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 There is plenty of advice offered through the
internet and YouTube. We went through dozens of videos and picked
out a few that we think will give you a heads up for what to do and
how to do it when you become the victim of a natural disaster or a
fire.
We also found a good website – Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford
that offers a lot of information that could be useful in any
situation. Lipford has one specific article entitled, Dealing the
Storm Damage to your Home, that offers a bulleted list of tasks you
will need to perform and also cautions you on what to do and not do
to stay safe after the storm.
Website: Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford
Some of the best advice Lipford gives is to be well aware of what
your insurance policy covers and doesn’t cover, and to contact your
insurance agent as soon as possible after you determine you have
claimable damage.
One hazard homeowners face may be something is not covered by a
standard insurance policy - flood damage. In most cases, flood
insurance is a rider that is added onto your policy at an additional
cost. If you don’t have this insurance then flooding in your
basement due to heavy rains may not be covered. That could mean that
the clean-up and repair for this damage is on you and you alone. If
water rises above the foundation level and enters the main floor of
your home, it may not be covered. If you live in a flood plain, your
insurance agent may have encouraged you to buy that extra coverage,
but if you don’t, you aren’t required to buy it, but you may want to
consider it after you’ve seen the following video.
To repair and restore your home after flood damage is a tremendous
amount of work. If you are handy you can do it yourself like this
fellow did, but if you have to hire a flood clean-up company, they
are expensive. So, judge for yourself, is this a task you would be
willing and can afford to take on.
Flood Clean-up
- 5 Steps Including Mold Control
One of the first tips this video offers is to document your damage
before you start cleaning up. Again, know your insurance policy and
know what you may be able to claim. If you have any thing you can
claim coverage on, then make sure that you notify your insurance
agent before you begin working.
The second important tip in this video is to remember that water in
your home is a health hazard. Wear protective clothing and a
dust/mold mask over your nose and mouth, eye protection and gloves.
In Lipford’s article he also mentions documentation. The majority of
us today have cell phones and those phones have cameras. Take
pictures of everything. Photograph exterior damage and interior
damage. Photograph things that are broken, furniture and electronics
that are damaged. In this case, you cannot go overboard, pictures
are your evidence that you have suffered a loss, so take advantage
of that camera on the phone and document – document – document!
After the storm, in this area tree damage is a big issue. When a
tree falls on the house, the insurance you have may cover a new
roof, but that doesn’t protect the interior of your home from
further damage while you wait on the claim to be processed and the
roofer to arrive. After fully documenting your damage with the tree
on the roof, and contacting your insurance company for approval of a
‘temporary’ solution, then you can take action to protect the
interior of your home.
Note that it is in your best interest to take photos of the tree on
the roof, the removal of the tree, and the damage to the roof once
the tree is gone.
This video will give you guidance on how to properly tarp a roof so
the interior of your home stays dry.
How to Tarp
Your Roof After Storm Damage - Emergency Roofing Service
This next video is good for small fixes that you may not want to
claim on your insurance or if you do not have insurance. This is a
good way to repair smaller holes in the roof, and is more of a
long-term solution until you can get the proper repair or
replacement.
Tree Fell On
Roof - How To Make A Temporary Leak proof Repair
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Another peril that some of us may encounter is fire.
The tips in the videos produced by Lucky A Properties could be
helpful. The company did a series of videos as they restored a home
that had been subject to a fire. Lucky A then put the home back on
the market. We’re not going to preview all eight videos, but we did
watch them all and they offered some very good information. On
YouTube search “How to Clean a Fire Damaged Property,” and you will
find all the videos.
If you watch all the Luck A videos, which is going to
take you quite a bit of time, one lesson is that in a major house
fire, there is a lot of work involved. So, if you have the insurance
or the financial wherewithal to hire contractors to do the repairs,
you may want to consider that.
Along that line, hiring a contractor is a challenge in itself.
Before you hire a contractor we suggest you watch this video. The
person presenting is a little harsh and overly animated, but at the
same time, he makes some very good points. The four best pieces of
advice in the video are don’t tell the contractor what you are
willing to spend, never say “there’s no hurry,” and don’t pay up
front. We would add to that, if the contractor says he needs partial
payment up front, then tell him or her you will pay for materials as
they are purchased, but you will not pay any labor until the job is
done. The labor is the contractor’s profit margin, so holding back
on that amount will drive them to get your job done. And finally get
it in writing. Don’t rely on the handshake agreement even when you
know the person or company. It is in everyone’s best interest to get
a written agreement for the job.
Seven Things
to NEVER say to a Contractor
Kitchen fires are very common, and often are contained to a smaller
area, not engulfing the entire home. Most commonly these fires are
grease fires, caused by something overheating as you cook. There are
also hazards if you have grease buildup around your gas burners on
the stove or in your oven or broiler. These are fires that may be
extinguished before they cause any real structural harm. But they
leave behind smoke and odor. This video offers practical tips on how
to clean up the smoky mess.
Cleaning Tips
: Clean Up After a Grease Fire
If the fire is larger, you will find that though it may have been
contained to your kitchen, it had an impact on the adjoining rooms
in your home as well. Smoke and smell will travel the way the air
flows naturally through your home, so depending on the severity of
the fire, be prepared to find messes in other rooms in the home.
Additionally, in a large home fire, some of your furnishings may be
salvageable. If items are smoke damaged but otherwise okay, then you
can take on some of those furniture cleaning projects yourself.
For your wood surfaces and other furniture here is a video to help
you out.
How to Clean
Soot off Furniture
No one wants you to have to use this information, but if the worst
occurs, remember it is always better to be well informed and over
uninformed. Giving these videos a look-see now may help you avoid
the panic of the aftermath in the future.
[Nila Smith]
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