​

 

Do I have to Wait for an Insurance Adjuster to Arrive Before Arranging Emergency Work?

No, your insurance carrier should not expect emergency service work to be delayed for them to see the project in person. Work should begin immediately, and the process should be fully documented. This ensures your insurer can see everything through the documentation. It is the carrier's obligation to get the policy holder back to pre-loss conditions and that typically includes paying outside contractors for work performed to get them there.

 

What You Need to Know About Your Claim

 

Policy Breakdown

Your insurance policy is comprised of three main sections: Structure/Dwelling, Contents, and Additional Living Expenses.

​

Structure

Structure coverage, also known as Dwelling coverage, insures the physical building of your home. It covers the cost of repairs or a total rebuild if necessary. It may also include exterior buildings such as a shed or detached garage. It likely includes fixtures, flooring, windows and doors, the roof, foundation, etc.

​

Contents

Contents coverage insures the personal property and belongings inside your home. Each policy is different and you may have multiple limits within this area. Generally, however, it provides coverage towards the cost of replacing lost or damaged belongings like electronics, furniture, clothing, artwork, and even food. This can be one of the most overwhelming aspects of your claim, since a list of the lost or damaged belongings has to be made and valued, and it will probably be extensive.

​

Additional Living Expenses

Additional Living Expenses (ALEs) or Loss of Use coverage will reimburse you for the cost of maintaining a comparable standard of living if your home is deemed unlivable after the loss. Only costs above your normal budget are eligible for compensation. You will find more detailed information about preparing for each part of your claim in Section #2 of this guide.

​

​

Who Does What in the Insurance Claim Process?

Your insurer will assign an insurance adjuster to your claim. They may be an in-house employee or an independent insurance adjuster. They work for the insurer, review your receipts, work with contractors or engineers to estimate the cost of repairs to your home, and calculate the cost of replacing your lost belongings.

 

 

The Claims Process

1. The insurance adjuster or third-party adjuster will identify the cause of loss if possible.

2. The adjuster will review and calculate the Scope of the Loss. They will work with a builder, contractor, or engineer to create a Scope of Work for structural repairs and they may work with an appraiser or content specialist to create a “contents inventory,” which is simply a list of lost or damaged personal belongings.

3. The adjuster works with experts to quantify the loss. They generate an estimate using the structural Scope of Work, and they use the contents inventory to generate a Schedule of Loss, which includes additional information such as age and value.

4. The homeowner determines a recovery plan using the Scopes of Loss. You decide if you are repairing your home according to the structural Scope of Work, or if you’d prefer to cash out and then manage the process yourself. The insurer may want to put out a tender to a list of preferred contractors and you have the option to choose your own contractor as well, but know that in either situation the value approved for the repairs or rebuild will be pre-determined by the initial estimates. You also determine if you are replacing contents, cashing out, or a mix of the two. Consider unanticipated costs when deciding what to do with contents, as replacing contents before your home is repaired can result in higher storage costs. For advice and to help with your insurance claim, get in touch or schedule a free claim review.

5. Negotiate your settlement if you believe you’re entitled to more than the insurer’s offer. Insurers may undervalue lost contents or structural repairs. At this stage in the claims process you can also proceed with repairs. Keep the receipts and invoices for all work done on your home.

6. Pay your deductibles. Often this is deducted from your Contents or Additional Living Expenses settlement at the end of your claim.

7. Keep track of everyday living expenses. Keep and organize your receipts and submit them to the insurer for reimbursement of expenses incurred beyond your normal monthly budget due to having to live outside your home.

 

 

Understanding More About Your Claim

​

What Types of Loss Does Your Home Insurance Cover?

Whether and to what extent your insurance policy covers the loss of your home or belongings depends on the types of coverage included in your policy. Many perils or causes of loss are covered in standard insurance policies, but not all policies are the same. Your specific policy may include some specified perils, but exclude others; or you may need premium coverage for certain causes of loss.

