Does Insurance Cover the Cost of Fire Damage Restoration Services?

11/22/2019 (Permalink)

It is always a good idea to speak to your insurance agent ahead of time and find out the specifics of what your policy covers

Does Insurance Cover the Cost of Fire Damage Restoration Services?

Whether your home in Overland Park, KS, has recently experienced a large blaze that claimed most of your belongings or a small ignition that quickly got put out, the cost of addressing damage caused by a home fire can be overwhelming. Here is some useful information on how much fire damage cleanup services typically cost and what your insurance plan should cover.

How Much Does Fire and Smoke Cleanup Cost?

On average, the overall cost for cleanup services after a home fire is between $3,177 and $7,863. To come up with an estimate, you need to consider the extent of the damage. There are several factors that have a high impact on the final amount:

• Damage to the structure of your home
  
• Presence of soot on belongings
  
• Apparent smoke damage
  
• Water damage from a fire hose or broken pipe
  
• The need for odor removal services
  
  

Will Insurance Cover the Cost?

Most standard homeowners insurance plans provide some level of coverage for remediation after a fire, except for two situations. If it is determined that the cause of the fire was insurance fraud arson, you will not receive coverage and will likely face criminal prosecution. Additionally, you will not be covered if the house has not been lived in for over 30 consecutive days, which is considered a vacant home fire.

What Does Insurance Cover?

While every policy is different, homeowners insurance often covers the cost of repairing your home in addition to other structures located on your property. Additionally, your personal belongings should be covered, but you need to ask if your policy pays the fair market value of items lost or the replacement value.

While remediation services after a home fire can be extremely pricey, you can have peace of mind knowing insurance covers most types of fire damage. It is always a good idea to speak to your insurance agent ahead of time and find out the specifics of what your policy covers.