The trauma of a fire or water damage may leave owners overwhelmed at the thought of where to start the process of restoring their property.

The first thing property owners should do, if they can, is contact their insurance company to report the loss. Though fire often is accompanied by water damage from putting it out, the process after reporting a fire loss usually is different than that of water damage alone.

Danny Aller, owner of highly rated Servpro of Edison in Metuchen, N.J., said fires usually spark investigations by fire officials to determine the cause. Beginning cleanup of the premises immediately could get in the way.

In the case of water damage, however, most insurance carriers prefer that work begins right away so that secondary damage like mold growth or unsanitary conditions from sewage and chemical seepage can be prevented. Aller said many insurance companies don’t expect homeowners to wait until the insurance adjuster inspects the damage to hire cleanup companies.

“The reality is the customer has the prerogative to hire who they want to hire,” he says.

However, some insurance companies retain lists of preferred service providers, he noted. “That way, the transactions are a lot cleaner. The insurance companies have used those companies before, so they know the quality of work, and those companies will likely have the software they use,” Aller said.

It’s always best to get three estimates, and check references, insurance, bonding and licensure. But that’s not always possible in an emergency involving fire or water damage. “You don’t have three days when your house is under water,” Aller said. “It can be hard to get someone on a Saturday afternoon for three estimates.”

Unlike most situations involving contractors, homeowners experiencing water or fire damage may not need to pay upfront, or if their homeowners policy has a deductible, they pay only that amount before work begins, he said.

Whether you need to move out during cleanup usually depends on the extent of the damage and if the insurance policy covers hotel stays, Aller said. Usually, in cases of fire, families need to move because of potential structural issues. “In most towns,” he says, “they’ll tag a house as uninhabitable.”

In cases of water damage, families often remain in the home, Aller says. However, this can be a mistake since water intrusion can also damage a home’s foundation.