​

Fire

Fire is one of the most common causes of residential and commercial damage. Home insurance policies usually include coverage for damage caused by a fire that originated on the property, a neighbouring property, or resulting from natural disasters such as wildfire or lightning.

​

Theft

Most policies provide coverage for break-and-enters and theft, although coverage may be subject to strict limits when it comes to high-value items if you did not opt for additional insurance. Theft coverage and those special limits may become a concern in fire losses if valuables are looted from the home after the fire.

​

Water Damage

Water damage in most home insurance policies does not include what we would commonly think of as flood insurance (water damage from overland sources). Water damage may also be excluded if it is caused by neglected maintenance, such as leaking pipes, ground seepage, or sewer pipe backups. While each case is different, this coverage usually includes water damage caused by rain or snow, burst or frozen pipes, extinguishing a fire, accidental overflow of an appliance, etc.

 

Liability

If someone is injured on your property, liability coverage protects you from paying for their damages out-of-pocket if they take legal action against you. This may also apply if a contractor is injured while doing repairs on your property.

Premium coverage

There may be additional or premium coverage options available in your area that will cover other types of loss. Some premium coverage options include traditional flooding, earthquake, sewer back-up, and ground water protection. If you run a home-based business such as a home office or short-term rental, you can and should consider coverage for business content and losses.

 

Damage Not Usually Covered

It can be difficult to find coverage for certain types of damage including repeated water leaks, seepage, landslides, and subsidence.

 

Contents Coverage

Contents coverage is responsible for a significant portion of a insurance claim. This area of coverage goes towards the costs of replacing the personal belongings lost or damaged by the occurance. Below are some helpful tips you can use to prepare your Contents claim and make sure you receive a fair settlement. As Urgent, we ensure your contest are not be undervalued or over-depreciated.

​

Replacement Cost

Replacement Cost coverage provides you with the money it would cost to replace your belongings with the same or comparable items at today’s prices. Some goods may no longer cost as much as they did at the time of purchase, such as electronics, but the settlement should allow you to replace all or most of your belongings depending on limits and deductibles. Your policy may give you a limited time to seek Replacement Cost coverage. Going over this special deadline could leave you with only Actual Cash Value coverage. This type of deadline is an important red flag in your policy, and you should be looking for it as soon as you determine that you have Replacement Cost Coverage in the first place.
There are generally two types of time limitation you should look out for:

• A limitation or proscription period to finalize your claim. The language may be found in the statutory conditions included in the policy.

• A Replacement Cost limiting clause, which might be 180-days, 1-year, or something more specific.

​

Actual Cost Value

Actual Cash Value coverage provides you with a settlement equal to what your belongings would have been worth had you sold them at the time of loss. The insurer will calculate their Replacement Cost and then subtract depreciation. Depreciation is the value an item loses over the period of ownership due to the passage of time, damage, and wear-and-tear. For example, you may have spent $1,000 on your couch, but after five years of ownership the fabric is dulled, the springs begin to sag, and the legs may be damaged from movement, meaning it’s only worth $500. The insurer would pay you out using the $500. Homeowners may be surprised to find out how much insurers have depreciated their belongings. With Actual Cash Value coverage, you will have to be vigilant against potential over-depreciation of your items. You should review the Schedule of Loss to ensure that depreciation is accurately calculated based on the item’s age and condition.

 

Additional Living Expenses

Your Additional Living Expenses claim is critical for the recovery of extra costs incurred by you when you have to move out of your home. Use this information to put together your ALE claim and make sure you get the most out of your settlement.

