Hopefully, you never face a disaster at your home, but if you do these tips might help you get through it.
For the purpose of this exercise let’s assume you have had a major disaster and that a large section of your home has been destroyed by fire.
If you are at home at the time, remember that the only time to be a hero is if you are trying to save a life. All material possessions can be replaced with time, so get out and stay safe.
So the fire brigade has gone and you are left staring at your smouldering remains. Try not to touch anything, hard as that may sound. Walk away.
The fire brigade or police may want to investigate the cause of the fire, or the insurers may want to appoint a forensic investigator, so don’t do or touch anything that may jeopardise your claim.
As soon as you have got your breath back, contact your broker or insurance company and report your loss, then sit down and write brief notes as to what happened while the events are still fresh in your mind.
It is very important that you have an accurate account of times and what was happening when the fire started.
Remember, the insurance company wants your business, and it will pay out whatever it is supposed to in terms of your policy and assuming you are adequately insured.
So my advice is to be honest and open from the start. Trying to get more than you are entitled to will only lead to mistrust from early on and a strict enforcement of the policy conditions.
In basic terms, if you had standard chrome taps, don’t expect to have them replaced with gold. In most instances you are entitled to like for like.
The first person you are going to come across will be an insurance loss adjuster. They are highly trained people who act as the link between you and your broker or insurer.
Their role is to:
* Ensure you are insured for the event in terms of your policy.
* Check that you have a legitimate claim, and are not acting fraudulently.
* Make sure you are adequately insured.
Once the loss adjuster has satisfied himself that all is in order, he will go about arranging to have your home put back together and returning your life to normal as quickly as possible.
Try to focus on the fact that at the end of the day you will probably have a well-repaired or even new home.
From a practical point of view, drink plenty of milk every time you visit the scene of the fire to neutralise the acid in the smoke or fumes that you will be inhaling. - Weekend Argus