Determination of Item Salvageability

12/19/2018 (Permalink)

Since You Asked

Frank from Hibbing asks: When there is a fire in a house how do you determine what can be saved and what cannot?

When something tragic like a fire happens in your home you do not often thing about your "stuff" until after the smoke settles.  When we come into someones home after a fire we inventory everything in the hose, and I mean everything.  From the couch, to the bags of tea in the cupboard.  We photograph every piece and get a description to send to the insurance company.  From this inventory process we can determine what can be saved and restored and what has been damaged beyond repair.

Some items are easy to discard and replace, such as paper products and certain unsealed food items.  However trying to determine what can and cannot be saved can be a difficult decision.  Maybe it is slightly damaged or maybe it is something that holds sentimental value.  The chair that was made by your great grandfather and cannot be replaced at your local furniture store.  When this happens we work with the home owner and the insurance company to decide how to move forward.  Maybe you would like the heirloom to be cleaned even if that means it will not be back to its original glory, but that is a decision that the home owner needs to make for him or herself.

A fire is never easy but we try to make the process as easy as possible on you, the homeowner.

If the unfortunate happens call SERVPRO of Bemidiji, Grand Rapids, and Hibbing at 218-999-9799.  You can submit your own question on our facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/SERVPRO.BEMIDJI.GRANDRAPIDS.HIBBING/ or on Twitter, https://twitter.com/SERVPROBGRH