What Is Commonly Covered Under Your Insurance Fire Claim?
14 March 2023
After a house fire occurs, homeowners not only have to deal with the emotional weight of having their home and possessions damaged, but find themselves face-to-face with the daunting task of figuring out how to get their lives back on track.
Filing a claim with your insurance is a great start to get the ball rolling and many questions about the process will begin to form. The question of coverage is an important one and will be one of the first things your insurance will be reviewing. What is covered within your claim? That’s a great question that we want to help answer. That’s why we’ve put together a short, but concise guide to help provide a clear picture as to what you can expect from your policy’s coverages.
First and foremost, most policies will cover the cost of repairing or replacing any structural damage caused by the fire. This includes things like the walls, floors, ceilings, roofs, windows, doors, and other permanent fixtures in your home.
In addition to structural damage, most policies will also cover the cost of restoring or replacing any personal belongings (contents) that were damaged or destroyed in the fire. This includes:
- Furniture - Wooden furniture, upholstered furniture, etc.
- Fabric & Textiles - Clothing, window treatments, bedding, furniture upholstery, etc.
- Electronics - TVs, computers, laptops, gaming consoles, etc.
- Appliances - Refrigerators, stoves, laundry machines, etc.
- Artwork & Collectibles - Painting, sculptures, heirlooms, etc.
- Books, Documents, & Photos - Personal library items, family photo albums, personal documents and the cost to replace them, etc.
- Valuables - Jewelry, watches, coins, etc.
Keep in mind, depending on the monetary worth of a valuable like jewelry, a rare collectable item, or a high end art piece, these specific items may need to be listed as “Scheduled Personal Property.” You will need to discuss this with your agent BEFORE any property damage occurs to ensure you have appropriate coverages to restore or replace these items.
Finally, many policies will also cover additional living expenses in the event you are unable to stay in your home while repairs are made due to safety concerns or other reasons directly related to the fire. This could include things like hotel stays, temporary housing costs, moving & storage costs, and more while you wait for your home to be restored back to its original condition.
At Phoenix Contents Restoration we specialize in the cleaning, repair, and restoration of items damaged by fire. With our help, homeowners have one less thing to worry about when dealing with the devastating outcome of a house fire. We understand how important it is for homeowners to know what types of damage are covered under their insurance policy to ensure they're making informed decisions about how to best move forward with their recovery process.
If you or a loved one need assistance with filing an insurance claim for items damaged by fire, smoke, water, and more, contact Phoenix Contents Restoration today.
