Recovering Contents from Fire Damage
Our team understands that after a fire, the loss extends beyond just the structure—it reaches every item that makes a space feel like home or a business function seamlessly. We aid in creating a detailed content inventory of all affected items, ensuring nothing is overlooked. With this comprehensive list in hand, we then provide a rigorous evaluation to insurance carriers. This allows us to advocate for our clients to obtain full reimbursement for each content item. Our commitment is to secure recovery, not just from the structural loss, but from the personal and operational disruptions the fire may have caused.
Creating Content Inventory
Most homeowners or business owners haven’t prepared a detailed inventory of their possessions before experiencing a substantial loss — and that’s perfectly understandable. Our team excels in employing innovative methods to assist in assembling a thorough inventory. Below are some strategies and suggestions we offer our clients following a major fire incident:
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- Retain damaged items, or parts of them, until our team can conduct a complete inspection and documentation.
- Review any past photographs or videos from your property; they might showcase valuable content present at the time of the loss.
- Schedule a session to discuss the contents of each room and area of your property with your assigned client specialist. As you recall items, our team handles the documentation.
- We help in retrieving purchase records from vendors and establishments where you’ve bought items.
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Replacing Vital Documents
While our team is committed to assisting with a wide range of post-loss concerns, we cannot directly help in replacing personal identification and essential documents. However, we are more than happy to guide you in the right direction to secure replacements. Below is a handy list detailing where you can obtain replacements for various vital documents:
| Vital documents | Where to get a replacement |
|---|---|
| Drivers License or State Id | Local Department of Motor Vehicles |
| Government Id | Locate your nearest Real-Time Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS) site |
| Military Discharge Papers | Department of Veterans Affairs 1-800-827-1000 |
| Passports | State Department—Passport Services 1-202-955-0430 |
| Birth, Death, and Marriage Certificates | Appropriate State Bureau of Records |
| Social Security or Medicare Cards | Local Social Security Office 1-800-772-1213 |
| Credit Cards | Mastercard & Visa: Contact the issuing financial institution American Express: 1-800-441-0519 Discover: 1-800-DISCOVER (1-800-347-2683) |
| Titles to Deeds | Records department of the area/county in which the property is located |
| Stocks and Bonds | Issuing company or your broker |
| Wills | Attorney or probate court where the will was filed |
| Income Tax Records | Internal Revenue Services (IRS): 1-800-829-1040 Accountant |
| Citizenship Papers | Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services: 1-800-375-5283 |
| Mortgage Papers | Lending Institution |
Cleaning & Removing Smoke Odor
Assistance might be available to help clean and eliminate smoke odors from items affected by the fire. This depends on the specifics of your insurance policy and the capabilities of your mitigation service provider. To make things easier for you, we’ve shared a few helpful hints to support the cleanup procedure when recovering contents from fire damage:
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- Follow the health guidance from first responders to the fire and mitigation team on the safe cleanup of fire ash, protective clothing and use of masks.
- People often use a cleaning agent containing tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) to reduce odors in fabrics. You can find it under its generic name or specific brand names, available in different formats such as sprays, liquids, or powders. We recommend reading the label for further information and safety instructions, as well as testing any garments or fabrics prior to utilizing.
- Clean kitchenware or appliances with soap and water, rinse, and then polish them.
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