The answer to that question is “it depends.” However, most experts estimate that following an average house fire it usually takes approximately six months to complete the repairs.

What can shorten or lengthen the repair time?

When it comes to getting a house repaired after a fire one of the most important decisions you’ll make is selecting a contractor.

Your selection of a contractor can go a long way in ultimately determining whether your repairs are completed sooner rather than later.

That is why you must be very careful during the selection process. Ask your insurance agent for recommendations. Check message boards and forums online. Ask friends and relatives who have hired contractors in the past.

Once you have some qualified candidates, interview each and have each provide you with an estimate for the repair work.

What about the Coronavirus?

With the current COVID-19 Outbreak it may not be safe to meet in person in which case you can speak to the contractor on the phone or online via Skype or Zoom or another service.

It is very important that you do talk with the contractor, however. This can help you get a better feel for the person and their work style.

It is also important to check the contractor’s references. Make sure clients are satisfied with his or her work and that the work was completed on time.

What you don’t want to happen

You don’t want to rush your selection of a contractor and end up with someone who goes way over budget … or who takes much longer than promised to complete the repairs.

You want a contractor that is committed to your project and that won’t put your needs behind those of another client.

Deal promptly with your insurance company

Another factor that can affect the time it takes to fix a fire-damaged house is your insurance company.

That’s why you need to be very proactive in your dealings with your insurance agent.

Be sure to report the fire in a timely manner. In fact, most insurance companies require that you report the fire to them as soon as possible – so don’t delay. Most companies have a 1-800 number that you can call.

Once you’ve contacted your insurance agent and notified them of the fire be sure to follow up all other communications with them promptly.

If they request information get it to them as soon as you can. If they call with a question get back with them with the answer as fast as possible.

You should be as cooperative and responsive as you can be in order to ensure that your claim moves forward and your repairs are completed quickly.

Don’t be the cause of any delays. Likewise, don’t let your insurance agent or your contractor off easy either.

If things are taking longer with your agent than you think they should, don’t be afraid to call them and check on the status of your claim.

You also may have to stay on top of your contractor to keep them to the promised schedule and budget.

Don’t accept excuses; demand the best from your collaborators – it’s your house, after all.

Don’t forget about the cleanup

Before renovation work can start your fire-damaged house must be cleaned of debris. This can be hazardous work so it is often best to hire a professional fire cleanup company.

Again you may be able to get recommendations from your insurance agent or your contractor.

After hiring a company, it sends properly outfitted and equipped employees to your home to remove the debris and to get rid of smoke and soot damage.

Smoke and soot damage from a fire can seriously harm anyone in the house without safety equipment.

Making matters worse is the fact that smoke damage can spread throughout a house and be in areas not damaged by fire.

Smoke damage is very invasive

Smoke damage can get into furniture and flooring and behind walls and in drapery. It can also be very hard to get rid of. That’s why professionals may be needed.

The last thing you want is for you and your family to breathe in dangerous smoke particles as that can lead to a whole host of medical problems. These problems can include respiratory issues, eye issues and skin issues.

If your home suffered a smaller fire and you want to do the cleanup yourself here are a few tips:

• Tackle the cleanup one room at a time. If you look at the damage sustained over the whole house it may seem overwhelming. Just focus on one room and then the next.

• After cleaning a room thoroughly, be sure to go back over it again with a disinfectant to kill germs and remove smoke particles.

• When cleaning always wear surgical or rubber gloves and a mask

• When you are done for the day, wash your hands thoroughly with anti-bacterial soap. Also, avoid biting your nails.

• Use two buckets when cleaning – one with cleaner and the other with plain water. This helps keep the dirty rinse water out of your cleaning solution.

One more thing – don’t start any repair work until after the loss adjuster has made an inspection!

Want to avoid the hassles of the repair process?

If you want to avoid going through a long drawn out repair process that could disrupt your living situation and add stress to your life …

You can sell your fire-damaged house to We Buy Fire Damaged Houses. We specialize in buying burned homes. We pay a great price and we pay in cash. That means you get your money fast so you can use it to buy or rent a new home in a great area.

If you are interested in receiving a no-obligation quote from We Buy Fire Damaged Houses simply fill out the short form below.