Find out how the company intends to clean your belongings and what recourse you will have if you are not satisfied. Some insurance companies do not like to pay to replace items that a restoration firm has attempted to clean, even if the attempts are unsuccessful. Find out your company's policy in advance. Some companies are known to bill policies for thousands of dollars - then produce dismal results. Once you have a company to sort and inventory your belongings, stick around and supervise - or assign this task to a trusted friend or neighbor.
Thefts are rampant after housefires.
Even though your smoke, fire and water damaged belongings may not look valuable at the moment, they are still worth something to someone. If they are stolen before they appear on your inventory, you will have trouble adding these items to your insurance claim. Get a copy and hang on to it in case there are questions in the future about what was in your house at the time of the fire. After your belongings are at a fire restoration company, visit there often to see how things are going. Make sure that everything of yours is there, marked with your name and stored together.