After the Fire: Get Every Dime from Your Insurance

Imagine this:

Standing outside your place while watching the firehoses try to put out the neighbor's apartment from the back, before it goes any further...

Watching another truck come around to the front. Waiting for them to put on there gear, trying to find another hose that works...

Hearing the Fire Marshall instruct everyone to move back just a little more...

Holding nothing more than a digital camera, and a few quickly packed bags, watching, waiting, smelling and hearing the flames...

You have almost convinced your other neighbors huddled outside, some with little less than a cell phone or car keys in their hand, that maybe the fire will be put out before it spreads. You have almost convinced yourself...

Flash forward a few days later. You have learned to be quite comfortable in the temporary apartment, your belongings all within a few feet of you, blanket piled up to resemble a bed, two gift cards from charity organizations tucked neatly in your wallet. You think to yourself, as you contemplate walking up the hill to use the shower in the other apartment as there is no hot water in the temporary, "Well, mine was not burnt to a crisp. At least I may be able to retrieve some items later. At least I have renter's insurance."

This is a true story. The fire was in the first week of February and it's the middle of June now, but not a day goes by that I start to get something out of a closet, and have to stop myself. "lost or damaged in the fire. Put it on the list." I remind myself. Of course that painting my Auntie made for our wedding present cannot be re-bought, nor my husbands baby book. But I can buy another set of hand weights and find more nifty cooking gadgets. I have renter's insurance. I can buy another bed to put the blankets on. In times after an unplanned disaster, money does help restore piece of mind.

The moral of this story is: Get Renter's Insurance if you live in an apartment. Get Homeowner's Insurance if you own a home. Get the highest possible amount. It is a small price to pay if you ever go through a fire and need to replace everything. Here is what you need to know: