and get them completed.  Ask questions if you don’t understand the wording or legalities.

Conclusion

We know you just went through a traumatic experience.  It’s hard to focus and do your part when you see your house in shambles.  These tips only will help expedite the process and keep it running smoothly.  In the end, we hope the only traumatic experience was the loss itself not the process of getting your house back together.