Ranney House Fire Restoration in Lakeland. The Ranney family lost their Lakeland home to a fire. They tell the story of finding True Builders, sitting down with Issac, and walking back into a home that was better than before.
See the full story: Ranney House Fire Restoration in Lakeland
Read the transcript ▼
[Music] and all of a sudden I woke up i sat up smelling and I'm like wow I do smell smoke and I could see like amber in the door and I open the door very little cuz I knew better to open it wide so I opened the door and there was a fire while rushing out of the house my two boys they were trying to put it out with the hose but it it just was exploding in the air from I guess gas and paint that we had I was just numb I just couldn't I said it's just really happening my dream in like you know my home everything that we live for it is all my memories were gone everything was exploding what are we gonna do you know we're not young I just did all these emotions will go until me we had called several different contractors they were just over price we didn't know where to turn so we had gone to my daughter's we were still looking and my dad was looking on the on the Internet so then my daughter says mom I don't know if you want to give this this company are called it's called two builders and she says and they um they do for fire water damage and all this maybe just give them a call to see you know I called them and I spoke to this nice man his name is Aaron and he says I'll meet you there I said really today he says yes I'll meet you there we talked and we talked and he says we can rebuild your house for this amount of money and I'm like no way we had to go through the office in me Isaac the owner and we all sit around the table and he says I will do this and it won't cost me a dime I I just couldn't believe it I was like whoa you know doing exactly the way it was will have some upgrades they didn't have before and I was I was really blessed we were blessed to find two builders I got to go in the office and I get to pick everything that I wanted you know from different one not just one thing they had me there might be like seven pieces of flow or seven types of countertops so it was like and I mean they made it so easy and they had colors for me to choose from it was like wow that was exciting for me because I just couldn't believe that I was going to get this because I'm not from all the other contractors so I walked in the door and I just started crying because it was so beautiful two-minute the kitchen was like the colors I wanted everything it was better than before I'm in the flooring I got I got all the stains still count I know I'm refrigerate everything I wanted the cabinets were upgraded it was just so so beautiful and in warm it was a one feeling nothing they made it more they made it like home again and then Isaac came he had I think I'd like five albums of pitches memories that they had cleaning them and put them in or kind of like an order they took their time to Bennett had to take a lot of time it took their time to put each one in the folder just everything was brand new I have a brand new home down a brand new home for the rest of my life and two builders made it happen [Music] you [Music]
Complete-Loss Fire Rebuilds for Central Florida homes, done right
A total-loss house fire takes more than a building. It takes the place where your family lived, and it leaves you standing in front of a slab wondering who can possibly put it all back. True Builders rebuilds complete-loss homes from the ground up, from demolition and debris removal through full reconstruction to current code, so you have one licensed team to lean on instead of a stack of phone numbers.
We are a family-owned, licensed Central Florida general contractor, GC license number CBC1258346, building homes since 2009 from our headquarters in Plant City. We rebuild for homeowners across Lakeland, Tampa, Brandon, Winter Haven, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Davenport, Bartow, Auburndale, Haines City, and the surrounding Polk, Hillsborough, and Pasco county communities.
Because we self-perform with in-house design, our own showroom, permitting, and every trade under one roof, the same accountable team carries your rebuild from the first walkthrough of the loss to the day you get your keys back. Many of our clients tell us the finished home turned out better than the one they lost.
What a Complete-Loss Fire Rebuild Includes
A complete-loss rebuild is a full home reconstruction, not a patch and paint. When a fire compromises the structure, the framing, the roof, and the core systems, the safest and often the most cost-effective path is to take the damaged structure down and build it back new. True Builders handles every phase of that work as a single licensed general contractor, so nothing falls through the cracks between trades.
From the charred shell to the final coat of paint, we own the whole scope. That means demolition crews, framers, roofers, plumbers, electricians, HVAC techs, and finish carpenters all answer to one project team and one schedule.
