My house is wide open after the fire
When firefighters leave, they often leave behind broken windows or a door that had to be forced open. That was the right call during the fire. Now it means rain, cold, animals, and strangers have a way into your home on the very first night.
Our Akron team is available 24 hours a day to cover those openings. Broken windows and damaged doors are boarded over, so the belongings still inside stay protected while your claim gets started.
Worried someone will break in while we're gone
A fire-damaged house with nobody living in it is an easy target. Things that survived the fire, from tools in the garage to jewelry in a dresser drawer, are still sitting inside. Boarding up the openings makes the house much harder to get into.
It also protects what can still be restored. Electronics, furniture, and clothes left open to rain and cold can pick up new water damage on top of the smoke. Securing the house keeps the damage from growing until our team can pack your belongings out.
Insurance says I have to protect the house from more damage
Most homeowners policies say you must take reasonable steps to protect your home from further damage after a loss. If rain pours through an open window for a week, your insurance company may refuse to cover the new damage it causes.
A board up is one of the clearest ways to show you've done your part. It is usually covered as part of the claim, though your own policy decides that. Having it handled right away means one less thing on your list in the first hours after a fire.
Why the city is holding part of my insurance money
Ohio law lets cities and townships hold back part of a large fire claim. When fire damage tops $5,000 and the loss reaches 60 percent or more of your policy limits, your insurance company can send $2,000 for every $15,000 of the claim to the local government instead of paying it to you. Mansfield is one of the Ohio cities that uses this rule.
If you submit a contractor's signed estimate for removing, repairing, or securing the building, that estimate amount can be held instead of the standard formula. The money comes back to you once the building has been repaired, removed, or secured and the city has proof. Getting the house properly boarded up early is one step toward that. Your adjuster can tell you whether your city takes part.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I call for a board up?
As soon as you can after the fire department leaves. Our team is available 24 hours a day, so broken windows and forced doors don't stay open overnight.
Is a board up covered by insurance?
It is usually covered as part of the claim, though your own policy decides that. Most homeowners policies require you to take reasonable steps to protect the home from further damage, and a board up is one of the clearest ways to show you've done that.
What does a board up protect against?
Rain, cold, animals, and intruders. It also keeps furniture, electronics, and clothing that can still be restored from picking up new water damage on top of the smoke.
Does a board up help with the city's hold-back of my insurance money?
Securing the building is one of the steps that can release the money a participating city holds back. Your adjuster can tell you whether your city takes part.
Locally owned and operated by Jeff Sitz and Brian Rick from our Akron office at 1477 Copley Rd.