When a bad storm damages your home or business, it can be stressful and drain you emotionally and financially. In situations where the damage is extreme, it might feel like you can never get your property back in shape. But when you know what to do after a bad storm, you will find the entire experience less tiring and less expensive. You can end up paying close to $20,000 in repairs. When you make the right decisions, restoring all that you’ve lost is much easier, and you will be in a better position to mitigate any future risks. Here are a few helpful steps to take after you’ve been affected by storm damage.
Inspect your property for any damages
Once the storm has passed, one of the first things you must do is inspect your property to assess the severity of any damages incurred. However, keep in mind that not all damages would be obvious and can manifest later. With this in mind, you can plan for any future mishaps. When you return to your home or business, ensure that you are mindful of potential hazards. These could be slippery areas, exposed electrical wiring, and loose floor and ceiling tiles that could seriously injure you. You must also avoid any water puddles, especially if they are located around exposed power lines. Ensure you are cleared to head back to your neighborhood before setting off, and if you have to go, make sure you assess your home during the day when there’s more light. Consider unusual smells as you inspect your home, especially carbon monoxide leaks. If you suspect a leak, ensure you shut off its main supply, open all windows, and head outside. You should only return to your home once it’s been declared safe by authorities.
Don’t incur any more damages
Don’t get tempted to fix or repair the damages to your property after a storm. Most of these may be too complicated for you to perform. Instead, if you have the skills to repair any damages, it would be best to start with the minor ones while calling for professional assistance for the larger and more complex repairs. Conducting immediate repairs can also help prevent any further destruction from happening. For example, boarding your windows is easy enough to prevent strong winds from pushing any weak structures down. However, if you’re not a handy person, it would be best to stay away from any repairs to avoid any extra damage.
Contact your insurance provider
You must contact your insurance provider if you have an insurance policy on your home, business, or other items damaged by the storm. Ensure you document all the losses caused by the storm, and you can do that by taking pictures of the damages before any changes are made. You must also include receipts for your hotel costs and other expenses incurred while living outside your home during the storm when you file your insurance claim. Your insurance provider will help you take the right steps in filing the right claims and, in some cases, will connect you with other service providers to help you get back on track.
Find a professional restoration service
Bad storms can damage your home or business, and as a result, they can slow down or bring your life and business operations to a halt. Suppose your business has been hit. In that case, you might be forced to close down to ensure that it’s been thoroughly cleaned and its contents have been restored. Fortunately, your life doesn’t have to come to a sudden halt when you experience any property damage. Many companies offer professional furniture and appliance restoration.
In most cases, restoring your damaged items is more affordable than replacing them with new purchases. That way, you can still keep your personal belongings and other meaningful or valuable items, and they will still be in good shape. These professionals can restore items like your furniture, business documents, photographs, and electronics. So, before you throw any items out, consider having them restored.
Create a budget
After assessing your home, it would be best to create a budget to know how much repairs would cost. Even though you might have insurance, your policy might not cover certain areas of your home or business that might have sustained any damages. You might not be able to have an accurate budget; instead, allow yourself to work within a range. After all, adjusting your budget at any time is perfectly normal. With a well-planned budget, you might have additional space for extra services. You can turn this tip into a regular practice. For example, if you know your home is prone to floods during severe storms, you can set up an emergency fund and save for future repairs.
Begin repairs
You must hire the best contractor to help you recover your home or business after storm damage. If your property is badly restored, it can become extremely hazardous. A good contractor will thoroughly inspect your home and ensure that all other damages are properly addressed and wouldn’t pose a health risk to you. The last thing you need is to hire an unprofessional contractor and worry about the state of your home. You can work through a qualified agency or seek recommendations from trusted friends and family. Ensure you maintain an open relationship with your contractor to make communication and understanding easier. It would also be best to have a contract to avoid conflict or disagreement.
