Sunday night my bike burnt my house -NOBODY HURT.

[Grumpy]

Dang Paul, real sorry to see that happen. Hope the insurance covers all of it. But even then, very hard to lose personal stuff.

[trout dude]

Sorry to hear that Paul If there is anything we can do let us know. Hope all works out ok And glad you are ok.
  Shelia and Dennis

[Bighead]

Paul there is one shiney spot to this. you are gonna get a new ride sucks that this happened though.

[..]

Sorry to hear that Paul If there is anything we can do let us know. Hope all works out ok And glad you are ok.
  Shelia and Dennis

Send pralines and coconut fire water   

[Bonzo]

Very sorry to hear about this. Praise G-D nobody was hurt.

[Charlie McCready]

Britman, hate to learn this. Never experienced a fire and hope never. As others said, you seem to be hangin' in there. Good luck with rebuilding and getting back to living.

[..]

Funny how the brain works.

Morning after the fire driving back to my home I thought "I'll need some disposable gloves".

Quick as a flash my sub conscious brain said "There's some in the garage".

Then the rest of the brain reminded me that the garage was gone!

For the first 2 days I was wiping my feet on the external door mat before walking in the front door. This after unlocking the lock and hasp fitted to the door frame.

Just now I thought "Excellent my laptop with Windows 10 will be able to easily 'see' the new crap version of Google Maps". It still looks like crap - thanks Google.

A split second later brain reminds me I don't have a bike to ride so don't really need to be able to use Google Maps 

[..]

Just scratched the surface and already spent close to $2,000.

That's why YOU need good insurance.

GET 'ER DONE!!!

[slabghost]

Bummer about the fire. After 3 divorces I had to start with nothing but bills three times and no insurance covered those losses. I'm happy to say I'm doing very well now thank you and I'm sure in a few years you'll be doing as well or better. Good advice to document everything.

[Mr Whiskey]

Hate to see this Bro, jus' glad you weren't sleepin' in the house at the time!
God Bless, holla if we can help.
Love, Whiskey & Sugar.

[..]

Y'all REALLY need to make a list of all your accessories.

Then you need to find the receipt for each one.

If you don't have one you need to go back to the seller and ask for a copy.

Then you really need to photograph each one as fitted to your bike.

This will make your life so much easier.

I'm hoping I will get paid out for the accessories I lost and don't have receipts for.

Some can't be seen like front springs or items that have been completely burnt into thin air like a double Powerlet.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Y'all REALLY need to make a list of all your accessories.

Then you need to find the receipt for each one.

If you don't have one you need to go back to the seller and ask for a copy.

Then you really need to photograph each one as fitted to your bike.

This will make your life so much easier.

I'm hoping I will get paid out for the accessories I lost and don't have receipts for.

Some can't be seen like front springs or items that have been completely burnt into thin air like a double Powerlet.

Does it look like the photos are enough or does one need receipts ?

[..]

Y'all REALLY need to make a list of all your accessories.

Then you need to find the receipt for each one.

If you don't have one you need to go back to the seller and ask for a copy.

Then you really need to photograph each one as fitted to your bike.

This will make your life so much easier.

I'm hoping I will get paid out for the accessories I lost and don't have receipts for.

Some can't be seen like front springs or items that have been completely burnt into thin air like a double Powerlet.

Does it look like the photos are enough or does one need receipts ?

To avoid any hassle have receipts.

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

Really sorry to hear this Paul. Hope things go as smoothly as possible. As was said, really glad you didn't buy the farm in your sleep.

[Wizzard]

Wow,, just got back from vacation and seen this. Sorry to hear this man. Hope insurance treats you well and you come out ok. This sucks.

[..]

Moved in to a rental house on Saturday. Had a furniture/home wares package delivered as well. All arranged by Farmers Insurance.

Some of the "stuff" is nicer than what I had at my home 

They start demolition on my home on Wednesday. I've salvaged everything that had been left to go to the dump.

I guess I'm pretty good at cleaning/seeing the value.

[baldo]

Good luck with the rebuild. Hopefully the coverage will be enough to make you as 'whole' as is possible....

[..]

Bike insurance company has made me an offer of $5640.90 for the bike plus fitted accessories.

It had 137,000 miles.

Accessories would have cost $1400 to replace.

For the mileage I think it's pretty fair although I've asked for $5000 for the bike. Then accessories to be added.

Note that the insurance company describes an accessory as being attached or fitted to the bike. So anything in the saddlebags etc is not included.

I will be adding those items to the house fire claim.

So make sure you have a full list of anything in saddlebags etc plus photos.

[czuch]

Man, I'm sorry to hear about this.
I have night mares about this.

[Jess from VA]

Years ago, I went around and took good 35mm shots of everything I owned worth anything.  Of course, those photos would burn up with everything else.  Doing it again with a digi to disk and getting the disk out of the house would probably be a good idea.  So would a sixty minute fireproof document safe.

[..]

Years ago, I went around and took good 35mm shots of everything I owned worth anything.  Of course, those photos would burn up with everything else.  Doing it again with a digi to disk and getting the disk out of the house would probably be a good idea.  So would a sixty minute fireproof document safe.

60 minute safe is great if you are home.

Bank safety deposit box seems better.

That's where I keep all important documents, passport etc.

[..]

The bike insurance company, American Modern, is trying to pay out less than 20% of the accessory value.

I asked them to review my policy where it clearly states :-

Page 8 of 13 under Limit of Liability it reads

 a) TOTAL LOSS

 2.

 When we make payment for a total comprehensive or collision loss to accessories our limit of liability shall not exceed the lesser of :

 a. the actual value of the stolen or damaged accessories at the time of loss as reasonably determined by us using any one or a combination of the following.

