Lost it all in a fire
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 6,697
Likes: 774
From: Stuart, Fl
Sorry to read about your fire like mention prior insurance company’s are very hard to deal with i would start looking for any and all receipts and paper work you may have. Good luck to you stay strong and hold your ground it will all work out for ya.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 425
From: Right Here
Ottred, get copies of ALL the incident reports from the fire department. Each company that responded will have a report of what they did at the incident. Therell also be a separate report thats written by the incident commander (separate from the report of his own actions, most likely) that gets sent to the state, get that one too.
If a separate fire investigator was called to the scene, make sure you get his report also.
If the police got there first, their report (if they filed one) may be used to determine what the scene was prior to the fire departments arrival.
The insurance company will obtain copies of these, and its a good idea to have the same info as they do, especially if you anticipate problems with them. Its not a matter of anyone sticking it to anyone else, but you need to make sure youre getting the service you paid for and have all the info concerning it.
If a separate fire investigator was called to the scene, make sure you get his report also.
If the police got there first, their report (if they filed one) may be used to determine what the scene was prior to the fire departments arrival.
The insurance company will obtain copies of these, and its a good idea to have the same info as they do, especially if you anticipate problems with them. Its not a matter of anyone sticking it to anyone else, but you need to make sure youre getting the service you paid for and have all the info concerning it.
Last edited by Wowser; Aug 14, 2018 at 09:07 AM.
Lost it all in a fire
Thank you all for replying. I knew I would get feedback from one of the greatest communities I belong to. Been a member since 2014 but hardly post or reply. Mainly just skim through the posts.
So we met with our insurance agent today. Why three days after the fire, our agent was out of town on vacation. No big deal everyone deserves a vacation. Meeting went better than expected and she was very helpful.
The adjuster / investigator will be here on Friday.
Now comes the process of writing down everything I had and finding receipts and pictures of my stuff.
One question was asked to me by "rothmans" . Any idea what started it so we might learn something?
Right now, I have no idea as to what started it. But take pictures or video tape what you have in your shop. Tucked in the corner, in the tool box, under the work bench. Every last thing you have every bought.
Always take one last look before you turn off the lights and close and lock the door. It will sure beat getting woke up at 4am to a fire !
So we met with our insurance agent today. Why three days after the fire, our agent was out of town on vacation. No big deal everyone deserves a vacation. Meeting went better than expected and she was very helpful.
The adjuster / investigator will be here on Friday.
Now comes the process of writing down everything I had and finding receipts and pictures of my stuff.
One question was asked to me by "rothmans" . Any idea what started it so we might learn something?
Right now, I have no idea as to what started it. But take pictures or video tape what you have in your shop. Tucked in the corner, in the tool box, under the work bench. Every last thing you have every bought.
Always take one last look before you turn off the lights and close and lock the door. It will sure beat getting woke up at 4am to a fire !
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,145
Likes: 2,958
From: New York
My home was flooded badly in tropical storm Sandy. My insurance agents home was also damaged. He called and told me he was sending his son over to sign a form giving a public adjuster authority to represent me with my insurance company. They would get 8% of the money I received from the insurance company. The typical fee is 10%. All my neighbors said I was wasting my money. I figured if he got me 8% more than I would get ( and that was fairly likely) then I would break out even. Also, I never had to speak to the insurance company again which was WONDERFUL as I worked with my contractor to get the house put back together. The public adjuster sent a guy over who spent six hours measuring and taking pictures. A week later he produced a 32 page report which he submitted to the insurance company. It was so complete and accurate they couldnt argue about anything. I have neighbors who are STILL fighting with their insurance companies and it is almost six years since the flood. So thats my story. Here is something I found on the internet for your perusal.
https://www.valuepenguin.com/public-insurance-adjusters
https://www.valuepenguin.com/public-insurance-adjusters
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 7,618
Likes: 10,437
From: Des moines IA
Sorry for your loss.
where I'm at, recouping the loss is first dictated by the policy, ACV or replacement. ACV is based on actual cash value or the depreciated value. Replacement is based on cost to replace in today's money. Typically with replacement coverage, they pay the ACV up front and the balance of replacement when you verify you actually replaced the items. Understandably, they don't want to pay replacement for a piece of junk, even you don't want back. Respectable companies will make you whole. They don't want it to be a profitable loss though.
where I'm at, recouping the loss is first dictated by the policy, ACV or replacement. ACV is based on actual cash value or the depreciated value. Replacement is based on cost to replace in today's money. Typically with replacement coverage, they pay the ACV up front and the balance of replacement when you verify you actually replaced the items. Understandably, they don't want to pay replacement for a piece of junk, even you don't want back. Respectable companies will make you whole. They don't want it to be a profitable loss though.
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