How To Claim Insurance » fire insurance claims

Reduce Fire Risk for Home Insurance Savings

admin — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:01:00 +0000

Reduce Fire Risk for Home Insurance Savings

http://www.howtoclaiminsurance.com/

Research from a home insurance company reveals that two in five Brits are failing to check their homes for fire risks. So how can you reduce the risk of making a home insurance claim after a fire-related accident?

Reduce fire risk for home insurance savings

It could be as simple as a dropped cigarette or some grease left to bubble on a hob for too long, but fires in the home do happen and they pose a major risk – they can cause massive damage both emotionally and financially.

Despite the risks however, research from home insurance provider Halifax shows that two in five Brits are failing to check their homes for fire hazards. To make matters worse, more than two thirds (68 per cent) said they would panic and not know what to do if a fire occurred.

Of course it is possible to protect yourself against the financial risk of fire damage through home insurance. However, almost half of all Brits (48 per cent) could lose everything as they admit they don’t know what their home insurance covers them for in the event of a blaze.

How home insurance can help after a fire?

Unfortunately there are many sentimental items that simply cannot be replaced – such as family heirlooms or photographs – which is why preventing a fire is so important. However, home insurance can certainly lift some of the financial burden.

According to the Halifax research, the items Brits would most like to save in the event of a blaze are:

Handbag or wallet
Family photos
Mobile phone
Home computer
Childhood items
Jewellery
Family heirlooms
Clothes
DVDs and CDs
Wii or other games console

Among these items, the majority could be replaced with a home insurance policy. Most insurers now offer "new for old cover" in which you get a brand new item to replace the previous version.

However, in order for a home insurance company to offer a payout in the event of a claim you must keep your policy up-to-date. Ensure you check your policy regularly and include any new items – such as Christmas or birthday presents – as part of your list. With Christmas approaching it’s worth seeing if your insurer will offer additional cover over the festive period for any items you buy.

http://www.claimbuster.com/

How to prevent a fire-related home insurance claim?

In addition to wanting to protect sentimental items, there are financial incentives to avoiding a fire-related claim too. Any claim on your home insurance will automatically wipe out your no-claims bonus, which means your premiums will increase.

So how can you avoid a fire in the home?

The first step should be to install a smoke detector. This won’t prevent the fire, but early detection could allow you to control it before it gets out of hand. If you already have smoke detectors in place make sure they are checked regularly – just press the button to see if the batteries are in working order.

Carry out regular checks on gas systems and be on the lookout for faulty valves, leaks or items that could cause obstruction. You should also pay close attention to your kitchen appliances to ensure they are working properly and that there is nothing that could prevent them from working safely. Indeed all electrical items, including plugs, sockets, fuse boxes, wires and cords should be checked regularly and maintained. If you are concerned about any gas or electrical problems then don’t wait around – call an expert immediately and have them investigate the situation.

If you have any fires within your home, ensure they are extinguished before you leave the room. This could be a cigarette, a burning candle, an oil lamp or an open flame – never leave a fire unattended.

Spend some time with your children and teach them about the importance of staying away from a fire and never playing with lighters or matches. A large portion of home blazes are caused by child-related accidents and not all insurers will offer a payout if you are found to be negligent in the build-up to the blaze.

Should the worst happen it’s important to have a plan in place. Plan an emergency exit route and ensure the family is familiar with the idea. You may wish to have a separate plan if the fire occurs while you are upstairs and prevents stair access. Leave a mobile phone near your exit route at night, or be aware of where the nearest phone access may be – whether at a neighbor’s house or a public phone booth – to ensure you can make a quick call to the emergency services.

From there, you’ll need a complete home insurance policy to save the day and get you back on track. Check your policy for any fire related exclusions and if necessary compare home insurance online to find a more suitable deal.

www.gocompare.com

Top Key Tips to Filing a Fire Insurance Claim

admin — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:01:00 +0000

Top Key Tips to Filing a Fire Insurance Claim

How to file fire insurance claims.

Tragedy has struck you and your family in an indescribable way. You have lost your home to a fire. What do you do now? Where do you go? Do not panic! Your fire insurance claim is one of the many ways you can get help. When you file that claim though, be informed. The following guidelines will help you in the event of a house fire; better still, prepare yourself before disaster strikes.

1. Know your coverage – Many people feel that their insurance company may have "pulled a fast one" on them when their claim is denied. A simple way to avoid this is to know your coverage. Get out that brochure that your insurance agent gave you when you signed your contract. Cannot find it? Call your insurance company and ask them to send you another one, and read it from beginning to end.

2. Know the amount of your deductible – When you sign a contract with your insurance company, you agree to a deductible, a basic amount to be deducted from the amount claimed. Example: If your damages total $4000 and your deductible is $500, the insurance company will give you $3500 and you will have to absorb the remaining $500.

3. Request it all in writing – Make sure you receive any and all estimates of damage or destruction in writing. This provides you with proof of damage when it comes time to file the fire insurance claim. Also be sure to request written estimates of repairs and/or replacement as well.

4. Sign nothing yet! – Before you sign anything, ask lots of questions, inform yourself, read the small print, and fully understand the document to be signed. You do not have to blindly accept the insurance company’s assessment of damage – get your own estimates in order to compare them with the insurance company’s estimates.

5. Gather all necessary information – Confirm with your insurance company the requirements for filing a fire insurance claim. Below is the standard necessary information needed:

Date of loss
Type of claim (loss)
Location of damage
Detailed list of any injuries incurred
Full condition of home
Complete list of all damages
All estimates for repair or replacement
Police report

6. Keep everything – In order for your claim to be processed as smoothly as possible, call the insurance company as soon as possible, and keep all documents relating to the incident, no matter how insignificant they may seem. Do not get rid of anything until the insurance company has sent a representative to assess the damage.

Many insurance companies will pay for temporary housing should your home be so damaged that you cannot live in it. Call them, or refer to your documentation to find out whether this is a possible provision in your case.

Form more about Fires go to: Fire Extinguisher 101.

Other Blog Reviews

The Hays Daily News

Rural Fire Chief Dick Klaus told commissioners Monday the valuation of fire stations i… Read more…

Rural fire’s insurance jumps almost $1000 | EstateAnalytics

The county also will lose close to $1 million in agriculture values, but Denning said real estate va… Read more…

chris brown apology lyrics: Fire Concern Forges GP&L « sbla

Electric power for the pumps would be available from TP&L lines; however, to get the best insura… Read more…

Homeowners Insurance Questions » Blog Archive » Can you lose your …

WANE TV News Channel 15 is the premier destination for news, weather and sports. Coverage You Can Co… Read more…

bison survival blog: insurance failure

Those puke bastards at AIG sucked up $150 billion and are still crying. Of course, I’m talking a… Read more…

By John Manley

Mail this post

Technorati Tags: auto insurance claim, auto insurance claims, car insurance claim, car insurance claims, funny insurance claims, home insurance claims, homeowners insurance claims, insurance claims, insurance claims adjuster