While we all do our part to keep our homes safe, sometimes fires can spark when we least expect it. Experiencing a house fire is stressful and traumatic for everyone involved. However, all is not lost even though it may seem like it. When it's time to go back to assess the damage, it can be overwhelming. Here's how to recover from a house fire and why you need homeowners insurance in Antioch, CA to keep your belongings safe.
Find a safe place to stay. No matter the amount of damage, it's likely that you won't be able to stay in your home. If staying with friends or family isn't an option, talk to your local disaster relief agency, such as the American Red Cross or Salvation Army.
Call your insurance agent. You'll need to start a claim and address your immediate needs. If you have ˜loss of use' coverage, your insurance policy will cover living and other daily expenses while you're not in your home. Be sure to keep all receipts for expenses incurred while living away from the house. Your insurance agent should be able to help you secure your property and offer recommendations for cleaning up or restoring salvageable items.
Address your finances. You'll still need to make mortgage payments even if your home is destroyed. Your insurance policy should cover home's value and mortgage, making payments to you and your mortgage lender. Remember to continue any car payments and replace credit and debit cards that may have been destroyed in the house fire.
Recover your possessions. Items destroyed in a house fire are usually covered by homeowners insurance. Typically, the homeowners policy is a replacement cost policy, meaning that your policy will help you to replace belongings that were destroyed according to its current worth. You should have a home inventory on hand to know exactly what you lost and what you need to be replaced.
It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with your homeowners insurance policy to ensure you have the right protection. Talk to the team at Jack Stone Insurance Agency for help deciding on what policy best suits your needs and home risk.
