Whenever a fire strikes your home or business, you experience a loss, whether it’s sentimental value, physical belongings, or even business records. Understanding why you should document your loss after a fire is the first step to making this part of the aftermath go as smoothly as possible. Documenting your losses can help you get financial compensation for the damages to recover and rebuild. Here are five reasons you should document your loss after a fire. 

1. It Helps with Insurance Claims 

In most states, you have a legal right to file a claim for damages after a fire. The amount of your claim is based on the value of the destroyed property. The state or municipality where your home is located may have an insurance company that compensates you for your loss. This could be with your homeowner’s policy or a separate policy, such as a renter’s insurance policy. If you don’t have homeowners’ insurance, you may be eligible for coverage under your auto insurance policy or the Small Business Administration (SBA). 

2. You can Use the Documents for Legal Purposes 

You may have legal reasons to document your loss after a fire. For example, if you file a claim for damages with an insurance company, the insurance company may require you to provide a list of items destroyed in the fire. In addition, you could be required to provide documents that prove the value of the items lost in the fire. This is known as “proof of loss,” and insurance companies or courts often require a fire claims public adjuster to produce it because you are trying to recover damages from someone else. 

3. You can Use the Documents for Personal Purposes 

Documenting your loss after a fire is also suitable for your purposes, such as if you’re trying to sell your home or business. Insurance companies often use photographs of destroyed items as part of their claims process. If you’re selling a home or business, be sure to provide the insurance company with photographs of the damaged items and documents that prove the value of those items. 

4. It Helps with a Claim for Loss of Use 

If you have renters’ insurance, you may have an option to file a New Jersey fire claim for loss of use. This means that your insurance company will compensate you for the time it takes you to move out of the home, and the time it takes you to rebuild. Usually, you can do this by providing the insurance company with an estimate of how long it will take you to rebuild your home. You may also need to give them a list of items destroyed in the fire. 

5. It Helps with a Claim for Physical Damage 

You may also have legal reasons or personal reasons to document your loss after a fire. If your fire claims public adjuster files a claim for damages and loss of use, you will need evidence that proves the value of your losses. This could be photos and documents related to your items lost in the fire, or photographs and documents related to physical damage caused by smoke, water, or other fire damage. You may have documentation pertaining to these types of losses in different ways, such as notes from insurance adjusters or prior estimates from contractors who think they can repair some damage. 

It’s never a good idea to try and handle the recovery of your belongings on your own, as it can be a very stressful situation. You could also find out that you’re not able to recover your belongings or that the insurance company may not pay you for all of the items that you lost. If there is something wrong with your fire insurance policy, or if you want to file a New Jersey fire claim for damages after a fire, you should contact an experienced fire adjuster today. 

NJ Fire Claims has been helping families recover after a fire for decades. We have recovered millions in damages for our clients, and we’ll do everything we can to help you recover after a fire. Get a free quote at (844) 567-FIRE, today! 

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