If your home or building in Bergen County just had a fire or a major water loss, this page is a plain guide to the claim. GB Claims LLC is licensed as a public adjuster in New Jersey (NJ License #3004401530), and we work only for policyholders. Our office is just over the state line in Suffern, NY, and we work across Bergen County and Passaic County.
Call or text 845-456-6699. If you can, talk to us before the insurance adjuster’s first visit.
After a fire in Bergen County
- Get the fire department’s report number. Your insurer will want it.
- Let the restoration company board up, tarp and pump out the water used to fight the fire. That protects the house and is normally part of the claim.
- Report the claim, get the claim number, and ask how your additional living expenses will be paid if you can’t stay home.
- Photograph everything before it is removed, including inside closets and cabinets.
- Don’t sign a final settlement until the whole loss has been measured.
Fire claims carry more than the burned rooms. Smoke spreads, the water used to put the fire out does its own damage, and code upgrades can be part of the rebuild. Read more on smoke and soot damage claims and fire and large loss claims.
After a burst pipe or major water leak
Northern New Jersey winters freeze pipes, and water in a finished basement or on an upper floor does a lot of damage fast. The first call is the restoration company, to stop the water and dry the house. Then the claim: the rebuild, the contents, and the question of whether the insurer accepts the leak as sudden. See large water damage claims for how those two jobs fit together.
One thing to know: water that comes from outside, like a river or street flooding, is usually excluded from a homeowners policy and needs a separate flood policy. Water from a burst pipe or failed appliance inside the house is a different claim, under a different part of the policy.
Where Bergen County claims get underpaid
- Smoke and soot in rooms away from the fire, and in the ductwork
- Water that moved under floors, behind cabinets and into the floor below
- Flooring and cabinets that have to match across rooms
- Contents that never made it onto the list
- Code items in older homes and multifamily buildings
- Living expenses or lost rent that ended before the repairs did
- Depreciation holdback that was never claimed after the work was done
Homes, two-family houses and commercial buildings
We handle claims on single-family homes, two-family and multifamily buildings, condos, stores, offices and houses of worship. For commercial losses, see commercial property claim help. If the claim was already denied or paid short, see a second look at a denied or underpaid claim.
Bergen County towns we cover
We work throughout Bergen County, including Teaneck, Englewood, Hackensack, Paramus, Fair Lawn, Fort Lee, Bergenfield, Ridgewood and Mahwah. Next door in Passaic County, see Wayne and our Passaic County page. For statewide information, see our New Jersey page.
Frequently asked questions
Is GB Claims licensed in New Jersey?
Yes. GB Claims LLC is licensed as a public adjuster in New Jersey, License #3004401530. New Jersey requires public adjusters to be licensed by the Department of Banking and Insurance.
Does homeowners insurance in New Jersey cover a burst pipe?
Usually it covers sudden water damage from a burst pipe inside the home. Long-term leaks, wear and tear and outside flooding are usually excluded. Your policy wording controls.
Is flood damage covered by my homeowners policy?
Usually not. Flood from outside water normally needs a separate flood policy. Water from inside the house, like a burst pipe, is handled under the homeowners policy.
Who should I call first after a fire or water loss in Bergen County?
Call the fire department or a plumber for the emergency, then a restoration company to protect the property, and report the claim. Call a public adjuster the same day if you can, before the insurer’s first inspection.
Can a public adjuster help if my insurer already paid?
Often yes. If damage was missed or underpaid, a claim can usually be supplemented within the policy’s time limits. Cashing the check usually doesn’t close the claim unless you signed a release.
Talk to a licensed public adjuster
Fire or water damage in Bergen County? Call or text 845-456-6699. Tell us what happened and we will tell you honestly whether we can help.
GB Claims LLC – Licensed Public Adjuster. NY License PA-1988333 · NJ License #3004401530 · PA License #1336704 · CT License #3004375850. We work only for the policyholder, never for the insurance company.