Fire at our house today

[redhen]

How can you have proof that you owned those things? I swear ins companies are just scammers that willingly take your money every month..but fight when its time to pay YOU. :/
Sorry about everything..

 

[MamaRoo]

Most insurance companies recommend you document what you own, either with pictures or video. For pricier things you might consider an extra rider. I don't have anything pricy so I don't know how much extra it would be.

You need to check your insurance policy and find out what each outbuilding is covered for. If they call it a garage, and you call it an ADU, then get your policy updated.

 

[15shenyl]

The antiques were in the garage or was you home damaged also? I thought it was the garage and coop and pool, I am sorry if I misunderstood and your home and belongings were also destroyed. Insurance is difficult to deal with. If you have photos, go through them, if family members have photos from when they have come over, ask them to go through the photos so you can prove what you had.

Could you use some boxes as nest boxes for now? During Hurricane Sandy our rabbit hutches were flipped and nestboxes damaged/destroyed so I relocated rabbits in the hurricane to dog crates and they were slightly freaked out. I ended up putting shoeboxes into the crates and the rabbits all managed to squeeze into them. I have large rabbits- 12 lbs and they each squeezed into their own box. It calmed the rabbits down to have the boxes although they looked very silly with the sides of the boxes bulging. Maybe something similiar would help the hens.

Sending you good thoughts.

No, it was the garage, pool, and coop, the side of the house was destroyed. We had lots of antique tools, family items that were 70 or more years old, with bikes, tents, old jars and bottles, golf clubs, Christmas decorations, all the fair items, pool pump, bathroom, lots of old antiques I can't even remember. The person came out and said the coop will go with contents in the garage so I will get a new chicken coop. The hens are doing better over time. They haven't laid any eggs but I think their stressed over loosing their home, but they love their dog crate nesting box. We have lots of clean up but it's going to take two months before they can start rebuilding anything. It's been hard but we will get through it.

 

[SillyChicken]

if you're not getting eggs, you should list it as food or income lost, per egg, per day... try to get as much out of them as you can if they're not giving you much.

 

[LauraNJ]

A trick to remembering is to pretend you are walking into your garage, as it was. Close your eyes, picture it, Lets say you are putting Christmas decorations back, what is to your left and right as you walk- tools, kids items, etc. When you put the xmas decorations down, do you have to move anything, if so, what is it? What is next to the boxes you are setting down?

If you can focus on reliving doing a task, if you concentrate, you can often remember smaller details or items that would be overlooked. Can't hurt to try it.

One of our friends who had a house fire has a huge gameroom and his first claim adjuster came back with a low, low estimate. He kept pushing it back. Got comparables of what the same items were selling for (they don't make the same pinball and arcade games anymore) on ebay, craigslist, private auctions, etc. They finally came up to what he wanted but he really pushed back.

Antique tools have a value because they are tools but also because they are antiques so that gives them added value. At the least, I would insist on replacement tools being American made, no made in china, etc. Do ask family members about pictures because that is an easy way to prove what you had. Don't forget to add in nestboxes, waterers, feeders, etc. All that equipment adds up.

Glad your chickens are happy in their crates and hoping they start laying for you soon.

 

[Sally8]

We had a house fire nearly 10 yrs ago and it is truly a nightmare. I'm so very sorry. Insurance co can be jerks. We had a great one. But we replaced our stick house with a double wide and they don't carry mobile homes. The one we have now came out because we had water leaking down from the ceiling. I had to climb on the roof and take pics for the man. Then they said it was part of maintainence and denied us. (Note to self, find another ins co). I, too wonder how you could prove that you owned it. Things are replaceable but you don't forget. Talking about it helps. Again, I'm so very sorry. sue

 

[MeatKing]

It's interresting how insurance companies can be. I wonder if it as the first company I had, or just a great lady. She sat me down and explained I need to have pics of everything. she said, even if I bought it for 25 at a garage sale, Take a pic, you will still need a new ... and may not be able to get it that price. She told me to store them at not at my home. She was really good explaining these things. I wish yours was explaining as mine was
Good luck and keep pushing!

 

[15shenyl]

Things are ok. They refuse to replace the fence and pool. They think the coop is part of contents, but the hens can't be out in that small area for much longer, they are starting to fight. We are putting everything down that we can, but we won't get the garage back, it costs more than what they are giving us to replace it. We got a card for someone who gives you more money from the insurance company. The new things we can replace but some of the antiques, their were only a few in the world left, you can't replace those. Does anyone know if they will replace lost chicks? I was going to sell them so does that count as a loss of money/food to our family?