How To File Your Smoke Damage Insurance Claims

By Author: Servicemaster of the Upstate
Total Articles: 54
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After a fire incident, homeowners and business owners have to deal with more than just fire damage. Water damage from firefighting efforts and residual soot and smoke must immediately be addressed to prevent further problems from occurring. This is a job that is best done by professionals, such as the team at ServiceMaster of the Upstate.
Without proper cleaning techniques and the right equipment, it can be very difficult to return a home or business to pre-disaster condition after it has been damaged by smoke and fire.

A home or business owner may opt to file an insurance claim for smoke damage after a fire incident. Learn about smoke damage and the process of filing a smoke damage insurance claim in this article.

What is Smoke Damage?

When wood, fabric, plastic, and other materials burn, the resulting odor and physical residue left behind is called smoke damage. Smoke damage can affect building materials and parts such as walls, ceilings, and windows, as well as contaminate items like clothing, jewelry, and furniture. If left untreated, smoke damage can leave behind unsightly stains, discolorations, ...
... corrosion and permanent damage.

Effectively removing smoke damage requires different cleaning solutions and techniques, which often requires the skills and expertise of a professional. The most common items affected by smoke damage after a fire incident are the following:

Art work
Books and photographs
Ceilings
Clothing
Furniture
Jewelry
Walls
Window treatments

How to File for Smoke Damage Insurance
Here are the steps to take when filing for smoke damage insurance:

Immediately call your insurance company after a fire.
Review your insurance policy for information regarding the coverage, limitations, deductibles or exclusions, as well as the deadline for filing.
Take proper documentation of the damage (photo or video) and take care not to disturb the affected area.
Contact a professional smoke damage removal team such as ServiceMaster of the Upstate to provide damage inspection and assessment and formulate a remediation plan.
Gather all the information necessary for filing the claim. This information may include the date of the loss, the type and location of the damage, your contact information or that of the property's owner, a copy of the police report, remediation estimates, receipts for the repairs and restoration, repairs for hotels or meals if the affected area was deemed unlivable and you need to find a lodging, and a complete list of all damaged building materials and items.
Verify the procedures and timeline for filing all parts of the claim with your insurance agent.

Smoke Damage Removal?
Call ServiceMaster of the Upstate, South Carolina's Leading Property Damage Restoration Company

Any form of damage is a time-sensitive problem, which is why it is necessary to call the professionals as soon as possible to get the job done fast. ServiceMaster of the Upstate is South Carolina's premier damage restoration and cleaning company. We have been helping residential and commercial property owners navigate the uncertainty after a fire with our top-notch solutions and services. ServiceMaster of the Upstate offers fire damage restoration services, including content cleaning, soot and smoke damage restoration, and board-up and pack-out with storage. We have a team of certified, licensed and fully bonded technicians who have been trained under the latest techniques and practices in the industry, and have the skill to properly perform the job using state-of-the-art equipment, 100% customer satisfaction guaranteed.

Contact ServiceMaster of the Upstate at (864) 310-7891 or message us online for a free on-site inspection and assessment. We are servicing clients in Greenville, Saluda, Spartanburg, Newberry, and Laurens, South Carolina and surrounding areas. Our Emergency Response Team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to respond to your needs.