​

Request an Advance for ALEs

Your family faces immediate expenses in the wake of a fire. You may have to rent rooms in a hotel or motel for the immediate future, and as you settle your insurance claim and repairs begin, you may need an apartment or rental home. Until you get settled in a rental with a kitchen, you will likely rely on takeout and if the temporary accommodation is out of town, you may potentially be paying more for gas and transportation. Your insurance claim can take time and it’s not in your best interest to rush the process. You can take some of the financial pressure off by requesting an advance for Additional Living Expenses. This will put money in your pocket right away, giving you breathing room to be thorough with your claim. Make sure you keep receipts and manage the funds though, because you will have to reconcile the advance later or it will be deducted from additional costs later on.

​

Tips for Keeping Track of Your Expenses

Make filing your claim simple and keep close track of all of your expenses while your home is unusable. Here are a few tips for keeping track of expenses and organizing them for your claim:

 

Hold onto all of your receipts for expenses and sort out which ones are covered by your insurance policy later rather than making a split-second decision to keep the receipt every time you make a purchase: Organize receipts for all expenses in a physical folder, three-ring binder, or in a digital folder: Prepare evidence of your normal expenses for comparison in case the insurance company questions them:

 

Keeping track of your expenses will also help you follow how much you’re spending on Additional Living Expenses. Most policies include limits on how much you will be reimbursed for ALEs, after which you will have to start paying out of pocket. It may prove difficult to stretch that policy limit if your home is being completely rebuilt or settling your claim takes a long time. Making and sticking to a budget is a must, even if you’ve been comfortable with monthly spending in the past.

​

What Costs Get Reimbursed?

The purpose of Additional Living Expenses coverage is to help your family maintain your standard of living while your insurance claim is resolved and your home is restored. ALE coverage extends to costs such as:

 

• Temporary accommodations, including short-term hotel stays and longer-term apartment or house rentals;

• Food above your usual expenditure, including takeout and restaurant costs but 
• Moving costs;
• Travel and transportation costs;
• Storage costs.

 

The insurer will only reimburse you for costs above and beyond your normal household expenditure. The insurer will likely ask to see bank statements to determine your average weekly costs for food and gas. They will generally cover the whole cost of your accommodations if you owned the home, since you were not incurring any “rent” before the loss, but they will still have to continue making mortgage payments and paying property taxes after the loss.

​

Mass Evacuation Coverage vs. Additional Living Expenses

If you have had to leave your home due to a mass evacuation order in the event of a wildfire, tornado, or mass flooding, Mass Evacuation coverage can reimburse those emergency expenses above and beyond your normal household expenditures. Many of the costs associated with Mass Evacuation are similar to those in Additional Living Expenses coverage, such as temporary accommodations, gas and mileage, as well as additional expenses such as emergency clothing, toiletries, and medication. Once a mass evacuation order has been lifted coverage may terminate. If you return to find your home was spared by the event and is livable immediately, all living expense coverage ceases. If, however, you return to find your home unlivable due to damage, temporary accommodation, food, and gas costs switch to Additional Living Expenses coverage. You can organize receipts for those costs separately to make your claim easier.

We can help get you more from your insurance claim. Call us at (519) 972 9040.

GET IN TOUCH

​

Structural Repair and Rebuilding

The structural damage done to your home is often the most expensive element of a fire insurance claim. In some cases, fire damage is so extensive that the home is a total loss and needs to be rebuilt completely. At Urgent Restoration, we will have unbiased experts in the construction field look at the damages to your property to make sure all the damages have been documented and quantified appropriately.

​

The Scope of Work

The rebuilding or repair process begins with the insurer preparing a Scope of Work. This is an outline of all the repair or rebuilding work that needs to be accomplished to restore your home to its pre-loss condition. A Scope of Work should be very detailed, including measurements and recommended building materials. Once the Scope of Work is completed, the insurer will send that to contractors to be used in the creation of estimates of the cost of those repairs. The insurer will request estimates or “bids” from their preferred contractors, but you can have an independent company submit an estimate or bid as well. The insurer will most likely use the lowest bid as the “cost” of the repairs. This “cost” is used as a maximum payout to which ever contractor actually completes the work and can also be used to calculate a payout if you prefer to organize everything yourself. There is some pressure on the part of the homeowner to become part of this process before a low baseline figure is determined. Disagreements may arise between your vision for the repair/rebuild of your home or business, and the Insurance Company’s plans. At Urgent Restoration, we represent your interests to achieve what you deserve from your policy.

