A major fire may be the most traumatic event any homeowner can confront. According to Robert Gordon of Gulf Coast Restoration and Construction, a company that specializes in damage restoration in Fort Myers, Florida, a homeowner must go through a number of steps on the way to having a home reconstructed. Gordon, who is intimately familiar with insurance industry procedures, says that your first order of business after a fire is to call your insurance company. Because your insurance company holds the key to the funds you’ll need to rebuild your home, it’s best to work hand-in-hand with it from the start. This includes hiring a contractor who is familiar with your insurance company’s policies and the claims process.
Hire a Contractor
According to Gordon, the best way to find a contractor to reconstruct your home after a major fire is simply to ask your insurance company. Most insurance companies, he says, maintain a list of preferred contractors. Gordon’s own company, Gulf Coast Restoration and Construction, is at the top of many such contractor lists. For this reason, he believes that his company is in a unique position to guide a homeowner efficiently and effectively through the claims process.
Find Housing
If your home can no longer be inhabited, Gordon says, your insurance company may provide you with money you can use to find housing for your family while your home is being reconstructed. “Depending on the type of coverage you have,” he explains, “you may be entitled to an alternative living expense allowance.”
Trust the Process
According to Gordon, if your home has been through a major fire, recovery and reconstruction are no small tasks. Not only is there fire and smoke damage to remedy, but there may also be water damage from fire hoses. Your contractor’s first priority upon arriving at the job site will be to determine whether drying is needed to prevent further damage from the water used to put out the fire. If so, the proper authorization will be obtained from the insurance adjuster and the equipment will be placed.
Next, your contractor will work with you to determine which of your home’s contents can be saved. Unless something has been badly burned, there is a good chance that it can be cleaned and restored to its previous condition. Your contractor will put together a list of items that can be salvaged, even if extensive cleaning is needed, versus a list of those items that will need to be replaced. This list will be submitted to the insurance adjuster, so accuracy is crucial. Once proper approvals have been obtained, the clean-up process will begin. If clothing and other soft goods need to be dry cleaned, a sub contractor will be hired to handle those items.
As for reconstructing the home itself, Gordon explains that in order to get started, a comprehensive estimate of the cost to restore the home must be prepared and submitted to the insurance adjuster. “Because we work closely with insurance companies on a regular basis,” he says, “we use the industry standard software for format and pricing on our estimates. We work with the assigned adjuster to arrive at an ‘agreed estimate’ that will be the basis for the claim to be paid.”
Once the amount has been agreed upon, Gulf Coast Restoration and Construction presents a corresponding contract to the homeowner, which triggers the issuance of an insurance check. “This is the benefit of working with an insurance-preferred contractor,” he says. “We handle as much of the paperwork as possible so you can focus on getting your life back.”
Once the job is underway, reconstructing your home will be similar to building a new home. Permits must be ascertained from the county, and design choices must be made much like they would if you were starting from scratch. “We can even offer upgrades,” Gordon says, “if that’s something the homeowner is interested in.” Ultimately, the goal of the restoration project is to to put your home back together with minimal disruptions to your family’s life. And going with a company that has a proven track record of working closely with your insurance company is the best way to do that.
