After Fire Damage - Steps Towards Fire Restoration Fire damage is a burdensome mental load on the owner of the house. This is due to the losses of possessions, valuable items, heirlooms; rendered homeless for a while and fire cleanup being not a minor task. There is the additional psychological burden of getting back to a normal life, which is costly and time consuming. Although fire damage incites panic on the owner’s part, maintaining a calm state of mind is helpful in approaching the quandary in a better way. The following steps will be useful to minimize the pressure after fire damage:
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Set the ball rolling by contacting your insurance agent. If you make the claim as soon as possible, the representative of the insurance agency will be able to arrive at the site well in time, in order to assess the damages. Contact your personal insurance agent and do not rely on dubious insurance agents, as you might be trapped by con artists claiming to be providing such services.
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Keep a pocket diary readily available. Jot down notes on all correspondence that takes place with your insurance company and restoration agencies, as miscommunication can occur in challenging situations. File all your receipts and important documents along with their respective photocopies.
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Mark the boundaries of your house well and protect it from probable incidents of vandalism and theft.
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Enter the area wearing protective clothing like goggles, gloves, boots, facemask, etc., in order to prevent harmful inhaling of residual materials and injuries from broken objects.
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Open the windows to get the air circulating. The rooms should be ventilated. If there is water damage and the weather is warm, do not open the windows. It is best to run a dehumidifier in this case.
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Do not use electrical appliances that have undergone fire damage. Wait until a professional check them and decides whether they are safe to use or are dangerous to tamper with. This is essential to prevent mould and mildew.
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If the fire services have turned off your gas or power supply during the fire, do not attempt to turn it on by yourself. It’s ideal to let the professionals handle this.
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Do not consume food items that are exposed to heat.
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Do not cover your damaged upholstery with carpets. However, place aluminum foil or cling-film under furniture legs. - Bio Cleanse Pty Ltd.