How To File A Smoke Claim

Fire is destructive in itself, but if your business or home had one, there’s another form of damage you should look out for - smoke damage. Smoke, ash, and soot can wreak havoc on your living or working space. 

Unfortunately, a smoke claim can be quite complex to navigate, which is why we put together a set of tips on how to go about it.

What To Do When Filing A Smoke Claim

Once it’s safe to do so, inspect your entire property. Take note of any damaged areas and items in your home or office. Photograph everything from multiple angles and create a comprehensive inventory of ruined items such as appliances, valuables, and clothes. Don’t forget to get a copy of the fire department or the police report.

These are just the basics of filing most insurance claims, but smoke damage can be a bit different. To document the full extent of it, you have to dig a little deeper.

Even if you don’t see the direct effects of the smoke, toxic particles could still be floating in the air, posing a serious health hazard. This is why we recommend contacting a certified hygienist who can test the air quality and tell you if your home or building is safe to inhabit following a fire.

You should also check hard-to-reach places such as HVAC vents, furnishings, insulation, electrical sockets, and so on. 

Should You Clean Up Yourself?

Unfortunately, you can’t neutralize the dangerous effects of smoke by yourself. A lot of homeowners wrongfully assume that deodorizing the furniture is enough. However, to properly clean and repair smoke damage, you need access to specialized tools.

Why?

Because many homes have lead-based paint and asbestos materials. These construction materials are typically harmless unless a fire happens, which can cause microscopic asbestos fibers and lead particles to get released into the air.

To address this issue, you’ll have to contact an experienced inspector. If they determine your building is full of these dangerous particles, they may recommend hiring a contractor specializing in asbestos abatement and lead remediation.

Smoke remediation teams use high-efficiency HEPA vacuums to clear up particles and deodorize spaces that suffered smoke damage. After they complete the remediation process, your home or office space will be officially safe to inhabit.

How To File A Smoke Claim

As soon as the immediate danger of the fire is through, you should carefully review your policy. Check the declarations section where you’ll find which perils and types of damage are covered. 

You can also learn about the deductible and any limitations in your policy, and more importantly, any time limits.

Once you get all the information (including the list of all the damaged items and photos), call your insurance company and report the damage.

Early in the process, the insurance company will send an adjuster to inspect the damage in your home or business space. Ensure you’re present while they conduct the inspection and note down which areas of your property they’ve inspected. Feel free to remind them if they missed a spot, so to speak. 

You should also be there to answer any questions they might ask. 

Afterward, you’ll have to wait for the insurance company to approve your smoke claim. If they agree to pay you out, they’ll issue a first check which is typically enough to cover about half of the repairs. Once you put that money to good use, you’ll have to deliver the receipts to your insurer to prove you spent the check only on repairs. They’ll review the evidence you provided and issue the second check.

Do You Need A Public Adjuster?

Public adjusters are usually a major part of larger smoke claims (those over $10,000), but hiring them can be beneficial even if the damage to your property isn’t that extensive.

Here’s why:

A public adjuster can increase the chances of settling your claim for the full amount, which you are entitled to under your policy. Since these individuals are licensed by the state of Florida, they don’t work for the insurance company - they work for homeowners (and themselves, of course).

While most people will turn to public adjusters if their smoke claim is denied or severely undervalued, it also doesn’t hurt to hire them at the very beginning of the process. For starters, they can collect all the documents and information required for submitting your claim. They can also communicate with independent contractors on your behalf, thus saving you time and the headache of dealing with multiple parties.

Their most beneficial aspect is arguably the ability to negotiate with the insurance company and help you receive the most favorable offer possible. It’s not uncommon for these experts to have spent time working as insurance company adjusters, which means they’re familiar with all the tricks that the insurance companies may pull to minimize your payout.

This can significantly level the playing field and even slightly tip the odds in your favor. You’ll avoid the classic ‘’David & Goliath’’ situation that most insurance companies take full advantage of.

The best thing is, you don’t have to pay an insurance adjuster out of your wallet as they’ll get a percentage of your settlement. According to Florida statutes, this percentage is capped at 10% for declared emergencies and 20% for claims not based on declared emergencies.

You might be thinking that this fee is excessive, but consider the following:

According to an OPPAGA analysis, homeowners who hired a public adjuster for their insurance claims saw a 747% increase in their settlement. This is more than enough to offset the minuscule fee your public adjuster will receive.

Why Continental Public Adjusters?

Having your smoke claim undervalued could severely impact the finances of your business or your household. This is why you shouldn’t take any chances, especially when dealing with smoke and fire damage.

By hiring Continental Public Adjusters, you can sleep easy knowing your claim is in good hands. We have decades of experience so we are well aware of all the areas where insurance companies cut corners and all the tricks they’ll use to minimize your payment.

Call (800) 989-4769 now to schedule a free consultation, and one of our team members will explain in detail how we can maximize, speed up, and strengthen your smoke claim!