What To Do When a Fire Hits Your Business

7/3/2019 (Permalink)

Commercial fire damage restoration services are available through SERVPRO of Seattle Northwest.

Managing a business through fire restoration in [City, State], requires clear thinking and knowledge of the task ahead. Following these three steps can help your business return to top shape as efficiently as possible.

1. Keep the Property Secure

Keeping yourself and others safe is a top priority when handling a commercial fire. To prevent trespassing and vandalism, consider boarding up the property or installing a fence around the area. This can keep your business secure as you schedule damage assessment and smoke cleaning services. If you have to return to the area, make sure to touch the damaged property as little as possible.

2. Call Your Fire Insurance Agent

Because you will be supplying information to your insurance agent and a fire restoration service, it is important to stay organized. Keep track of contracts, calls, damage photos and other forms of documentation.

If you think the insurance company’s assessment of the damage is inaccurate, you may want to hire a public adjuster or other intermediary. Because these professionals work for business owners, not insurance companies, they may be able to negotiate a claim more favorable to your business.

3. Determine the Value of Lost Property

In order to secure a payout from an insurance agency, owners need to know how much damage the fire caused to their assets. An expected payout depends on which kind of policy the owner has opted to use:

• If the policy covers Actual Cash Value (ACV), the business owner will need to take depreciation into account.
• If the owner has a policy that covers replacement cost, the agency will cover repairing or replacing the original assets.

In either case, an accurate record of how much the building, technology and other assets cost are necessary to file a claim.

Keeping this checklist in mind when dealing with fire restoration can take some of the stress out of the process. Fires can cause severe damage, but staying organized and working with your insurance agent give you a good chance of success after a disaster. Visit https://www.SERVPROseattlenorthwest.com/ for more information on fire damage.