What Your Fire Insurance Doesn't Cover by Cleo Gib
Make sure your family and your assets are covered should you need fire or water damage recovery in Atlanta.
In 2014, over 360,000
home fires were reported; that is one fire every 86 seconds. Fires
accounted for $11.6 billion in property damages and thousands of
unfortunate deaths and injuries. In the home restoration business, fires
are by far the most devastating for several reasons. Not only can fire
ravage your home and destroy your belongings but the water used to fight
a home fire can do just as much damage. Here are the facts you need to
know about fire and water damage recovery in Atlanta.
Insurance Loopholes
As
with any insurance policy, you need to read the fine print before you
sign. Some homeowners don’t realize that certain fire protection
policies don’t cover the water damage caused by firefighters trying to
stop the blaze. Fire damage in your home may be isolated to the kitchen
for example, but the water used to stop the fire could potentially flood
your entire house. Water damage can manifest itself in ruined flooring,
soggy drywall, and even mold, none of which are covered by your fire
insurance. If you have a historic home with vintage crown molding and
unique structures, insurance companies would sooner replace these
damaged items with cheaper, more modern fixtures that will take away
from your home’s value and charm. Make sure your home is protected in
the event of a fire with a comprehensive policy.
Protecting Your Values
Chances
are most of the valuables in your home are susceptible to fire damage.
Even jewelry, precious metals, and firearms can be damaged by fire. Fire
proof safes are a great investment to protect your smaller valuable.
They come in a variety of sizes. Some can fit right under your bed or in
a dresser drawer while other safes with greater capacities will fit
nicely inside a walk-in closet. Fireproof bags currently on the market
can effectively protect files and important paperwork from fire damage.
In today’s digital age, however, many people are backing up their
important paperwork, like mortgage and insurance information, onto
online storage servers.