Water and flood
Burst pipes, appliance leaks, sewer backup and hidden moisture.
Public adjuster for fire and smoke claims
Fire and smoke damage claims, documented room by room.
A fire claim is several claims at once: the building, everything inside it, the cost of living somewhere else and the cleanup of smoke and soot. We document each part so nothing is left out of the settlement.
What the claim covers
What a fire claim can include.
Most homeowners policies split a fire loss into separate coverages, each with its own limit. Your policy decides what applies, so we start by reading it.
- The structure. Framing, roofing, drywall, flooring, cabinets, wiring and anything built in.
- Contents. Furniture, clothing, electronics and personal items, listed and priced item by item.
- Additional living expenses. The extra cost of living somewhere else while the home is repaired.
- Smoke and soot cleanup. Cleaning, sealing or replacing the surfaces, contents and ductwork smoke reached.
- Water from firefighting. Wet drywall, insulation and flooring left behind after the fire was put out.
- Debris removal and code upgrades. When your policy includes them.
What often gets missed
Where fire claims come up short.
Smoke in hidden spaces
Smoke travels through ducts, attics and wall cavities. Rooms that look clean can still need cleaning or sealing.
Contents that look fine
Fabrics, mattresses and electronics can hold odor and soot residue even when they show no damage.
Living costs beyond the hotel
Added mileage, higher food costs and other extra expenses can count when you cannot live at home.
Depreciation held back
On replacement cost policies, part of the payment is often held until repairs are done. It needs to be tracked and claimed.
What to do now
Protect the claim while you protect the property.
- Start a list of damaged items, room by room, with a rough age and where each one came from. Add to it as you remember more.
- Save every receipt: board-up, hotel, meals, clothing and supplies.
- Photograph everything before cleanup, including rooms that only have smoke damage.
- Talk to us before you sign a release or accept the first offer.
How we help with fire claims
As your public adjuster, we inspect every room, photograph and measure the damage, build a contents inventory and price the repairs in Xactimate, the same software most carriers use. Then we present the claim and negotiate it for you.
- Room-by-room inspection and photos
- Contents inventory and pricing
- A line-item Xactimate estimate
- Negotiation with the carrier through settlement
Related claims
Other claims we handle.
Storm and lightning
Fallen trees, power surges, ice dams and severe weather.
Denied or underpaid
Second opinions on denials, low estimates and supplemental claims.
We handle these claims as a licensed public adjuster in Idaho and Arizona. See our fees, read the common questions or look at all the ways we can help.
Get your free claim review.
Tell us what happened. One of our qualified staff will call you back within 1 business day to talk through your options. No obligation.