Update

[johnstonmr]

My parents have loaned us the money for the deposit on the new place; once we fax the lease papers to our insurance agent they'll cut a check for it and we'll pay back the loan. So that's settled.

Our insurance people are now on the job; we're compiling a list of losses for the adjustor and will meet them at some point. We keep remembering shit that's gone and groaning. Some of it cannot be replaced. Some of it can, but I doubt we'll get the full value. I opted for Cost of Replacement on stuff when I bought the policy, but I can't imagine they're going to give us full replacement value for everything. I'm not even bothering to claim some stuff, like spaceship toys, and I refuse to inflate the value of our claim just to get more money. My integrity is worth more to me than that.

Again, thank you to everyone for your continued support and well-wishes.

In happier news, I am pleased to report that the night before the fire, vivalabonita and her husbandmonkey edgylesjr agreed to become the Guardians of our daughter, should anything unthinkable ever happen to us. It was a load off our minds to hear them so gracefully accept this incredible responsibility, and we appreciate them more than words can say.

Comments

[underpope.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear things are starting to come together.

Re: edgylesjr and vivalabonita: Excellent choice. I don't get to spend nearly as much time with them as I'd like, but they're both people of excellent character, with a strong sense of responsibility. I don't know Stef that well, but Ed is definitely among the people I respect and admire the most.

[satyrlovesong.livejournal.com]

If you bought replacement insurance, then please do make a complete list. There were a lot of things that I didn't think I'd be able to replace (vintage board games, 1st Ed D&D books, comics, etc) but Ebay is your friend. Just keep the reciepts and turn them in.

[elisandra.livejournal.com]

What do you mean about receipts? Do they like, watch over your shoulder to make sure you buy exactly what you had?

[satyrlovesong.livejournal.com]

Well, when we had our fire we made out a list of the things we needed to replace. Luckily, they understood that you can't come up with everything right after a trauma, so we had about six months or so to compile the list.

The things we *could* replace we needed to provide receipts for. The rest (mostly intangibles, or things that couldn't be replaced) we got a lump sum of money for. That lump sum is less than we would have gotten if we had replaced the items, so your best option is to go ahead and replace everything you need. This is particularly important on high ticket items (for example, I had an antique ante-bellum bed that was pretty much irreplaceable. It was old enough that it wasn't even in a standard size. I ended up buying something *close* - a new bed in the approximate style to the tune of about $4000.

On a side note, I have never used pay pal. When I tried to send you money, it said that I needed a pay pal account of my own - which I'd rather not get. Do you have a mailing address yet where I can just mail you a check? Or perhaps I could drop some cash by your work or something? What would be easier for you?

[graphxgrrl.livejournal.com]

Definitely list EVERYTHING, whether you think it can be replaced or not. And as someone else noted, determine time frame and similar for how they will reimburse you for things purchased as replacements in the next number of months.

You'd likely be surprised at what they're willing to pay for, there is no need to inflate anything--just determine what fair replacement value is at current market prices for various items. That's why you have insurance.

[samantha-vimes.livejournal.com]

I really think you should list the toy spaaceships, etc. Even if they aren't something you really want to replace (small parts not suitable for children under 3, etc) they are part of what you insured. You are owed.

Don't inflate, but don't cheat yourself, either.