Fire/Smoke Damage
We've all seen how destructive fire can be, but many homeowners are unaware of the additional harmful effects a fire can have on your home besides the actual fire damage. Throughout the house — even in sections untouched by fire — you can see or smell soot and smoke, which will not come out quickly and can require additional work to be completed.
Dos & Don'ts of
Fire/Smoke Damage
DO
- Do Put our number (419) 504-1601 into your contacts and speed dial.
- Do Call us for names of vendors we know to be proven to handle testing, fire remediation, and board-up if necessary.
- Do Wear a mask and protective clothing if you are going to enter the property before clean-up has occurred.
- Do Keep anyone not directly involved in the claim or clean-up from entering your property before remediation. If someone gets sick, you could be liable.
- Do Understand that smoke from fires carries cancer-causing droplets from plastics that melt and burn. Many burned plastic coatings of electrical wiring have the possibility of causing lung cancer.
DON'T
- Don't Don't, after a heavy smoky fire, sleep in the house. Smoke and fire damage can be hazardous. Your home needs to be tested for harmful chemical changes to air quality. These tests take a few weeks to come back.
- Don't Don't start any work until you and the insurer agree on the Scope of Loss.
- Don't Don't throw away any damaged items until the insurance adjuster has had an opportunity to come and assess the damage. Know who has salvage rights.
Disclaimer: We're not contractors, please seek contracting advice from licensed contractors who specialize in this field.
Other Claim Types
Ohio Claim Help
Why Fire/Smoke Damage Claims Get Underpaid
Insurance carriers often narrow the scope, separate related damage, miss hidden conditions, or price repairs below what Ohio contractors actually need to restore the property.
KCC documents the damage, reviews the policy, builds the claim position, and pushes back when the insurance estimate does not match the real loss.
Call KCC When
- The first estimate will not cover the repairs.
- The carrier says part of the damage is old or unrelated.
- The claim is delayed, denied, or stuck in review.
- You want a policyholder-side review before accepting payment.
When The Amount Is Still Wrong
What Is Appraisal?
Appraisal is a policy process for resolving disputes over the value of a covered loss. If your insurance company accepts coverage for fire/smoke damage but the numbers are too far apart, appraisal may help move the claim toward a binding amount.
Insurance Appraisal Services