What's best to do in the aftermath of a fire?

Question

My house has major fire, water, smoke destruction and is almost gutted due to a fire which appears to have originated in the house next door. Any advise on how to learn about my rights with dealing with insurance claims, and how to re-build? Also, anything else that I might not be thinking about at this moment? Thank you.

Answer 1

Keep everything well documented in case you go to court on it including photos and reciepts of anything you have done or paid to have done durring the rebuilding process when it comes to going to court a judge will look and often rule favorably if you can document everything you have done or have had done in photos and reciepts after you do your rebuilding and choose to go after your neighbor to recoup your losses for what was destroyed and what repairs you have done and include a report from the fire dept who extinguised the blaze as to the cause of the blaze because your neighbor who's house caused dammage to yours is more often then not going to claim it was not their fault and try to shift the blame to you and sumthing negligent you did and the report will prove your innocence in the matter and will help you in court

also salvage any important documents that have survived like deed to your house or lease to your apartment and also when you rebuild buy a good gun safe cabinet and modify it with wood shelving so you can keep your records safer next time because gun safe cabinets are not only made to be fireproof but bomb blast proof in cases where a fire triggers a natural gas main and made tough and durable to survive
and also if you have a company like ServiceMaster in your area like we do here in my area of Ohio that does fire, water smoke dammage cleanup hire them to cleanup the rubble and debris and then pay to have the carpets either professionally steam cleaned or replaced and keep reciepts from those as well and take aftermath pictures before each team you retain to do the cleanup starts

If it is an apt complex and you live in an apt for next time seek out an insurance company that does rental insurance in town this will help you recoup your losses if it happens again and is very inexpensive to get (my renter's insurance is only 30 dollars every 3 months and I am insured for up to 40,000 dollars in case of a natural disaster, burglary, or fire)

this will help you more then anyone else I hope

Answer 2

Call a lawyer, most of them will give you free consulation in a situation like this. There maybe some extra money in it for you (meaning they can get some of that at a later time)

Answer 3

i'm only 16, so the best i can say is find a welcoming relative, and start working an extra job or 2, so u can make up the loss and be able to deal with those upcoming deals and paper work.

Answer 4

just buy a new one