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11 Things to Do After a House Fire

A house fire can be devastating both physically and emotionally. The loss of your home and all your belongings can make you feel violated. You and your family will feel the effects of the loss for days, weeks, months even years to come. If you’ve endured a house fire, take things one day at a time to work through the loss and to bring about the best recovery process.

  1. Contact your homeowner’s insurance company. They can help you immediately. The adjuster will talk to you about your urgent benefits and choices and will guide you through the entire claim process from start to finish. Although it’s difficult following a house fire, try to remain as calm as possible.
  2. Take notes. Start a notebook and keep it with you at all times. Write down everything that is important or relevant. Use it to keep people’s names and phone numbers, and document all your conversations with your insurance company. House fires are devastating and overwhelming, and it’s likely you might not recall important conversations. Keeping a record of everything always helps.
  3. Find a place to stay. Often, your insurance policy may cover your living expenses while your home is being repaired after a house fire. Determine your best living arrangements, taking into consideration proximity to your children’s school and the amount of room you need, including for pets. While the arrangement is temporary, it can take several months or more to get back to normal, so choose a place where you can stay for many months if necessary.
  4. Save what you can. Depending on the severity of the house fire, this may not be possible. Try to go through the ruins to find remnants of anything that you can retrieve and save. You may find that what hasn’t been burned is now ruined by smoke or water damage. Get a storage unit to keep any of your possessions until you determine what to do with them. Prevention is best—fireproof safes will save your precious belongings in case of a house fire.
  5. Catalog your losses. This may be one of the most difficult assignments you’ve ever had to complete. Not only is it difficult to remember everything you own, but it’s also emotionally draining to pour over all your possessions in your mind.
  6. Be aware of scammers. You may start getting phone calls from all sorts of people and businesses who claim they want to help you; however, they merely capitalize on house fires. All of your requests should be handled through your insurance company to avoid being ripped off during this vulnerable time.
  7. Hire a public adjuster. If you have encountered extensive damage after a house fire, you may want to get assistance. A public adjuster will work with you to help catalog your damages and losses. You can then work with your insurance adjuster to come to a proper settlement.
  8. Get repair estimates. This can be a long and tedious process. Start by getting the names of various reputable local businesses that take care of the items you need repaired. The repair or replacement may depend on how much damage was sustained.
  9. Get support from family and friends. Whether you need material support, financial support or moral support, your friends and family will be there to help you. Don’t feel like you have to go it alone, and don’t be afraid to ask for the help you need now. People empathize with you—a house fire is indeed a devastating event.
  10. Have patience. Sometimes insurance settlements can take three to nine months. In the meantime, try to keep updated with your adjuster weekly to help keep things moving along.
  11. Take care of yourself and your family. Get and give the emotional support needed. A house fire can have a damaging and lasting effect on everyone in the home, including the kids. Spend some time with a therapist to come to terms with the loss.

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