This is an overview roadmap to what to expect during the process of recovering your building.
Every fire loss is different, but the sequence of events follows a recognizable pattern. Understanding the pattern — who shows up, in what order, and why — is one of the most valuable things a property owner can do in the first days after a loss.
The Steps
Property Needs To Be Secured
Secure the property. Your prime concern should be to prevent additional liability — prevent further injury or loss, especially from an outsider who could enter, get injured, and claim that you are responsible and should pay. This is typically done through board-up and temporary securing work. Coast Construction arrives quickly to secure the property and prevent further loss.
File Your Insurance Claim
You must call your insurance company's Claims Department — not your agent. The Claims Department assigns an Adjuster to visit your property, usually within 1–5 business days. Report the claim, obtain a claim number, and provide basic information about the loss.
Temporary Housing (ALE)
Most insurance policies cover ALE — Additional Living Expenses, also called Loss of Use — such as hotel or rental housing. Review your policy and ask your adjuster if you're unsure what is included. ALE limits are typically capped at a total dollar amount or a time period, often 12 months. Delays in the reconstruction process caused by the insurer can erode this benefit — something worth tracking closely.
You Choose the Vendors
You are not required to use the insurance company's vendors. California law allows you to choose your own. Per California Code of Regulations §2695.9, insurers cannot send or recommend a contractor unless you agree — because it is a conflict of interest. Stay in control of who you hire and what you authorize them to do.
Vendor Roles
These vendors are typically involved, roughly in this order:
- Testing Company — Required for lead and asbestos testing if the building was built before 1984.
- Abatement Contractor — Licensed to remove hazardous materials identified by the testing company.
- Mitigation Team — Inventories, removes, cleans, and stores your contents. Also handles water extraction, drying, and temporary stabilization.
- Textile Cleaning — Cleans and inventories clothing and fabric items separately from the main contents packout.
- Reconstruction Contractor (Coast Construction) — Prepares the complete scope of work, coordinates with the insurance company, obtains permits, and rebuilds.
These roles are different. They are not interchangeable. A mitigation company is not a reconstruction contractor. Understanding this early prevents the most common and costly mistake property owners make.
Stay Involved
Stay informed throughout the process. You must sign off on total loss inventories before disposal — do not allow items to be discarded without documentation and your approval. You approve all contracts before work begins. Review documents, ask questions, and stay engaged in key decisions. No one has more at stake than you do.
Contents Inventory & Claim Submission
You review inventory lists and assign replacement values to damaged items. Submit these to your insurance company for reimbursement. Be present and involved in inventorying every item — the initial contents inventory is one of the most important documents in your entire claim, and it is very difficult to correct after the fact. Do not rely solely on the mitigation company's assessment of item values.
Reconstruction
Coast Construction obtains permits and rebuilds the home using pre-loss materials and specifications. You may upgrade finishes if you pay the difference above the replacement cost. Reconstruction begins after scope development, insurance funding alignment, and permit approval — not immediately after the fire. The time between the fire and the start of visible construction is real time, but it is not wasted time.
Mortgage Company Involvement
For large claims, insurance checks may be co-issued jointly to you and your mortgage company. Mortgage companies may require inspections, endorsements, paperwork, and staged fund releases before money is available. This can significantly affect payment timing and project cash flow. Coast Construction assists with the required paperwork and handles communications with mortgage companies to help move funds through the process.
Final Step: Return Home
Once reconstruction is complete and all inspections are passed, you inspect the work with your project manager and produce a final punch list of any remaining items. The mitigation team returns your contents from storage. After final items are addressed and sign-off is complete, you move back in.
Note on Public Adjusters
Public Adjusters may offer to handle your claim for a fee — typically 7% to 15% of your total settlement. That fee comes directly out of your insurance proceeds. Please give your insurance company a reasonable opportunity before signing contracts with third parties. Understand exactly what you are agreeing to, what the fee is, and what the PA will and will not do before signing anything.
The most valuable moment to have a reconstruction contractor involved is before the first insurance estimate is written — because how it gets written matters more than most people realize. If you are in Stage A (damage just happened, adjuster hasn't arrived yet), this is the best time to call us.
Independent Policyholder Resource
United Policyholders is a nonprofit that advocates for insurance policyholders and provides free educational resources for people navigating property claims. We recommend their materials as an independent resource with no affiliation to our company.
United Policyholders — uphelp.org →