Rebuilding After a House Fire: How One Family Came Home Again

A few years ago, we met a client who had a house fire in Danbury, CT. The fire affected every square inch of her home, which was over 4,000 square feet.

She was overwhelmed by the thought of her house even catching fire, and she questioned how to move forward. Rebuild the home? Sell the property? Rebuild the home and then sell?

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Luckily, she had insurance that was extremely generous with the replacement costs of rebuilding. But she still needed to decide what was best for her family.

Where Rebuilding After a House Fire Begins

She originally reached out to us for demolition and mold remediation only. It was the first step that needed to be done while she was making her decision.

When we met with her, we discussed her options in great detail. We even connected with her insurance company to go over some things that weren't in their original quote, so there was more to work with for the renovation to begin. We also discussed a few slight changes to the floor plan, to make the newly renovated home a more modern, functional space for her family.

Building Trust Before Rebuilding a Home

As a contractor, we had to understand the trust this client needed to have in our company to take on a project this large. She needed to know her house was going to be rebuilt so her family would be safe again.

As a designer, my goal was to let the excitement of building a new home for her family overpower the fear and anxiety of what had just happened to their family home.

This was extremely easy to do, because we connected very quickly on a design level. Our tastes are very similar, and it was as if I could read her mind.

Small Floor Plan Changes With a Big Impact

We made little tweaks to her current floor plan so the flow of the house made better sense:

• Reworking the primary bathroom and walk-in closet

• Getting rid of some awkward nooks in the home

• Enlarging a bedroom where there was wasted space in the front entry area

• Shifting the location of the kids' bathroom to create a larger jack and jill bathroom

• Removing a dividing wall between the kitchen and another room to create a beautiful, larger open concept kitchen with a walk-in pantry

She also had an in-law apartment downstairs, which her mother was able to renovate as well, creating another full kitchen in her apartment.

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When Fear Shifted to Excitement

At some point, the fear shifted to excitement for our client. And as a company, we became equally invested emotionally in giving them a home they were excited to live in, and one where they knew they would be safe.

In the end, we even let the kids pick out their own paint colors for their rooms. As a designer, it was a decision I wanted to give them, but I also had to let go of control of it.

Handing Back the Keys to her House in Danbury, CT

Between insurance, architectural plans, permits, design and construction, this was a project that took us almost a year. The interior as well as the exterior were completely renovated, from new kitchen & floors to all new windows, new exterior siding and trim as well as new garage doors.

When it was time to give them the keys back to their home, we were just as excited as they were about the finished product. Yes, because it was beautiful. But more importantly, because we were a part of the healing process after a tragic event in their lives.

More Than Just a Contractor

This is just one story of many about why, when you work with our company, you're getting more than just a contractor.

We always talk about the benefits of working with a design-build firm, but there's so much more when you work with our family. We listen to you. We want to know your why. We understand how long it's taken you to save for the project, or to trust perfect strangers coming into your home.

Our goal is not only to build beautiful, safe homes for our clients. It's to build relationships and trust. When we work with you, we become invested as if it were our home. And we understand that some clients need more hand-holding than others. We put ourselves in our clients' positions and try our best to over-deliver in the end.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rebuilding After a House Fire

What should I do first after a house fire? 

Make sure everyone is safe, contact your insurance company, and get the home secured. Before any rebuilding, demolition and mold remediation usually come first.

Should I rebuild or sell after a house fire?

It depends on your coverage and your family's plans. Talk through your options with your contractor and insurance company before you decide.

How long does it take to rebuild after a house fire? 

Every project is different. This whole-home project took almost a year, including insurance, architectural plans, permits, design and construction.

So, What's Your Story?

We want to know. How can we help you create spaces in your home that you never want to leave? How can we build better, more functional kitchens and bathrooms for your needs?

It's not just about design and construction, and we get that!

Stop by our Design Center in New Milford or reach out to start the conversation.