Every 88 seconds, a home fire occurs in the US. Whether it is faulty wiring, a chimney, wildfires, or arson; if you have fire damage in your home or on your property, don’t panic! There are options you can take to recover your losses, even if your homeowners insurance or hazard insurance policy won’t cover the costs to repair your home. The first thing to do is evaluate the damage.
Damage from fires can include foundation problems, flooding, damaged frames, and a plethora of other problems. But there are set steps to take before entering your home and seeing what the damage is.
What To Do After A Fire
The steps to take after fire damage are:
- Wait for the fire department to clear you for entry.
- Document all of the damages with photographs, videos, and detailed notes.
- Contact your homeowner’s insurance company to begin the claims process and find out what steps you can take to start repairs.
- File a proof of loss where you list the fire damaged parts of your home and personal property.
- Contact a fire restoration company to give you an estimate on repairs, and find out if your home is salvageable.
- Start the cleanup process.
If it turns out your home is not salvageable, you don’t have the money to repair and rebuild, or you live in a fire prone area and want to move, you can always sell your house for cash to an investor like us. But before you take this step, try evaluating the costs to repair, you did move there for a reason, and if you love the area you may not need to leave.
Fire Damage Cleanup and Repair Costs
Your fire damage repair and cleanup costs will vary depending on the cause and the location of the damage. For example, a large kitchen fire is usually going to be more costly than a small fire in a bedroom.
So you aren’t surprised, according to Home Advisor, the average fire damage restoration costs you can expect are:
| Damage | Repair Cost Range |
| Fire and Smoke Damage Repair | $2,800 – $34,000 |
| Water Damage and Cleanup | $1,000 – $4,000 |
| Repairing Chemical Contamination | $1,000 – $2,500 |
| Soot Removal and Cleanup | $2,000 – $6,000 |
| Smoke Damage Restoration | $200 – $1,000 |
| Furniture Deodorizing | $200 – $1,000 |
| Ozone Smoke Removal | $200 – $400 |
| Remove Damaged Items | $50 – $100 per pound |
| Thermal Fogging | $200 – $600 |
| Duct Cleaning | $200 – $500 |
These costs can be scary, but remember, insurance is there to help if your policy has fire protections.
Insurance vs No Insurance With Fire Damage
A standard homeowners insurance policy will normally take care of some of the financial losses from fire damage.
Coverage does change policy to policy, but many homeowner’s insurance policies have sections that cover:
- Dwelling clauses cover the singed or burned-away portions of your home and smoke damage.
- If your house is completely burned to the ground, your insurer may pay you a lump sum up to your limits.
- Personal property to replace your clothing, furniture and other personal belongings.
- Liability protection to help with lawsuits and other related damages if the fire spreads.
- Temporary lodging and food costs while you can’t live in your home.
Note: You’ll need to check your own policy for the exact protections you have.
If you don’t have insurance, you can still get your life back on track. While you won’t be able to file a claim, you still have options:
- The Red Cross can provide you with their disaster relief programs.
- Local shelters may provide you with emergency places to stay temporarily.
- You can sell your house to companies like ours even if the frame and foundation are damaged. Call us at to learn more.
- If the fire was caused by someone else like a homeowner in your neighborhood, you may be able to take legal action against them and collect from their insurance.
If you lose your house, or your home is damaged from a fire, don’t panic. Your home may not be recognizable now, but you can recover the loss and build back again.