24/7 Emergency ServiceWhat Is Included in a Fire Damage Assessment at a Dallas Home
4/9/2015 (Permalink)
Have a Professional Prepare a Damage Assessment Report and Contact Your Homeowner's Insurance Company.
It is essential to have a fire damage assessment performed by a Professional Company such as SERVPRO of Southeast Dallas to determine the severity of the damage.
For any Dallas homeowner, fire damage is among the most disastrous and traumatic events that could take place. In only a few short minutes, a fire can destroy everything you've worked so hard for along with all of your valuables and keepsakes. Although things can seem hopeless in the wake of a house fire, it's important to remember that, depending on how much fire damage was done, it's often possible to salvage the house and return it to its original condition. However, to find out if this is a possibility, it's essential to have a fire damage assessment performed to determine the severity of the damage.
Where Can I Get A Fire Damage Estimate?
Although you might feel tempted to begin cleanup right away, it's strongly recommended that you contact a professiona service such as SERVPRO of Southeast Dallas County to prepare a Damage Assessment Report and contact your homeowner's insurance company. Depending on your policy, the cost of replacing your possessions and restoring your home from fire damage may be covered. If it is, your provider will send an inspector to you home to prepare a cost estimate. After this, the next thing you should do is hire a professional restoration service so the cleanup process can begin as soon as possible. Both your insurance provider and the restoration service will perform their own estimates of the cleanup costs. This is determined by several factors like the extent of the damage, what tools, equipment and materials are needed to start repairs and if you home is still safe enough for you and your family to stay in. Here are some of the considerations that go into creating an accurate cleanup cost estimate:
Superficial Damage
Among the first things checked for in your home following a fire is the degree of superficial damage, which is often more easily repaired than other kinds of damage. The inspector typically starts with your home's exterior and looks for things like melted materials, missing or damaged shingles, chimney damage and other kinds of exterior wreckage. The inspector may also look at your yard, neighbors' yards, your roof and siding and any other outside surfaces that may have sustained damage.
Internal Damage
The next step in preparing an accurate estimate is determining the level of damage that occurred inside of your home. The inspector walks all throughout the house and looks for visible damage to ceilings, walls, roofs, vents and ducts, flooring, sinks, tubs, plumbing and windows. This is done to see if these items are damaged beyond repair or intact enough to salvage. This is especially important if you have a basement as fire damage to ceilings, walls and foundations may require significantly more work.
The Cleanup Process
After a damage assessment for your entire home has been performed, the restoration service can get started with cleanup right away. This fast action is essential for preventing mold and mildew development and saving as many of your possessions, fixtures and housing materials as possible. The number one priority is to avoid additional damage.
It is strongly recommended that you leave your fire damage estimate to you local fire damage restoration service. Although taking photos of the damage and collecting records for your own purposes is wise and encouraged, only a professional has the equipment, knowledge and experience needed to determine the true extent of the damage. If you'd like to learn more about choosing a fire damage restoration service, please check your local phone book or speak with your homeowner's insurance company.
SERVPRO of Southeast Dallas County proudly serves Cedar Hill , Lancaster , Dallas, Balch Springs , Wills Point , and surrounding areas. We are available 24 hours/7 days a week and are ready to restore damage to your Southeast Dallas home or commercial structure caused by:
SERVPRO of Southeast Dallas County Professionals have the training, experience, and equipment to manage fire damage emergencies in the Dallas area. They will respond quickly and manage the fire restoration project through to its completion—getting you back in your home as quickly as possible. Call the fire restoration experts 24/7 at (972) 227-0800 for help.