Although smoke damage from a fire might seem superficial and something easily fixed with a coat of paint, keep in mind that smoke can cause far more damage than just stains on the walls.
Depending on the severity of the fire, your property may have sustained structural damage that only professional fire and smoke damage contractors can repair. In addition, getting the odor and soot out of furniture, carpets, drapes, bedding, or clothing also often requires specialized services. Sometimes, you might need to replace personal property damaged beyond repair.
As a result, the cost of cleaning up smoke damage can total thousands of dollars, depending on the extent. This often makes it worthwhile to file a property damage claim with your homeowner’s insurance company or to pursue a legal claim against a party whose negligence started the fire.