- Safe demolition of the fire-damaged structure and full debris removal
- Site preparation, foundation repair or replacement, and new framing
- New roof, exterior envelope, windows, and doors
- Complete plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems
- Insulation, drywall, flooring, cabinetry, trim, and paint
- All permitting and inspections handled for you
Rebuilt to Current Florida Building Code
Your home was likely built to the code in force when it went up, which may be years or decades old. A complete-loss rebuild is a chance to bring the entire structure up to current Florida Building Code, including the wind, structural, and electrical standards that protect Central Florida homes through hurricane season.
As a licensed GC, we pull every permit, schedule every inspection, and keep the documentation clean so your rebuild passes the first time and your records are airtight if you ever sell.
- Construction that meets current Florida Building Code and wind-load requirements
- Updated electrical, plumbing, and HVAC built to today's standards
- Permits, plan review, and inspections coordinated by our team
- A clear, documented paper trail for your records and your insurer
- Optional code upgrades and resilience improvements while the home is open
Working With Your Insurance From Day One
A total-loss claim is one of the most stressful parts of a fire, and the scope and dollars rarely line up on the first pass. True Builders documents the loss thoroughly and works directly with your insurance adjuster on scope, line items, and cost so the rebuild is funded the right way and you are not fighting the paperwork alone.
We have walked Central Florida families through this many times. We speak the adjuster's language, we keep our estimates detailed and defensible, and we keep you in the loop on every number.
- Thorough documentation and photos of the loss for your claim
- Direct coordination with your adjuster on scope and pricing
- Detailed, line-item estimates that hold up to review
- Help capturing code-upgrade coverage your policy may include
- Clear communication so you always know where the claim stands
Our Fire Rebuild Process
A rebuild this size only feels manageable when the path is clear. Here is how we take a complete-loss home from the day of the fire to the day you move back in, with a dedicated project manager guiding you at every step.
- Emergency response and board-up, available 24/7, to secure and stabilize the property
- On-site assessment of the loss and a detailed scope built with you and your adjuster
- Design and finish selections in our showroom, with financing available if you need it
- Permitting, demolition, and debris removal to clear the site
- Full reconstruction: foundation, framing, roof, systems, and finishes
- Final inspections and a walkthrough together before we hand back your keys
Design and Finish Choices in Our Showroom
Rebuilding from nothing is heartbreaking, but it is also a rare chance to shape the home around how your family actually lives now. Because we have in-house design and a real Central Florida showroom, you can see and touch cabinets, countertops, flooring, tile, and fixtures in one place instead of chasing samples across town.
Open up a galley kitchen, add the bathroom you always wanted, rework the layout, or simply rebuild what you had with better materials. Your project manager and our designers help you make choices that fit your budget and your insurance scope, with financing available to bridge any gap.
- Hands-on selection of cabinetry, countertops, flooring, tile, and fixtures
- In-house design to refine or improve the floor plan as it is rebuilt
- Upgrades that fit your budget and your claim scope
- Financing available to cover improvements beyond the insurance payout
- In-home and showroom consultations with no obligation
Why Central Florida Families Choose True Builders
After a fire, the last thing you need is to referee three different companies for cleanup, design, and construction. True Builders is one licensed, family-owned team that does it all, with a 4.8-star rating across more than 400 Google reviews and roots in the larger True family that has served over 100,000 customers.
We are local, we are accountable, and we are full-service. From our Plant City headquarters we rebuild homes across Lakeland, Tampa, Brandon, Winter Haven, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Davenport, Bartow, Auburndale, and Haines City, and we treat every rebuild like it is our own neighbor's home, because often it is.
- Licensed Central Florida general contractor, GC number CBC1258346
- Family-owned and serving the area since 2009
- One self-performing team for design, permitting, and every trade
- 24/7 emergency response and direct insurance coordination
- 4.8 stars across 400-plus Google reviews
- No-obligation consultations and financing available