Top Mistakes Irish Homeowners Make When Claiming for Fire Damage

By Jim Flannery ACII, Brand Ambassador, OMC Claims. Over 40 years in insurance claims and a founding member of the Irish Claims Consultants Association.

A fire clouds your judgement at exactly the moment clear decisions matter most. In the days that follow, well-meaning actions, tidying up, fixing what you can, accepting what the insurer offers, can quietly cost you thousands. As loss assessors, we see the same avoidable mistakes again and again. If you want this handled properly from the start, our fire damage claim service is built around exactly these pitfalls.

This guide sets out the mistakes that most often weaken a fire claim, and the simple steps that protect your home and your settlement. None of them require expertise. They mostly require slowing down and resisting the urge to put things right too quickly.

Mistake 1: Not documenting the damage immediately

Once the fire is out, the instinct is to start clearing up. Skip that step and document first. Without clear evidence, an insurer can dispute the cause, the scale, or even whether certain losses existed at all.

What to do instead: before any clean-up, take wide-angle and close-up photographs of every affected room, and record video with spoken notes describing the fire, smoke and water damage. Dated documentation is the foundation of the whole claim.

Mistake 2: Starting repairs too soon

A fire can leave a home unsafe or unliveable, and the urge to fix things fast is strong. But permanent repairs made before the insurer or your loss assessor has inspected can make your losses impossible to verify, which leads to reduced settlements or refusals.

What to do instead: make the property safe and stop further damage, for example by boarding up or shutting off utilities, but hold off on permanent repairs until you have an inspection or written approval. Document any emergency work in detail and keep the receipts.

Mistake 3: Not contacting a loss assessor early

Many homeowners assume the insurer’s loss adjuster is there to help them. That adjuster works for the insurer. Without independent representation, you may simply not know the full extent of what you are dealing with or what you are entitled to.

What to do instead: speak to a regulated loss assessor early. A loss assessor works only for you, knows the intricacies of the policy wording, assesses all the damage, values full reinstatement, and handles the negotiation on your behalf.

Mistake 4: Giving vague or inaccurate information

What you tell the insurer in the first notification sets the frame for the whole claim. Inaccuracies, even innocent ones, can be used to challenge or delay it later if your account does not match the evidence.

What to do instead: stick to the facts and describe what happened clearly. If you do not know something, say so rather than guess. Keep written records of every conversation, and follow up phone calls with an email.

Mistake 5: Underestimating the full scope of the loss

Fire damage is rarely only what you can see. Soot and smoke penetrate wiring, insulation, soft furnishings and structural voids, and a fire in one room can contaminate the whole house. Items that look intact, bed linen, electronics, furniture, may be damaged by toxic, corrosive smoke particles. Cleaning or disposing of them too soon can both undervalue the claim and destroy the evidence for it.

What to do instead: get a comprehensive survey of the damage, including hidden structural and electrical issues and future remediation needs, so you claim for the true extent of the loss rather than paying out of pocket later.

Mistake 6: Discarding damaged items too soon

Insurers require proof of loss for every item claimed. Clear out and dispose of the debris too early and you strip away that proof, and the insurer may refuse to include those items in the payout.

What to do instead: keep all fire-damaged items in a safe, accessible place until they have been assessed. Photograph each one and keep receipts or replacement estimates where you can.

Mistake 7: Delaying the claim notification

Shock, uncertainty, or a feeling that you should gather more evidence first all lead people to delay telling the insurer. Most policies require prompt notification, and waiting too long can give an insurer grounds to reduce or reject the claim.

What to do instead: notify your insurer within 24 to 48 hours with a factual initial report, follow up in writing, and ask for a claim reference and the next steps they need.

You may have to move out, and your policy may cap it

Fire and smoke damage can make a home uninhabitable for weeks or months. Many homeowners do not realise their policy may cap the amount or the duration of alternative accommodation, which can leave a family covering hotel or rental costs themselves.

What to do instead: check your entitlement early, or ask a loss assessor, and if your home becomes unsafe or uninhabitable, document the reasons and raise it with your insurer straight away. Seek agreement on the alternative accommodation costs in advance of signing any lease, rather than assume it will be re-imbursed in full afterwards.

Know your rights: you can appoint your own assessor

After a fire you are often at your most vulnerable, financially and emotionally, and it is exactly then that decisions are made. Under the Consumer Protection Code, insurers are required to treat you fairly, and you have the right to appoint your own loss assessor. Some insurers may not volunteer that, or may discourage it by emphasising the cost to you, or seek to appoint a contractor to carry out direct repairs, to avoid you believing you may need independent representation. You do not have to accept the insurer’s appointed loss adjuster as your only option, and you do not have to accept the first figure offered. Independent representation exists precisely so that your full losses are assessed and claimed.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do immediately after fire damage occurs?
Make sure everyone is safe and let the fire service confirm the property is safe before re-entering. Then document the damage with photos and video, and notify your insurer within 24 to 48 hours. Avoid cleaning or repairs until after inspection.

Can I throw away fire-damaged items?
Not yet. Do not discard damaged items until your insurer or loss assessor has inspected them. Keep them in a safe place, photograph them, and keep receipts where possible to support the claim.

How long do I have to file a fire damage insurance claim?
Most policies require prompt reporting, usually within 24 to 48 hours. Delay can affect your eligibility or reduce the settlement, so notify the insurer early even while you are still gathering evidence.

Should I clean up before the insurance inspection?
Avoid major clean-up. You can make the area safe, for example by ventilating smoke or shutting off utilities, but cleaning away the damage can make it harder to prove the full extent of your loss.

What does a loss assessor do in a fire damage claim?
A loss assessor represents you, not the insurer. They assess the full extent of the damage, prepare and value the claim, and negotiate with the insurer on your behalf to work towards a fair settlement. They can remove some of the uncertainty that surrounds the process and provide the emotional support to help you make better decisions, because they’ve seen it all before. They will advocate on your behalf and will generally ensure a more favourable outcome.

Will my policy cover smoke and water damage too?
Usually yes. Most policies cover secondary damage such as smoke contamination and the water used to put the fire out, provided it is properly documented. Check your wording or ask a loss assessor to confirm.

A successful fire claim turns on early decisions. Avoid the mistakes above and you protect not only your home but your financial recovery. For the full process from the first hour to settlement, see our guide on claiming on home insurance after fire damage.

About OMC Claims

OMC Claims (Owens McCarthy Ltd) is Ireland’s largest independent firm of loss assessors, acting only for policyholders, never for insurers. We provide nationwide coverage, with loss assessors serving Dublin, Cork, Limerick and every other county in Ireland. Part of the Fexco group and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (Registration Number C-46734), our team brings over 250 years of combined claims experience and handles more than 2,000 home and business claims a year, from straightforward domestic losses to large and complex commercial claims. We assess the damage, prepare and value your claim, and negotiate with your insurer to work to secure the settlement you are entitled to.

Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and aims to provide an overview of common fire damage claim mistakes. It does not constitute legal, financial, or insurance advice. For guidance tailored to your specific circumstances, please consult a claims professional or your insurance broker/provider.