 

There are a few things you should know to help you navigate your Structure claim:

• 1. Total vs. Partial Loss

  The insurer’s Scope of Work will determine whether your home has undergone a total or partial loss. A total loss will involve completely rebuilding your home, whereas a partial loss means the insurance company is only responsible for repairing those parts of the home that were damaged by the fire. This can be a source of disagreement between the homeowner and insurer. If you disagree with the insurer’s assessment, you can bring in your own experts such as an engineer or contractor to assess the damage and explain why the home needs to be rebuilt entirely.

• 2. Initiate Your Claim in Writing

  If you are still making mortgage payments, your mortgage lender has a financial interest in rebuilding your home. Your mortgage contract may come with requirements for dealing with insurance claims, including holding payments in escrow until repairs are made. If your mortgage lender is co-payable on your insurance claim, they can hold funds up to the balance of your mortgage. However, your insurance company is not keeping track of the balance on your mortgage. You may need to talk to your mortgage lender about refunding you the difference. The mortgage lender should only ever be co-payable on aspects of the Structure claim: funds for Contents and Additional Living Expenses will be sent directly to you. Mortgage lenders may be reluctant to release funds right away because of their financial interest in restoring your home to its pre-loss condition. There are two ways they may release payments for repairs:

• • Releasing funds as repairs are completed and verified;                                          

  • Having the insurance company make the builder co-payable on the funds.

   

• In the first scenario, the mortgage lender pays the builder directly as repairs progress, typically providing a portion up front, more when repairs are 50% complete and verified, and finally when repairs are 100% complete and verified.  In the second scenario, the builder receives payment directly from the insurance company up to your coverage limit. If your coverage limit does not fully pay for the cost of repairs, you will have to pay the builder the remaining costs.  Depending on where you live, you may be entitled to interest on insurance proceeds held by the mortgage lender. You may need to stay in contact with the mortgagee and insist on payment.  A third option does exist in some circumstances. The mortgage lender may use the funds to discharge your mortgage. This would leave you in the position of requalifying for a new mortgage at current interest rates in order to have funds available to pay the builder. This is often the least desirable situation, so you should check your mortgage terms to see if this might apply to you.

• 3. Evaluate Your Insurance Needs During the Rebuild

  You don’t stop paying insurance premiums during a claim and there are good reasons not to. Further loss remains a possibility due to the elements, theft, and other causes. If a further loss occurred and you terminated coverage, you’d be liable for the additional damage out-of-pocket. You may be able to adjust your insurance coverage to reflect the reality of your property’s current state in several ways.

• • Reduce your Content coverage. Once valuables and sentimental items have been secured, it does not make sense to insure personal contents that have already been destroyed or are no longer onsite. Before you make changes to your Content coverage, keep your timeline in mind. If you have to replace contents quickly, the short-term reduction may not be worth it.                                                

  • Adjusting Structure coverage is possible while repairs take place, but with the changing nature of the site, it may be complicated to keep up to date.                                                                                        

  • Take out Builder’s Risk insurance, also known as “Course of Construction” coverage. The policy will at least cover the structure of your home as it’s being reconstructed, and it may also cover building materials onsite. Coverage can also be extended to include materials and fixtures being transported to the site, scaffolding, and costs related to debris removal.                                      

  • Insure your rental during repairs. You can either take out renter’s insurance for contents and liability or ensure that your homeowners policy is extended to include contents kept in the new rental. This will protect your personal belongings and protect you from liability. Depending on the policy, renter’s insurance may also cover accidental damage which may occur at the rental unit while you’re there.

