| Are You Prepared if the Worst Should Happen? | | | | to review the details of insurance claims and make |
| The recent house fire at the Buckinghamshire home | | | | sure the insurance company pay out as little as |
| of broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan highlights the risks | | | | possible. An insurance loss assessor will visit the |
| we all face of an outbreak of fire in our home. Even | | | | property, taking photographs and making notes on |
| when every precaution is made to avoid such a | | | | the damage the fire has caused, and will present a |
| disaster, house fires can still be unavoidable. Will your | | | | report to the insurance company suggesting the |
| insurance cover you if your home and possessions | | | | lowest possible settlement to cover the cost of fire |
| are destroyed by fire? Making a house fire insurance | | | | damage. |
| claim may not be as straightforward as you | | | | You may find that this amount does not adequately |
| expected. | | | | cover the loss that you have suffered in a house fire. |
| Sir Terry Wogan's house fire was caused by a faulty | | | | Unfortunately, most people making insurance claims |
| tumble dryer in a utility room. Fortunately there were | | | | are not experts and don't have the time, knowledge |
| smoke alarms throughout the building, alerting | | | | or experience to put forward a good case. But |
| residents to the blaze very quickly. All internal doors | | | | expert help is available to those making house fire |
| in the house were closed which prevented the fire | | | | insurance claims. |
| from spreading to any other rooms of the house. It | | | | An insurance loss assessor works in much the same |
| still took two firefighters in breathing apparatus two | | | | way as an insurance adjuster, compiling detailed |
| hours to contain the fire. Sir Terry praised the | | | | evidence of the damage the fire has caused and |
| firefighters on his radio show. | | | | assessing what the insurance settlement should be. |
| Claiming House Fire Insurance | | | | The difference is that loss assessors work for the |
| While the damage to Sir Terry's home could have | | | | claimant, not the insurance company. A loss assessor |
| been a lot worse if the fire prevention measures had | | | | will make a fair and honest appraisal of the damage |
| not been so good, it's certain there will still be a claim | | | | and present the strongest case for you when |
| to make on home and contents insurance. It's likely | | | | making your insurance claim for a house fire. The |
| there was a great deal of smoke damage to some | | | | cost of using such an insurance expert is more than |
| of the contents of the house, and of course the | | | | covered by the final settlement they are able to get |
| tumble dryer and possibly some of the other | | | | you. |
| equipment in the utility room has been damaged. | | | | How to Make a Successful House Fire Insurance |
| If you were to fall victim to a house fire, would you | | | | Claim |
| be able to make an insurance claim? Fire does not | | | | The most important thing to do, as soon as the fire |
| just cause damage to replaceable property and | | | | has been taken care of, is to contact an insurance |
| possessions . A serious house fire could destroy | | | | loss assessor as quickly as possible. The sooner they |
| personal belongings which cannot be replaced. What | | | | can visit your home and assess the damage, the |
| price can you put on these items? Whatever value | | | | better the chance they have of getting you a fair |
| you give them, your insurance company may not | | | | and appropriate settlement from your insurance |
| agree. | | | | company. |
| Getting the Right Settlement in Your House Fire | | | | Of course, before any of this happens, you should |
| Insurance Claim | | | | take every step to avoid the risk of a fire in your |
| Your insurance company are in the business of | | | | home. But if the worst does occur, make sure you |
| making a profit, and they don't do this by giving out | | | | use an insurance loss assessor to avoid a |
| vast sums of money to their claimants. Insurance | | | | disappointing payout from your insurance company. |
| companies employ experts, known as loss adjusters, | | | | |