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Post by genny on Dec 2, 2016 18:09:18 GMT
First and foremost I am SO sorry this happened to you! And I am so sad that your lost your pets. SO tragic.
I have not experienced this first hand but our best friends and neighbors did and we were there through most of it with them. My son and husband were in the house when it caught on fire (with the husband of the couple we were friends with). All people were safe and unhurt, but they did lose one of their cats that our friend nearly lost his life trying to save.
Anyway - they had most of their furniture restored that didn't directly burn but was affected by soot or water. The couch started de-laminating (if that's the right word?). It was leather and parts of it just start flaking off after a while. They were advised by insurance not to try and salvage electronics or kitchen ware - they could work today but go kaput a few weeks later and not be covered.
They did have a lot of their clothes cleaned - he was fine with all of his clothes, but she swore she still smelled smoke on tons of it and couldn't get past the smell and ended up donating most of her stuff. I took a bunch of it because I never smelled anything (still wearing some of it 5 years later no issues). I think it was a mental thing for her honestly.
For a bunch of the other stuff they had they borrowed a machine that I think you can rent and they use it in houses that have mold/water damage to dry things out really good. They had one room in their rental setup up with everything they salvaged from the house and left that thing running for a couple of weeks and it took the smell out of most things.
Document document document. They had a hell of a time with that because there was so many things they didn't have receipts for anymore. for instance - The Dyson vac was in the garage storage room - it was $400+ - they had the receipt, but that section of the house where they stored old statements and receipts burned so they had no proof that damn thing ever existed. It is not an easy experience at all. But she ended up with pages and pages of spreadsheets where she found images and prices online of what all they had. Then the insurance paid a portion of those things up front (like 40% or something) then if and when they actually replaced those items they were reimbursed when the receipt was submitted for the balance of the replacement cost. It was confusing and a LOT to keep up with.
I'm so thankful that you have a good support system - as with any tragedy, it's crucial. Please take care of yourself. I'd take a couple more days off of work if you can. For our friends they were so consumed with dealing with the mess and the immediate logistics of what all had to be done that they weight of the situation didn't hit for a few days and then the grief set it.
You'll be in the my thoughts, this just sucks so bad especially here at the holidays.
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Post by calgaryscrapper on Dec 2, 2016 18:17:32 GMT
Speak with your restoration company. They have access to better machines than rental places and will be paid by the Insurance company to set things up and monitor. I would try the Ozone machine first with the household items. No animals, plants or people can be around when this is in use.
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Post by ilikepink on Dec 2, 2016 18:22:08 GMT
So sorry you are going through this - I have no experience but was not going go read and run - take your time, grieve, and know that you will get through this. You are stronger than you think.
Hugs.
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Post by genny on Dec 2, 2016 18:23:34 GMT
Speak with your restoration company. They have access to better machines than rental places and will be paid by the Insurance company to set things up and monitor. I would try the Ozone machine first with the household items. No animals, plants or people can be around when this is in use. OZONE MACHINE! That's what our friends had - I don't know why the name was lost on me. Thanks!
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hanushka
Full Member
Posts: 142
Sept 27, 2016 20:54:24 GMT
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Post by hanushka on Dec 2, 2016 18:24:10 GMT
(((hugs)))) I am so sorry!
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Post by papersilly on Dec 2, 2016 18:36:23 GMT
that's awful! I'm so sorry about your pets! I'm glad the one pug made it through though. good luck with your rebuilding process.
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Post by trixiecat on Dec 2, 2016 18:36:36 GMT
I am so sorry that you are having to go through this. A dear friend of mine went through this several years ago, and as recent as a month ago, a friend of my daughter's family lost their house.
I just want to mention what my friend went through. She had to make lists, upon lists of everything that needed to be replace. All the way down to paper clips. She said it was amazing all of the little things you could miss and how much money it all could add up to be over time. I know her insurance company put her up in a hotel for several months until a home was available for them to move into. She is in New Jersey and said nothing was available immediately. What is funny is the house she ended up living in for many months was one Reverend Moons' homes. There was a whole room with an alter in it. I wished I could have seen it. I wish you the best of luck through this long process. I hope your scrapbook's and supplies have no smell or any water damage.
