Renton man struggling to rebuild after lightning strike and fire
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RENTON, Wash. -- Lighting destroyed Robert Smith's home in July, and the Renton man barely escaped with his life.
Smith lived in the home for more than two decades. He wants to rebuild it, but he said he's having a hard time and needs help.
When the lighting hit on July 13, it threw him across the room and started a fire that completely destroyed his home. It was a home he loved, and although he was facing foreclose at the time, Smith said he was working with his bank to refinance the mortgage.
"When I looked up, they were coming about that far down from the ceiling. And it was just rolling this direction," he said of the lighting.
Smith was knocked out, but his dog, Savannah, bit him until he woke up and both were able to escape.
"From what the fire marshal said, you weren't going to survive," Smith said.
Now he's facing a new dilemma.
"Every time I come in, I find something new," he said of the burned out home. "Makes me sick to my stomach."
Smith got a check from his insurance company to rebuild, but it only pays for the structure. Smith said he's more than $150,000 short of covering the valuables he lost inside.
Smith said it's been tough, but he must remind himself he's lucky to be here. For now, he stays a few nights at a time with family members and friends, but he's hoping he'll be able to rebuild soon.
"There's times at night I don't sleep," he said.
You help Smith rebuild here.
Smith lived in the home for more than two decades. He wants to rebuild it, but he said he's having a hard time and needs help.
When the lighting hit on July 13, it threw him across the room and started a fire that completely destroyed his home. It was a home he loved, and although he was facing foreclose at the time, Smith said he was working with his bank to refinance the mortgage.
"When I looked up, they were coming about that far down from the ceiling. And it was just rolling this direction," he said of the lighting.
Smith was knocked out, but his dog, Savannah, bit him until he woke up and both were able to escape.
"From what the fire marshal said, you weren't going to survive," Smith said.
Now he's facing a new dilemma.
"Every time I come in, I find something new," he said of the burned out home. "Makes me sick to my stomach."
Smith got a check from his insurance company to rebuild, but it only pays for the structure. Smith said he's more than $150,000 short of covering the valuables he lost inside.
Smith said it's been tough, but he must remind himself he's lucky to be here. For now, he stays a few nights at a time with family members and friends, but he's hoping he'll be able to rebuild soon.
"There's times at night I don't sleep," he said.
You help Smith rebuild here.
For those of you who have not experienced a house fire and loss of personal items, you really do not have a clue!
First there is no mention of his coverage other then dwelling? The Mortgage company should have received their balance before he received his payment. The adjuster for his insurance may not have maxed out his policy? They work for the Insurance Company and not the Home Owner! You have to be on top of every aspect of the claim and then you have to deal with so called Insurance Company prefered cleaners and contractors! They are both very good at conning the unsuspecting Policy holder out of everything they can!
General Contractors specializing in Insurance damage expect 20% profit and overhead and use the lowest bid sub-contrators they can find, but bill for the actual amount in the damage estimate which is substantially higher plus the 20%!
Most home owners do not have adequate contents coverage which is depreciated and you only get reimbursed the deprecaition value until you go out and replace a like or equivalent item! Family heir looms or personal?
The cleaners are another issue! We have boxes of items that are not worth $1, but the cleaners by the time they packed, dried and ozoned and returned them we figure average a minimum of $100/box! Oh! they don't put over 30# in a box(books)! We still have over 100 boxes to unpack and the cleaners received over $80,000 for their services from contents coverage and we are still out over $50,000! Once you sign the final check from insurance you can take no legal action against anyone involved! Read your POLICY it is in there!
We used a licensed and bonded contractor to do the repairs of a chimney that caused the fire and he got away without a black mark, since his insurance said he wasn't covered and our insurance didn't want to go to trial, since the Masonary company had no assets!
Good Luck to those of you who think you have enough coverage and trust your insurance company!
By the way the Masonary company is on Angie's List!
Is it bad that I don't really feel much sympathy for this guy? There are a lot more people worse off than him. At least he got a check to keep a roof over his head. Besides, if his house was insured then wouldn't it cover the belongings inside as well?
Sounds to me like this guy is just trying to take advantage of the generousity of others when he should be thankful for what he DOES have, because everyone isn't so lucky.
Yes, it is too bad that ANYONE lost their home. However, this man was obviously under-insured; he could have chosen enough coverage to cover everything that needed to be replaced, but he CHOSE not to. This is SO not everyone else's problem; the rest of us are busy paying our own bills... In fact it makes me think of those snarky office signs: Failure to plan on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine!
I think a trailer park beckons.
By the time I lost my house I had less the $25K of stuff, and that included both of our cars. While I feel bad that he lost everything I do not feel sorry for him. He should have sold the stuff then tryed for help. Most people in this contry put to much importanct on stuff. It is the people in your life that will make it rewarding not how much stuff you have the day they put you in the ground.....
 @bustedupredneck Sold what stuff? His stuff burned or was smoke damaged. Go back and read the original story.
you lost $150,000.000 of "valuables inside?!?!!?" and you're saying you need financial help? maybe you should have paid more towards your mortgage and blown less money on stuff?!?! I feel ZERO sympathy for you.
 @dorimonsonfan While I agree it's sketchy that he was facing foreclosure and yet says he lost $150K worth of stuff, I'm still sorry he lost everything but his dog. Hopefully she stays well fed, warm and dry after saving his life.
@tats76 @dorimonsonfan He got a check for a house he was facing foreclosure on. He should thank his lucky stars and move on. Him and his dog should be just fine. Other people aren't so lucky.
Buy the dog something cool...she deserves it, big time!
good dog, Savannah