Has your property been affected by flood damage?
Article posted on 28 February 2014
Home owners affected by the floods face many months in rented accommodation and business owners face claiming for business interruption if their properties are not dried out as quickly as possible after the flood water recedes.
The lessons learnt from flooding in recent years is that a quick reaction can save far more contents for homeowners and can significantly reduce the time they have to live in rented accommodation whilst their property is being repaired. National Home Repairs work to identify an effective restoration programme to restore properties back to their pre-incident condition as quickly as possible.
If you have been affected by the recent flooding there are some simple steps to take in order to save your property and its contents from further risk and damage.
Make that call now
Find your insurance documents and consider which company your building and contents insurance is with. Parts of your claim will be covered by each of the insurances. Call your insurance company or broker as soon as you possibly can. The quicker your claim is filed with your insurer/broker the quicker your claim will be handled and acted upon.
Get the name of your Loss Adjuster
Your insurance company will appoint a loss adjuster to visit you who will advise of the next steps and appoint a professional water damage restoration specialist to help return your property back to its pre-incident condition. The quicker one is appointed to help you, the less chance you will have of having to move out of your property.
Electricity
Keep all the power off until an electrician has inspected your electric supply to make sure it is safe.
Fresh Water
Boil water for drinking and food preparation until your water authority tells you that your water supply is safe.
Contents in your property
Quickly move any valuable contents or belongings to higher ground where possible to prevent further damage. Keep all contents affected by the flood as the majority of items can be restored. Make a list of damaged or lost items and include their purchase date and value with receipts, any items which maybe required to be disposed of also make sure you take photographs of these items.
Warning
Take care, as there may be hidden dangers in floodwater like broken glass and crockery, rocks and other materials swept into your home from open areas.
Protect yourself at all times
Make sure you wear gloves, wellington boots and protective clothing as floodwater can contain sewage, chemicals and animal waste. Keep children and pets out of the affected area until the cleanup has been completed.
Prepare for your loss adjuster's arrival
Have to hand the list of contents including the damaged and lost items with purchase paperwork together with photographs.
If you are concerned about any aspect of your flood damage National Home Repairs can help.