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blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,986
Jun 25, 2014 20:53:57 GMT
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Post by blue tulip on Dec 2, 2016 18:39:07 GMT
I'm so sorry for your incredible loss. friends of ours lost their home to fire this summer. to help estimate the loss of possessions, they had people help them sift thru the damage and take pics of items, and also went back thru pictures they had posted on facebook, looking in the backgrounds to remember what was in rooms and help provide proof. they were able to save some paper goods like books and photos, they called their local library for tips on how to de-smell those things. I don't know what tips the librarians gave them, or I would share them with you. sending hugs and best wishes to you and your family!
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wellway
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,770
Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
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Post by wellway on Dec 2, 2016 18:39:09 GMT
I have no advice but could not read and run. I'm so sorry that you are having to deal with this and I'm so very sorry about your pets. ((hugs))
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Post by terri on Dec 2, 2016 18:41:52 GMT
I am so very sorry this happened to you. It hurts my heart hearing how much you have lost, especially your pets.
Sadly we have a little experience with this. My husband lost his father to a house fire many years ago. It was the house my husband grew up in and his sister lives in the house now. The house was completely lost. Almost nothing was able to be salvaged. Your situation sounds like a few spaces were spared but it is very difficult to get the smell out of things but there are experts in this kind of thing. My sister-in-law did rebuild the house. It was slow going but they were able to rebuild a much better home in nearly every aspect. We were all worried if the memories would be too much but it has been a very positive thing and even therapeutic for my husband and his siblings.
I will be praying for you and keeping you in my thoughts. Again I am just so sorry this happened.
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Post by Merge on Dec 2, 2016 18:41:53 GMT
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. I have not been through it, but a close friend went through it a few years ago. We were amazed at how much of her stuff the restoration company was able to recover - clothes, shoes, etc. could generally have the smoke smell removed and be like new. As I recall her paper items - photos and the like - were not so fortunate. I know they chose to keep a lot of things and have them scanned before having the smoky originals destroyed.
Are you still in Houston? Is there anything we Houston peas can do for you?
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Post by miominmio on Dec 2, 2016 18:46:49 GMT
No advice, but I just wanted to say I'm sorry.
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freebird
Drama Llama
'cause I'm free as a bird now
Posts: 6,927
Jun 25, 2014 20:06:48 GMT
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Post by freebird on Dec 2, 2016 19:07:58 GMT
What a nightmare (literally). I am so very sorry!! I had a sister, friend and stepson that all lost their homes to fire. All actually were renting. They just started over from scratch.
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Post by anniefb on Dec 2, 2016 19:16:01 GMT
No advice but Un so sorry you had to go through this horrible experience
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Post by annabella on Dec 2, 2016 19:17:30 GMT
I'm sorry this happened to you and for the loss of your pets. I'm glad they were able to save your albums. I would take a mental health day on Monday to work on the restoration process. I don't know if desmoking clothes works or not, but honestly I would use this as an excuse to buy an all new closet. Take everything out and write down how many items you have then figure out how much it would all cost so you can itemize your closet for insurance reimbursement.
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Post by red88 on Dec 2, 2016 20:17:46 GMT
I am so sorry for your loss . I don't have any advise. My "father" (really a sperm donor) lost his entire home & 2 dogs several years ago. I heard about months after it happened. His house fire was started from an electric blanket & by the time the team responded, his house was a complete loss. You & your family are in my thoughts.
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AmandaA
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,502
Aug 28, 2015 22:31:17 GMT
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Post by AmandaA on Dec 2, 2016 20:22:12 GMT
I have no advice but I am so sorry. This is probably one of my top fears in life. I am so glad you are safe but am so sorry about your pets.
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Post by bc2ca on Dec 2, 2016 20:39:11 GMT
I am so sorry for all you have lost. You must be completely overwhelmed right now, but it is really important to document everything that is damaged or destroyed so that it can be replaced. or retored. I am amazed at what the restoration companies can save but the process does take time so you need sort out a longterm rental on top of everything else. Friends ended up in corporate housing (a furnished apartment) paid for by their insurance for a couple months. IIRC, once their property was through the restoration process, they moved into an unfurnished apartment while the house was rebuilt. It could be a year before you are back in your home.
