During this phase, the customer walk-thru takes place and a list of items to be completed is noted by the restoration company. Next, the list is completed and flooring is installed (if needed).
Final cleaning will take place and the contents will be moved back into the home. You will be able to return home and begin the process of getting back to normal.
At this point the demo has been completed, the structure is clean and the rebuild process by the restoration company is underway.
Permit inspections have been completed and approved. Maybe the damaged framing or roof decking has been replaced and the plumbing and electrical are likely in place.The HVAC system has been addressed, framing has probably been sealed and drywall is ready to go back into the home.
Depending on the scope of your claim it is possible that the project is at or near the 50% completion mark.
At this point it is time to have a mortgage company inspection completed for another payment on the claim. This process can take a few weeks so ideally the restoration company would like to get this ordered and have it completed at the exact time they are 50% complete to prevents any delays.The check would be cut on the next draw by the mortgage company and that also can take a few weeks. The goal is to keep the project moving with as little disruption as possible.
At this point, your mortgage company will require documentation from your contractor. It will vary depending on the mortgage company, but the goal is to ensure that you have hired a qualified and insured contractor such as one of our rē:network specialists.
It also serves to protect all parties financially during the repair process. Once the mortgage company has all the required forms and information, they will issue the first check toward the repair.
Typically this is on some sort of schedule and requires inspections before the release of future payments.
If everything has gone well to this point–hopefully you should have the initial scope of repair from the insurance company.
The scope should also come with a check for the repair–minus any depreciation but don’t sweat that right now.
Most policies allow for you to recover the depreciation once the repairs are complete. Most of the time that check will be made out to you as the property owner and the mortgage company who financed the property.
Your rē:network specialist can help you navigate the process of getting all the documentation completed and to the appropriate parties, so that your mortgage company can release the initial funds to get your restoration and your recovery under way.
During this time, the restoration company will finish the pack-out of the contents and the initial debris cleanup.Typically you will talk to or meet with your restoration company representative to discuss the rebuild portion of the claim.
This is a great time to discuss the process and timeline of the restoration. Your insurance company owes you to put your home back to its pre-loss condition, but that doesn’t mean everything has to go back exactly like it was.
It just means that is all they will pay to have done. But if you were planning to install granite countertops anyway, you might as well discuss doing that now. It’s cheaper to pay for that upgrade now than to have new ones installed and take them out in 2 months to be replaced. Just something to think about.
Your insurance company will send an adjuster to your home to assess the damage. Often this is an employee of your insurance company or a third party adjusting firm. Depending on the severity of the fire, the first adjuster may be able to create a scope of repair on the home.
Often larger fires require that the claim be turned over to a “Large Loss” adjuster. Many times the claim has to be reviewed by a desk adjuster before the scope can be “finalized” and payment issued for the repair of the home. All of this is important because it affects how quickly repairs will actually start on your home.
Obviously you don’t want to actually start the repair process until you get the insurance to commit to the necessary repairs. You also want to make sure that you have an advocate on your side to ensure that the proper scope of repair is created.
Most insurance policies are written so that for a covered loss the insurance company is obligated to make you whole.Meaning that they owe to pay for whatever it takes to put your property and your contents back to a pre-loss condition. Too often clients get short changed in this process.
Remember, you have the right to choose any qualified contractor you want to restore your property! Our partners will be happy to help you.
So, I guess I need to contact my insurance company and let them know?
Sure – your insurance will be who pays for the repairs to your home, so at some point they will need to be made aware of the situation and you will need to file a claim.
REMEMBER – Texas State Law allows you to choose the restoration company you prefer.Your insurance may have specific companies that they prefer to work with and are suggested because they want to protect their own interests.Most likely there will be some restoration companies at the scene looking to secure your business. Use caution when hiring one of these companies, taking the time to check them out and making sure you have a comfort level with the company representative.
We listed some well known restoration companies here, each one being “A rated” with the BBB. You need to make sure you find someone you feel like will work to meet your needs. Hire that company!
Once you have decided on a company, they can secure your home by boarding up broken windows, tarping the roof or securing the front door.
This is where you will want to hire an experienced restoration company that you can trust that will take care of you. The goal is to protect your investment and belongings, you want a company where you and your needs are priority.