• 4. Understand Bylaw and Upgrade Coverage

  The purpose of your homeowners insurance policy is to restore your property to its pre-loss condition. Unfortunately, new bylaws and building codes may mean that you are obligated to make changes when you rebuild. Updated codes and bylaws can require you to use different building materials or change structural design. If your policy does not include Bylaw and Upgrade coverage, you could be on the hook if those changes come with an increased price tag over what existed before.

  Bylaw and Upgrade coverage is especially important in older homes. Buildings are typically grandfathered into new building codes, but must be updated as soon as the owner renovates. In the case of a partial loss, you may even need to upgrade parts of the home that were unaffected by the fire, and unfortunately those costs likely wouldn’t be covered.

• ​

Frequently Asked Questions About Structure Coverage

• Who hires the contractors to repair or rebuild my home?

• Can the insurer suggest or demand that contractors make structural changes in the scope of the rebuild?

• Before the loss we had completed some renovations, does that impact the rebuild?

• What is upgrade, ordinance, or bylaw coverage?

• Can the insurer repair my home with different finishes than the ones we had before the loss?

• What is a "global cash settlement"?

We can help get you more from your insurance claim. Call us at (519) 515-0010.

GET IN TOUCH

Section 3

​

Complications with Your Fire Insurance Claim & Advanced Information

Complications can happen as part of your fire insurance claim. The loss adjuster does not necessarily know everything about your policy, your home, or your belongings. Meanwhile, the stress and confusion of filing a claim can lead to mistakes on the part of the homeowner. The following section will examine some of the most common complications in fire insurance claims.

 

Common Problems with Insurance Claims

• Contents

  Homeowners may disagree with the adjuster over how their personal belongings have been valued. Adjusters may over-depreciate and devalue personal property.

• Structure

  The insurer may undervalue repairs or rebuilding costs. Adjusters base the compensation they will provide for Structural repairs or rebuilds on the lowest bid they receive, meaning repairs may actually cost more than the insurer says if the lowest bidder is not the one ultimately completing the work.

• Additional Living Expenses

  Disagreements over the legitimacy of costs may result in genuine additional or increased costs being denied or discounted in reimbursement calculations.

• Homeowners Not Knowing Their Rights

  Not knowing your rights means you are at a greater risk of agreeing to things under the insurer’s pressure, and/or failing to pursue fulsome claims and fair compensation.

Subrogation: What Happens When the Fire Started Next Door?

    Your home has been damaged by a fire, but the fire started next door. Who’s responsible for compensating you for your losses and covering the costs of repairing your home? Do things still flow through your own insurer, or will they be shifted to your neighbor and their insurer?

 

    When your home is damaged due to a fire that started on another property, your insurer still compensates you for the loss through a normal claim; but they can then seek repayment of that coverage from the third party who is liable for the damage. The third party’s insurance company covers the costs of this liability up to their limits for that coverage. This process is called subrogation. The process of claiming normally and allowing your insurer to pursue subrogation is the most preferable option available to you, and it is often faster and easier than alternatives such as litigation. Allowing your insurer to manage any resulting subrogation ensures that you streamline the process, achieve a fair result, and save yourself the heightened costs and frustrations of litigation.

But what if you didn’t have insurance, or if you were underinsured and are left out-of-pocket for repairs? Coverage shortfalls due to policy limits and costs that were not insured at all can be recouped through more formalized legal action. You can enter into litigation to collect damages directly from the third party (and/or their insurance company). There will be added requirements (such as establishing liability) that are avoided by a traditional insurance claim, and it can take years before you see the proceeds.

​

What Not to Do in Your Fire Insurance Claim

As the homeowner, avoiding these mistakes can make your fire insurance claim easier and cut down on unnecessary complications. Acting in good faith and providing the insurer with the information they need is not only necessary, but it also puts you in a better position to negotiate a fair settlement. Insisting on exploring the full extent of your rights and receiving the compensation you are entitled to under your insurance policy is equally important. Below is a list of common mistakes homeowners make when filing a fire insurance claim:

• 1. Neglecting to claim items that were lost.

