Help With Your Fire Insurance Claim
You do not need to have the contents list finished or understand every line of your policy before asking for help. If your Charlotte-area home or business has fire or smoke damage, we can start by reviewing the information you have: your policy, claim number, photographs and any estimate or offer from the insurer.
A public adjuster represents the policyholder in the property insurance claim. If you hire Melo, our work can include documenting damage, reviewing the scope of repairs, organizing claim records and negotiating with your insurer. We are not a restoration contractor or a law firm.
The initial review is free, with no obligation to hire us. It helps identify what your claim needs and whether we can assist. Paid representation is a separate service: our fee is a percentage of the claim, agreed in writing before any work starts, and there are no up-front fees.
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What to Document After a House Fire
Follow the fire department's instructions about when it is safe to enter. Report the loss to your insurer and arrange safe, temporary protection of the property where needed. The North Carolina Department of Insurance's fire recovery guidance explains these first steps and notes that temporary housing costs may be covered by your policy.
Once it is safe, keep a record of:
- Fire, heat, smoke and soot damage to the building and belongings.
- Water damage from firefighting, with photographs showing the affected areas.
- Temporary repairs, cleanup estimates and invoices.
- Hotel and other additional living expenses, if you have had to leave home.
- Your insurer's requests, estimates and written claim correspondence.
Ask your claim handler what needs to be inspected or documented before damaged property is removed. Coverage, limits and payment requirements depend on your policy and the circumstances of the loss.
Talk about your fire claim: (704) 286-0707
Asked to Make a Contents Inventory?
Reconstructing a home's belongings while dealing with a fire is a substantial task. Start one room at a time rather than trying to remember everything at once. Record each item's description, quantity, approximate age and condition before the fire. Identify the photographs, purchase records or other evidence you can locate, and flag details you still need to confirm.
If receipts were destroyed, ask the claim handler what alternative records they will consider. Online order histories, bank statements and photographs may help you reconstruct the list; whether they satisfy a particular request depends on what the insurer needs to verify. Keep estimates clearly labeled rather than presenting guesses as facts.
Our guide to making a contents inventory after a house fire gives you a practical starting point. If the insurer's inventory request is overwhelming, tell us what you have been asked to provide during your free review.
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Smoke Damage, Missing Items or a Low Estimate?
A claim can become difficult when an estimate omits an affected room, a contents list is incomplete or there is disagreement about cleaning versus replacement. Tell us which part of the assessment you question and share the relevant estimate, photographs and correspondence.
We can review the documented damage against the proposed scope and your policy. That may mean checking repair quantities, examining the basis for contents values or identifying records needed to support a disputed item. Not every disagreement results in additional payment, and no review guarantees coverage or a higher settlement.
Replacement-cost benefits, depreciation and reimbursement after buying replacements also depend on your policy's conditions. Ask for the insurer's calculation and requirements in writing so you can understand what has been paid and what remains to be documented.
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A Clear Next Step for Your Charlotte Fire Claim
Whether you have just reported the loss or already received an offer, a review can help you understand the next step. Share what happened, where the property is and what the insurer is asking you to do. Bring any documents you have; you can explain what is still missing.
A contents inventory and a sworn proof of loss are different documents. If your insurer requests a signed proof of loss, check its instructions and the applicable deadline. The NC Department of Insurance's claim guidance explains the role of claim documentation. Your policy and the specific request determine what you need to submit and when.
Start with our free fire claim review or call (704) 286-0707. We will discuss your claim and whether representation is appropriate, without asking you to commit before you understand the service and fee.
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