Damage from a fire is a devastating experience. Your business or home is now inaccessible or uninhabitable, leaving you trying to figure out what to do first to begin to put back together your life or your business.

However, even in these difficult situations, there are companies that are ready to take advantage of individuals going through these issues. In the construction and disaster restoration industry, we call them “fire chasers”.

What is a Fire Chaser?

Fire chasers are usually companies or contractors that wait for a fire to happen. Then, they swoop in to have the property owner hire them to repair the damage. They might hear about it over a 911 scanner and rush to the scene of the disaster. They’ll work to convince you to use their services to fix your problem. At times, these “chasers” can prevent medics or other first responders from getting to the victims of the fire. That is how fast they arrive on the scene.

They will work to get your signature by being the first on the scene and will begin working immediately on cleaning up the fire, smoke, and water damage.

Why Do Fire Chasers Do This?

Chasers go after low hanging fruit to get the jobs signed and money in their pocket. You are so preoccupied with the disaster that has struck just moments ago, and want to get your life back together, that you will sign anything put in front of you! Who wouldn’t?

The thing is – this practice works. Since property owners are so anxious and distressed, they don’t fully understand what they are signing and feel pressured to use the first company in front of them just to get their life back to normal.

How Do You Identify a Fire Chaser?

A chaser is typically first on the scene. If you are unsure if the company trying to get your business is legitimate, here are a few things to verify:

• Call your insurance company. The restoration company will work with them anyway, so ask for a recommendation from them at the start.
• Make sure the company will accept your insurance
• The company should walk you through the entire process from start to finish and explain what to expect

If you are still unsure, your insurance company can provide a list of restoration contractors that they work with on a regular basis. If this is the way you decide to go, make sure you do not sign anything else.

Local IL Fire Damage Restoration Company | McMahon Services

McMahon Services has a certified fire restoration team ready to respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Serving the Chicago area, we will respond in a timely, and professional manner – and will provide you with an exact timeline of the entire restoration process.

Call us today and let us help you get your home restored and your life back to normal if a fire has devastated your property.