 I. The selling price of similar accessories
 ii published price guides
 iii the amount necessary to repair or replace the stolen or damaged accessories with like kind and quality.

Depreciation is covered under partial loss.

I also pointed out to them that my bike was clearly a total loss.

[..]

American Modern tells me I should have had an endorsement on  my insurance for actual cash value of accessories. This after I paid them for bike insurance for the past 10 years.

So be warned ask your company for clarification.

American Modern will never get another $ from me.

[Oss]

at used furniture store or craigslist you may find
USED FIREPROOF CABINETS

I bought 3 lateral ones for my storage room in the office  paid 350 for each one they go for almost 2 grand new  put them on 4 wheel dolly to move around   The ones that are NOT lateral are cheaper but dont hold as much

Cheap insurance UL listed 1500 degrees for up to 90 minutes

That is longer than the fire will burn in that room on a concrete slab

You want it on a concrete slab  by the way as it is freakin HEAVY

Put photo albums, copies of bonds and birth certificates, old VHS family tapes you havent transferred
the list as long as your imagination

Use the lock if you want to put money in it

[gregk]

Yeah, an I thought I had it bad with the loss of my car an fighting Progressive. Very sorry to hear this britman !

[..]

The insurance company tells m that the average mileage for a 2005 ST1300 is 44,000.

I guess some don't ride very much.   

[..]

Yeah, an I thought I had it bad with the loss of my car an fighting Progressive. Very sorry to hear this britman !

I spoke with the insurance agent/broker today and he seemed as shocked as I am.

Told me he will investigate.

My breath is bated.

[..]

If your Policy Declaration has the words "published price guides" be  very aware that this can mean the guide published by CCV Valuescope.

You NEED to check with your insurance company right now.

If your company uses this guide you will get payment at less than %20 of the actual cash value of each accessory fitted to your bike.

BE AWARE

[..]

Just spoke with the company restoring all my art work.

All can be restored to its former glory.

I did lose 4 pieces that were hanging on the walls of my kitchen     Burnt to an ash flake.
One of them was me as a studly young man lined up for a rugby team photo.

What I can pass on to y'all is that you MUST have glass in your frames. No plastic.

The glass prevented soot/smoke damage and resisted heat.

I had a sunflower poster hanging on a wall that had a plastic frame and plastic "glass".

That melted whilst the wood framed and glass fronted piece next to it survived.

[..]

In the past 48 hours I have spoken with the company restoring all my framed art work, my insurance agent and 2 guys from the general contractor rebuilding my home.

Between them they told me of 5 separate house fires in the last week due to car/motorcycles being hooked up to battery chargers.   

[..]

A little silver lining to the cloud of smoke.

I have salvaged my ancient Honda cold weather jacket with liner and Joe Rocket winter over pants along with a scarf, balaclava and neck warmer.

A couple of hours hand washing in the bathtub and sink and they seek to be completely useable.
Can't say the same for my 3 other jackets. They melted in parts   

I will give the jacket and pants a short swish in the washer, hang dry, some Fabreeze and then a liberal coating of waterproof spray and I should get more years of service from them.

My Gerbing jacket liner didn't melt but did get soaked.

I think the wiring will be rusted by now.

What do you think Gerbing will say if I ask them to check it over?   

[The emperor has no clothes]

I thought those electric vests used some kind of carbon fiber or something besides metal ?

[BonS]

The wires in electric clothing is Nickle-Chromium (or Nichrome for short) wire that doesn't rust. All electric clothing that I know of can be washed (But don't wash the electronic controls).

Edit: Some are made of carbon fiber tape which also does not rust.

[..]

I'm up to 203 line items with a value of nearly $8,000 that the insurance adjuster didn't include.

You NEED to have photos of your house contents. Get 'er done!

I've also realized that you NEED to have a complete list of everything in your garage.

I've asked friends if they can recall everything in their garage and I can see the deer in the headlight look.

You need to have a complete list of everything in your tank bag and saddlebags.

After a catastrophic fire you need to carry a small note book to note down the items you forgot about that pop into your brain at random moments.

But of course it's NEVER going to happen to you.

IS IT???

[Wizzard]

We all become complacent till reality hits us in the face. Sad but true

[..]

Woo-Hoo.

My Draggin Jeans just got back to me from the company that took all my clothes and soft furnishings away to clean.

I'd only worn them 3 or 4 times.

[..]

I would also advise that you not only photograph contents but the exterior of your home, all fixtures and fittings like ceiling lights, faucets, light switches etc etc. You need to have as comprehensive a record as possible.

It will make your life, the insurance company and anyone doing the rebuild work task much easier.

You also need to be prepared to make site visits at least once a day to ensure the rebuild is carried out correctly. I've had to get the framers to change what they've done. This due to bad communication between the general contractor and the framers. Easy to fix when it's just the bare wood.

[..]

I'm still adding to the list of missed items. 

[Serk]

I feel for ya', sounds like a full time job just getting everyone else to do their jobs properly...

[..]

Not only do you need to photograph the contents of home and garage etc - WHICH YOU'VE DONE YES?

I would also recommend that you make sure you have photos of all fixtures and fittings including wood trim like chair rails, crown molding etc.

I have been able to find an old realty listing for my house which had clear interior photos to show the insurance company and builder that I did have wood trim throughout the ground floor.

Right now my house has been reframed. It should have been scraped off. Smoke damage etc was revealed as demo was done.

The roof shingles are on and I should do a walk through with electrician and plumber this week to get utilities in the right place.

I was able to raise the 2nd floor ceiling height by 3 inches - every little helps  This was done after most of the framing was complete but before the roof was put on.