Be Prepared — Catastrophe Restoration, Water damage, Fire damage and Contents pack- out services

Tips to be more prepared for a home disaster

———

Sit back for a moment, close your eyes, and think about your home. All the memories, everyone’s personal belongings, and all the hard work you endured through the years to own your very own home.

Now what if the unthinkable happens and your home suffers a fire or sustains a bad water damage loss? You may have assumed this would never happen to you, but it did, what do you know?

We all have so many things on our plates already, that it is overwhelming to imagine having the burden of dealing with a loss to your home. It’s certainly something I would not wish upon anyone, but it happens, and it happens more than you would probably think. Remember you likely never had a loss before, so you are not supposed to know what to do.

Doing some research and homework ahead of time can make things go a bit smoother. Here’s a list of things I recommend that you could do now based upon my experience:

1) Talk with your insurance agent ask them “what if?” Ask how much coverage you have for personal property coverage. Ask if you are covered in case of a drain back-up. Know your policy limits and be sure they are enough.

2) You don’t always have to choose who your insurance company recommends. A property owner has the right to choose a contractor themselves. The big franchise companies have agreements with the big carriers for being a “preferred vendor.” That contractor may not have your best interest in mind. These companies are reputable and are good at what they do so I’m not saying to not use them. Its important for you to know what you don’t have to.

3) Perform a general inventory of your contents beforehand. Taking a video with your smart phone and having that info in the cloud could come in handy.

4) Before hiring a contractor, do some research on the company. Check with the Better Business Bureau, check reviews, check its website.

5) Consider hiring a Public Adjuster. The PA’s job is to make sure your insurance carrier is paying what is owed. They’ll do their homework and negotiate on your behalf.

Hopefully you never have a loss and will have to worry about these types of things. If you do someday, following all or some of these tips will certainly ensure a better experience during such a tough time.

———