Picking up the pieces after storm damage can be tough, but when you have a solid and well-thought-out strategy, you can feel more in control of your affairs. Plus, you would be in a better position to prevent such severe damage from occurring in the future. Hopefully, these tips will help you stay prepared when the bad weather season approaches again. Remember to take the entire process one step at a time, and soon you will have your property back just as it was.
Inspect your property for any damages
Once the storm has passed, one of the first things you must do is inspect your property to assess the severity of any damages incurred. However, keep in mind that not all damages would be obvious and can manifest later. With this in mind, you can plan for any future mishaps. When you return to your home or business, ensure that you are mindful of potential hazards. These could be slippery areas, exposed electrical wiring, and loose floor and ceiling tiles that could seriously injure you. You must also avoid any water puddles, especially if they are located around exposed power lines. Ensure you are cleared to head back to your neighborhood before setting off, and if you have to go, make sure you assess your home during the day when there’s more light. Consider unusual smells as you inspect your home, especially carbon monoxide leaks. If you suspect a leak, ensure you shut off its main supply, open all windows, and head outside. You should only return to your home once it’s been declared safe by authorities.
Don’t incur any more damages
Don’t get tempted to fix or repair the damages to your property after a storm. Most of these may be too complicated for you to perform. Instead, if you have the skills to repair any damages, it would be best to start with the minor ones while calling for professional assistance for the larger and more complex repairs. Conducting immediate repairs can also help prevent any further destruction from happening. For example, boarding your windows is easy enough to prevent strong winds from pushing any weak structures down. However, if you’re not a handy person, it would be best to stay away from any repairs to avoid any extra damage.
Contact your insurance provider
You must contact your insurance provider if you have an insurance policy on your home, business, or other items damaged by the storm. Ensure you document all the losses caused by the storm, and you can do that by taking pictures of the damages before any changes are made. You must also include receipts for your hotel costs and other expenses incurred while living outside your home during the storm when you file your insurance claim. Your insurance provider will help you take the right steps in filing the right claims and, in some cases, will connect you with other service providers to help you get back on track.
Find a professional restoration service
Bad storms can damage your home or business, and as a result, they can slow down or bring your life and business operations to a halt. Suppose your business has been hit. In that case, you might be forced to close down to ensure that it’s been thoroughly cleaned and its contents have been restored. Fortunately, your life doesn’t have to come to a sudden halt when you experience any property damage. Many companies offer professional furniture and appliance restoration.
In most cases, restoring your damaged items is more affordable than replacing them with new purchases. That way, you can still keep your personal belongings and other meaningful or valuable items, and they will still be in good shape. These professionals can restore items like your furniture, business documents, photographs, and electronics. So, before you throw any items out, consider having them restored.
Create a budget
After assessing your home, it would be best to create a budget to know how much repairs would cost. Even though you might have insurance, your policy might not cover certain areas of your home or business that might have sustained any damages. You might not be able to have an accurate budget; instead, allow yourself to work within a range. After all, adjusting your budget at any time is perfectly normal. With a well-planned budget, you might have additional space for extra services. You can turn this tip into a regular practice. For example, if you know your home is prone to floods during severe storms, you can set up an emergency fund and save for future repairs.
Begin repairs
You must hire the best contractor to help you recover your home or business after storm damage. If your property is badly restored, it can become extremely hazardous. A good contractor will thoroughly inspect your home and ensure that all other damages are properly addressed and wouldn’t pose a health risk to you. The last thing you need is to hire an unprofessional contractor and worry about the state of your home. You can work through a qualified agency or seek recommendations from trusted friends and family. Ensure you maintain an open relationship with your contractor to make communication and understanding easier. It would also be best to have a contract to avoid conflict or disagreement.
Picking up the pieces after storm damage can be tough, but when you have a solid and well-thought-out strategy, you can feel more in control of your affairs. Plus, you would be in a better position to prevent such severe damage from occurring in the future. Hopefully, these tips will help you stay prepared when the bad weather season approaches again. Remember to take the entire process one step at a time, and soon you will have your property back just as it was.
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