Cindy Del Rio, Negosentro | Most people do not imagine that house fires can never occur to them. However, home fires are quite common in most countries and they can result in damages that can change your life. Most people are never prepared for such an eventuality and do not know what to do if it happens to them. With all the confusion involved, it can be overwhelming and stressful to figure out what to do. A fire restoration company such as Premier restoration will help restore your home and make it hospitable again. Here are some tips to help you know what you should do after a fire has consumed your home or property.
Check the safety of your family and yourself
Irrespective of how severe a fire is or the damage that it has caused, you should first make sure that everyone in your family is safe and sound. This is because fires can cause all types of injuries and it is important to ensure that everyone is safe. Those with injuries should receive medical attention before you start looking at the damage that has been caused by the raging fire. Life cannot be replaced, but possessions can still be bought again.
Analyze the damage
After the flames have been put off and everyone in your family is safe, you can now inspect the severity of the damage. Make sure you get permission from the firefighters before you enter the house to guarantee your safety. Look for crucial documents such as identification cards, social security documents, birth certificates and much more. Ensure that you analyze the damage to your home without endangering yourself. If your home is considered unsafe by the firefighters, you should just alert your insurance company to assess the damage on their own.
Call your insurance service provider
When you call your insurance company, inform them about the fire and request them to take the necessary steps and help in the cleanup process. You should make a list of the items that were destroyed in the fire and have proof of your losses. You will get an adjuster that will explain all your benefits and the options that you have depending on your insurance policy and he/she will help you throughout the claims process.
Call a fire damage restoration contractor
Contractors that specialize in fire damage cleanup and restoration services. These experts will help you to retrieve your property and to renovate your home after the fire. Fire leaves behind corrosive byproducts that can increase damage made to your home. Fire damage restoration experts have the necessary equipments and training to effectively and safely mitigate and restore your property. These contractors will get rid of the odor resulting from smoke and soot and will rebuild your home structure to get your home back to its former state.
Get temporal residence
You should get a place for your family to stay during the cleanup, demolition and refurbishment process is still taking place. You should not stay in your home even if there is a room in the house that was not affected by the fire because you may have health problems caused by the soot and smoke inhalation. Some insurance covers will take care of living expenses and alternative housing when your home is still under repair. Make sure that you choose a place that is convenient for all your family members because the restoration process can sometimes take several months to complete after a fire.
Seek support from friends and family
You should call your closest friends and family members and inform them about your current situation. This is important because you need a shoulder to lean on and friends around you. It can be challenging to recover from the loss and trauma caused by a house fire especially if you lost all your possessions in the fire. However, with support and encouragement from your loved ones, the loss will be more bearable.
Fires usually happen without warning and they can cause serious injury, death and heavy losses. When a fire strikes in your home or commercial building, you may be overwhelmed with the entire situation and forget what actions to take after your property has been razed down by the fire. With these aforementioned tips, any house owner will know what to do after the fire has been extinguished. These guidelines will help keep your entire family safe and help you start the fire damage cleanup and restoration process.
