______Ten-year ownership histories of the property—collect deeds from the insured or order from a title insurance company a title history with deeds attached.

______Ten-year history of mortgages and liens on the property

Copies of the following files from the local building department:

______permits

______citations

______inspection reports

______Utility records—including electrical, gas, and telephone bills—for the property for at least six months prior to the fire

______Change of address documents filed with the Postal Service

______All property tax filings and payment records

______Insurance records for the last five years

If it is a commercial property, collect the following documents:

______Secretary of state incorporation records and annual reports

______Sales tax filings

______Public records search regarding other properties owned by commercial business

______UCC filings

______Fictitious business name filings

______Commercial credit reports

______A list of vendors and suppliers of the business.

Interviews Should Be Conducted with the Following:

______The building occupant

______The building owner

______All persons who qualify as an insured.

______All insurance agents and brokers involved in the acquisition of the insurance

______All lien holders or mortgages.

______Creditors, suppliers, and vendors.

______The person who discovered the fire.

______The person who reported the fire

______All fire scene witnesses

______Neighbors and adjoining property owners or businesses.

______The responding firefighters and captains

______Investigating law enforcement personnel

______Realtors and sales agents involved in the most recent sale or listing of the property as well as neighboring properties

______The insurance claim personnel

______The insurance company underwriter

______The insurance cause and origin investigator

______The insurance claims attorney