• 2. Over-inflating the claim.

• 3. Accepting an offer unconditionally, especially if it appears undervalued.

• 4. Being pressured into agreeing to or signing something without being sure.

• 5. Failing to understand the policy and/or assuming the loss adjuster knows all the details and entitlements under the policy.

Virani Law helps homeowners navigate their own insurance claims with the support and expertise they need to ensure the best possible settlement.

​

When Should You Work with a Lawyer?

Insurance lawyers can work with you to help you through your claim, negotiate with your insurer, understand your policy, and make sure you receive a fulsome settlement. But not every homeowner will need help with every claim. Below are some circumstances that should identify a need to get help with your insurance claim:

Communication Problems

A major red flag is not hearing from your insurer about where your claim is going next, when work is going to happen, or why there have been delays. Struggling to get information from your insurer adds to the stress you’re already going through. This can be especially frustrating when the insurer makes an effort to document any delays you cause or require and use them to pressure a settlement; but no one is holding them accountable for theirs.

You Feel You Have Not Received a Fair Offer

When you receive the insurer’s offer of settlement or proposal for action you can still negotiate for more or alternative considerations. If you feel as though the insurer has devalued your Contents claim or undervalued the structural repairs, it helps to have a professional review their offer. Professionals are able to identify problematic behaviours and troubling tactics that may not be immediately obvious to a normal homeowner. They can find the areas where you deserve to receive more, and they know how to most efficiently achieve those results.

Total Loss or Substantial Claim

The size of your claim is another factor to consider. In the case of a total or substantial loss, the difference between getting help and completing your claim on your own can be significant. Keep in mind the time and effort needed to present and finalize the claim, the stress of balancing emotional recovery with financial recovery, and the desire to get back to normal, not to mention the heightened financial considerations that come with larger claims.

Reduce Stress

Fire insurance claims are stressful. You are already dealing with the emotional impact of losing your home and belongings and getting your family settled into new living arrangements. Fire insurance claims involve an overwhelming amount of paperwork, review, and support; not to mention language and practices that may be difficult to understand. An insurance lawyer explains the jargon that the loss adjuster may use and handles much of the process for you. Having a professional manage the process can save you from much of the stress that comes with filing a claim.

You Want a Representative Acting in Your Best Interest

It can’t be understated how important your claim is to you and your family. If the insurer’s offer is not enough to cover the costs of rebuilding your home or replacing your belongings, you have to make up the difference out-of-pocket. It can be comforting to know that any under-coverage could not be avoided, as opposed to constantly wondering if you settled for less than you deserved. Many homeowners feel more confident when their claim is handled by someone who deals with insurance claims every day. Just as the loss adjuster acts in the best interest of the insurer, an insurance lawyer will act in your best interest. It can put you on a more equal footing with the insurer.

We lived it, we can help. Call us at (519) 515-0010.

GET IN TOUCH

What Happens If You and Your Insurer Cannot Agree?

There are some cases where the homeowner and insurer cannot agree on issues such as the extent of repairs needed, the adequacy of repairs already completed, or the value of contents that need to be replaced. In these cases, the Dispute Resolution process can resolve a fire insurance claim without resorting to traditional litigation.

​

Dispute Resolution Step-by-Step

1. 1

   Complete Proof of Loss Forms

   As the homeowner, you must complete all Proof of Loss forms required by the insurer, including a Final Proof of Loss.

2. 2

   Deliver (or Receive) a Demand Letter

   You must deliver (or receive from the insurer) a written letter demanding that the file be moved to the Dispute Resolution process. The letter includes the demand, identifies the initiating party’s representative or “appraiser”, and requests that the other party identify their representative within 7 days.

3. 3

   Select a Representative

   public insurance adjuster as their representative for the Dispute Resolution process. The party receiving the demand letter has 7 days to identify a representative, or else one may be appointed.

