In a few words, you can say that life partners Renee Dominique and Brian Smith have been through it — and then some.
Almost a year ago, the couple’s home in Eagle Rock was destroyed by fire, thrusting them into a confusing whirlwind of insurance companies, adjusters, inspectors, architects, pushy sub-contractors and as Smith put it, even some shysters.
It’s an experience they’re still working out, living in their second temporary dwelling, while awaiting word on recently submitted plans to rebuild their home. While their thoughts and prayers are with thousands who’ve lost homes from the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires, they wanted to do more. For those now in the same boat, they’ve kept a checklist of do’s and don’ts they’ve offered to share.
“You have to be your own advocate. And yes, it becomes a full-time job,” said Dominique on Jan. 13, speaking from their temporary residency in Pasadena. They were not affected by the Eaton fire in north Pasadena and Altadena.
“We want to help people who are going through this experience to maybe make things go smoother,” she added.
The couple’s general advice to those navigating what to do next is to simply slow things down.
Almost immediately after Dominique’s family home burned on Feb. 4 and the two escaped with their dog Kirby, they got offers from independent adjusters and sub-contractors, many who sweet talked them and offered to help — but for a steep price. Smith said don’t sign anything. Talk to your insurance company first.
“You don’t know who is coming at you,” he said, “You don’t know who is a fraud or who is legit. You just have to pull back from everything because you don’t know if these people are from your insurance company, or independent. You are not going to make good decisions under duress.”
“There are a lost of shysters in this business. You have to be very careful,” Smith added.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger said on Tuesday that while visiting the shelter at the Pasadena Convention Center, she saw business people talking to fire victims. “They were handing out business cards knowing they can’t do things they say they can do.”
Uninvited contractors
Smith and Dominique rejected help from independent insurance adjusters who barraged them with deals and yes, business cards.
“They say, ‘Oh, we can get you more money,’ ” said Dominique. “But they are like ambulance chasers.” A friend signed up with an independent adjuster and her insurance company said she had to pay their fee first, or the insurance claim would be delayed, she said.
Instead, if a homeowner has insurance, they should get in contact with their insurance company first and talk things over before signing any side deals. Some may need extra help, but that depends on their coverage, the couple said. “First, see what your insurance carrier will do for you. That policy is the business contract,” Dominique said.
Obtain, read all documents
Remember that any side deals cost money. And that cost gets deducted from your insurance claim, Smith said. That could leave someone with a lot less money for the actual rebuild, he added.
Homeowners should get a full copy — not the abbreviated fact sheet — of their insurance policy. Read it through several times and write down all the details. If there is still confusion, a lawyer may help.
Sometimes homeowners miss out on coverage in their policy for ancillary items, including tree removal or debris cleanup. For the couple, these were covered, so they did not make side deals with demolition contractors, which can be very expensive and unnecessary, they said. Some demo contractors showed up unannounced, saying they needed to board up the house or remove dead trees, when they were never hired, Smith said.
“You only get what is in the policy. And that is so important to know but it’s hard because there is a lot of legalese,” Smith said. “You and your adjuster should sit down and go over the policy with you.”
To get organized, Smith recommended setting up a separate email account only for recovery and rebuilding information. It’s key to document everything.
“Any time an adjuster says: “I’ll send you some money for rent, you say: ‘Can you send me an email.’ That way you have it in writing,” Smith said. In talking to others who lost their homes to fires, it’s common that insurance companies don’t make good with verbal promises, he added.
Insurance coverage comes in separate buckets. Some for rebuilding. Some for temporary housing. Some for incidentals. Smith and Dominque tried to save money on temporary housing, then transfer the remainder into the rebuilding bucket. “But the columns don’t cross over. You can’t do that,” she realized.
A DIY approach works best
The Pasadena couple said the more they did things on their own, the more money was saved for the rebuild.
For example, insurance companies will contract out with a company to find and book temporary housing, known as an ALE: Additional Living Expense. Instead of using the ALE service, Smith and Dominique went online and found their own temporary housing, avoiding fees that would come back and bite them later. “They have a commission and that comes out of your policy,” she said.
Also, insurance companies want their policy holders to rent furniture, possibly because they have deals with rental companies, Dominique said. Instead, she went to thrift stores and used Facebook Marketplace to buy couches, chairs and beds. Renting just a stool costs $50 a month, which adds up to $600 a year taken out of their claim, she said.
“I got a beautiful rug for $40. We got furnishings that we now own. You have to be frugal,” Dominique said. “You don’t want all your money to go on the front end and in the end, you don’t have enough coverage.”
Examine contractor backgrounds
Since they are rebuilding in Los Angeles, they searched for a firm that knows the buildings regulations in that city. “It is not so much the skill, it is about their connections with the city,” Smith said.
Architect John Cataldo, in business in South Pasadena for 40 years, said the red tape for rebuilding will play a role, unless the process is somehow streamlined.
“The nature of getting plans approved is so arduous,” he said on Jan. 13. “We have to streamline the process. We shouldn’t have to have people go through this process.”
A cost-saving and time-saving tip is for people to assess their slab or foundation. “It is possible the foundation system can still be utilized without having to tear out the concrete or the footings,” Cataldo pointed out.
Making self-care a priority
Finally, Dominique said she had to adjust her thinking to accept help. She began seeing a therapist to walk her through the grieving process, she said.
“At first, you are not sleeping. You are in shock. But you have to take care of yourself. You have to eat properly. Exercise. And I advise people to reach out to the Red Cross to acknowledge you need help,” she explained. The Red Cross offered her telephone therapy sessions. A GoFundMe campaign raised some extra cash that she has used to continue weekly therapy.
“You have to allow yourself not to put attachment onto things,” she said, emphasizing her partner and their beloved dog were safe. “You need to be clear that your being is not your possessions,” she said.
Also connecting with people, and in their case, a caring organization is critical. They joined First Baptist Church Pasadena and found support from its members. “You need people praying for you, instead of preying on you,” she said.