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Post by Zee on Dec 2, 2016 21:11:09 GMT
I'm really sorry for the loss of your home and pets
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Post by christine58 on Dec 2, 2016 21:48:03 GMT
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River
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,515
Location: Alabama
Jun 26, 2014 15:26:04 GMT
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Post by River on Dec 2, 2016 21:59:08 GMT
Oh man, I am so very sorry this has happened. I can't imagine the pain of loosing so many pets at once and then of course parts of your house. One small mercy in this is not loosing your albums and pictures.
My thoughts and prayers are with you as you go through the mess and then restoration.
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Post by Delta Dawn on Dec 2, 2016 22:16:19 GMT
I might be able to help you with the value of the scrapbook supplies. The Golden Books, though I love those books! Can you put a drier sheet in each book? Sometimes that helps.
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Post by Delta Dawn on Dec 2, 2016 22:17:58 GMT
I am so sorry this happened to you. I am so very sorry.
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smginaz Suzy
Pearl Clutcher
Je suis desole.
Posts: 2,606
Jun 26, 2014 17:27:30 GMT
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Post by smginaz Suzy on Dec 2, 2016 22:25:25 GMT
I was 17 when we lost everything in a house fire. I remember the agony of writing a list of everything that was gone. Hard enough to deal with the thought of it, then having to record it was not a fun task. We also lost our pets, but the fact that we all got out OK was just luck. Pure luck. But know that time will help you. It just sucks terribly, but it will get better. I know it made me very resilient, so that when other difficult events in my lift happened, I knew that I would survive them. My best memories are those that involve the way the community reached out to help us through this time. People were very kind.
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Post by destined2bmom on Dec 2, 2016 22:29:48 GMT
I am so sorry for the loss of your animals and your home. I pray things get better for you and your family.
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uksue
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,500
Location: London
Jun 25, 2014 22:33:20 GMT
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Post by uksue on Dec 2, 2016 22:30:12 GMT
I'm so sorry this happened to you and you will be in my thoughts and prayers - as others have said, this is one of my greatest fears .
I'm glad you have received some great advice on here
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ginajo15
Junior Member
Posts: 93
Location: Southern California
Nov 10, 2014 23:19:19 GMT
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Post by ginajo15 on Dec 2, 2016 23:12:07 GMT
I am so sorry that you lost your home and pets too. We lost our home and one cat in a wildfire in 2003 when it burned to the ground. Since some of your things were salvageable, it might be a bit harder to work with the insurance company in replacing things. In my experience they were quite nice at first, and then became harder and harder to work with as we made claims on our policy. If you can find a place to rent nearby, that would be optimal in my opinion. The insurance company should take care of living expenses for up to a year. Maybe a place that is a vacation rental, that is fully furnished that you could rent long term? We also used the rebuilding process to update the layout of our home and are very pleased with the results. (Same basic footprint, so there was no additional replacement cost.) I would not try to salvage the clothes or items that are easily replaced. I'm glad they were able to save some of your sentimental things. We also had great support from our family, friends and community since so many others lost homes at the same time. If you have more specific questions, please feel free to PM me. I also went back to work right away, and even though I functioned okay, it took quite awhile for the shock of it all to wear off. Be kind to yourself. You have a great support community here on this message board.
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Post by mnmloveli on Dec 2, 2016 23:22:20 GMT
Sooo sorry for the loss of your pets. I know this must hurt the most. ((HUGS)) to you as you go thru this difficult time.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Dec 2, 2016 23:38:52 GMT
I don't have advice but wanted to send positive thoughts your way. I'm sorry you are dealing with this.
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TheOtherMeg
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,541
Jun 25, 2014 20:58:14 GMT
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Post by TheOtherMeg on Dec 2, 2016 23:57:31 GMT
I'm so sorry you're going through this. I'm heartened to read of the help your friends & community are giving, though. That makes me smile. When I was re-configuring our home and property insurance, one of the things I addressed was my extensive craft supplies and all storage pieces in my craft room. I was reminded by the insurance pro to remember that all the things I bought online can likely be reference by logging into those accounts. (For future reference, though, she just had me open every drawer, cabinet, and bin and take pictures of the contents. I did not have to list every single paper stack or die or stamp set or package of buttons. Whew!) I hope you're able to recover most of the pieces that are near and dear to you, and that your rebuild goes smoothly.
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