4. 4

   Representatives Select an Umpire

   The representatives for each party then have 15 days to select an umpire. Umpires tend to be people with experience in insurance negotiations, the law, or construction. They must be impartial.

5. 5

   Representatives Negotiate Each Issue

   The two representatives will identify the issues that led to the dispute and negotiate each one individually to find a mutually acceptable compromise.

6. 6

   Unresolved Issues Are Submitted to the Umpire

   Any issues that remain unresolved after negotiation are submitted to the umpire. The umpire conducts a mediation-like session in which both representatives and the umpire put forth decisions on each issue. Wherever two of the three agree, the decision becomes final.

7. 7

   The Written Determination

   Final decisions are released in a Written Determination (sometimes known as the Award Document). This document determines what the insurer must pay out to the homeowner. It is binding on both parties, meaning once the Dispute Resolution process is complete, you most likely will not be able to change the outcome.

 

 

Tips to Create Your Schedule of Loss

A Schedule of Loss is a comprehensive list of personal belongings in your home that were damaged or destroyed by the fire, smoke damage, or in efforts to put out the fire. This list includes information such as age and valuation, and any cash advance or settlement will be based on these figures. Following these steps can help you make sure you fulfill your insurer’s expectations and complete a comprehensive Schedule of Loss.

1. 1

   Confirm Your Responsibilities

   Ask the insurance adjuster if they require you to compile your Schedule of Loss. In some cases, the adjuster may compile your Schedule of Loss for you, or they may hire a specialist to do so, but you should still review it to confirm that it is accurate and complete.

2. 2

   Use Photos and Documents

   A Schedule of Loss is can be incredibly extensive and it can be a challenge to remember everything you had in your home. Use photos of your home, receipts, and bank or credit card statements to help recall belongings that were damaged or destroyed.

3. 3

   Be Strategic When Creating Your List

   There are several strategies you can use to help you create the most complete list of contents. Start by going from room to room. You can also visit stores and websites where you’ve shopped in the past to refresh your memory. Ask family members or regular guests for help generating lists. For example, teenagers will likely have a much better idea of what they had in their closets and rooms than you do.

4. 4

   Include Every Detail in Your SOL

   The more details you can include in your SOL, the more accurate its appraisal should be. Include details such as current price, brand, how long you had owned it, and where you purchased it.

5. 5

   Stay Up to Date on Your Insurer’s Plans

   Find out what your insurer intends to do with your belongings. They may intend to have you replace many of them, but they may also plan to take efforts to have belongings restored and/or cleaned of smoke damage. The funds for these restoration attempts will come from your Contents coverage, reducing the pool you have available for replacing other items. It is important that you consider your pool of coverage and know whether you might run the risk of hitting your limit. In any event, it’s important to know that the insurer is moving ahead wisely, meaning that they are not trying to clean items that are objectively damaged or uncleanable. You should have the power of oversight before restoration attempts are made and you might not have to pay for failed restoration efforts if doing so would impact your ability to recover other items.

6. 6

   Share a Provisional SOL

   Your Schedule of Loss doesn’t have to be complete before you share it with your insurer. If you need an advance and your insurer wants to appreciate the overall quantum of the loss first, just make sure it is clear that you’re submitting a provisional Schedule of Loss and reserving the right to add to it as you remember more details. This is a good way to get your Contents claim started while reducing the risk that you’ve forgotten something.

7. 7

   Add to Your SOL

   You do not have to sign off on your Schedule of Loss until you are confident that you have included all of the belongings lost in the fire.

8. 8

   Negotiate the Value of Lost Contents

   If you’re not interested in replacing every item, the final step before settling your claim outright will be negotiating the value of your lost contents with your insurer. You do not have to accept the insurer’s values if they have over-depreciated or devalued items

negotiate with your insurer to maximize your settlement. Get in touch or call us at (519)-515-0010.