It’s never easy to find yourself with a flooded home. You’ve invested time and money to make the property livable and uniquely yours. Now, there’s water all over the place. Apart from your safety, you worry about the state of your home. What should you do now? When can you begin with the repairs? Hopefully, the guide below answers all these questions, among many others.
Make Sure You’re in the Clear
Severe floods force people to evacuate their homes. If such is your case and you would like to check the aftermath, do so but prioritize your safety. Before going in, do a visual inspection and inspect the property for structural damages.
Do you see any warping or cracks on the foundations? Does the roof look like it’s going to collapse? While you’re doing an inspection, look for indications of gas and water damage as well. In case there’s any sign of danger, don’t even think of entering your home.
If it seems safe to go inside, the first thing you should do is to shut off the power and water supply from the source. Do this even if there seems to be a power outage in the area. This way, you’re minimizing the risk of electrocution when the lines get reactivated.
Remember to wear protective clothing when you decide to go back to your flooded home. The ideal attire is comprised of waders, waterproof, and rubber gloves. While the water inside the property may look clean and clear, it can still be contaminated. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Take Photos and Grab Important Documents
The next thing to do is to take pictures. These serve as proof of the unfortunate event and can be handy when you start processing your insurance claims.
To get the most of your policy, make sure to take pictures before you remove water or call the pros for water damage repair in Denver. Ideally, you’d like your insurance company to see all the damages that your property has incurred. Fixing things up before filing a claim might lower your coverage. A good rule of thumb here is to wait for your insurer’s signal before repairing anything.
While you’re inside, use the chance to gather the necessary documents you’ve left at your home. If possible, get your hands on the proof of ownership, homeowner’s policy records, and flood insurance documents.
Contact Your Insurer to File a Claim
As soon as possible, inform your insurance company of the state of your home after the flood. The claiming process could take days, weeks, or months, depending on the extent of the damage. Be sure to follow the procedures down to the smallest details. While processing your claim, notify your local agent of all your repair plans and the timeframe to make sure you’re both on the same page.
Take note that in some cases, not all repairs are shouldered by insurers. Work closely with your adjuster and agent to identify what’s covered in your policy. Since the process can take a while, be sure to document the conversations that take place and the condition of your property at every stage. A flooded property can deteriorate over time if not repaired immediately. In such a case, a detailed record helps with the inspection.
Begin With the Repair
Once you get a thumbs up from your insurance, you can start making repairs within your property. The first task should be water removal. If you have the tools and knowledge to get the job done, then feel free to do it yourself.
You can also opt to turn to the pros. whatever you choose, be sure to keep the receipts for each expense. Don’t expect your insurance company to reimburse the bills if you don’t have some kind of proof.
Conclusion:
Dealing with a flooded home can be overwhelming, especially when you have no idea where to start and how to go about it. Now that you know a thing or two about flood recovery, do you feel a bit more confident? If you still need more help, don’t hesitate to tap your friends and family as well as the government agencies near you.
