When a major storm is approaching, homeowners often focus on stocking up on food, water, batteries and other emergency supplies. Those preparations matter, but protecting the home itself requires some planning, too.
United Water Restoration Group (UWRG), the 50-plus-location restoration franchise, helps homeowners deal with water intrusion and other property damage after storms and emergencies. From understanding insurance coverage to documenting a home's condition and watching for hidden water damage, some of the most important steps can be taken well before severe weather arrives.
One of the first things homeowners should do is understand exactly what their insurance policy covers. Storm-related damage may be treated differently than other types of property damage, and wind or named-storm deductibles can sometimes be considerably higher than a homeowner's standard deductible.
“Probably the number one thing you could do is to have the right insurance coverage in place,” said Mike Tempesta, who owns a UWRG franchise in Asheville, North Carolina, with his wife, Maria. “Make sure you have proper coverage. Sometimes wind and storm-related damage will have a much higher deductible or a separate deductible from your regular coverage.”
Homeowners should know what their policy covers when it comes to wind and water damage. They should also check their deductible, since some storm-related deductibles are based on a percentage of the home's insured value and can leave homeowners paying thousands of dollars out of pocket.
Flooding is another important consideration. Standard homeowners insurance generally does not cover flood damage, which is why homeowners may want to explore separate flood insurance.
“You don't have to be near a river, stream or lake to have flood damage,” Maria said. “Mud, dirt and water can inundate your house, and it can be a huge mess to clean up.”
Because flood insurance policies may have a waiting period before coverage takes effect, homeowners should consider their options well before a storm is in the forecast rather than waiting until severe weather is approaching.
Homeowners can also take a few minutes to document the condition of their property. Mike recommends periodically walking around the exterior and interior of the home with a phone and recording a video.
“Take a five-minute video of the outside of your house so that if something does happen, you have a basis for comparison,” he said. “Even on the inside of your house, document your contents and what you have.”
That documentation can become especially useful after major damage. If a tree comes through the roof, for example, rain could damage furniture, clothing and other belongings before the homeowner has time to think about documenting everything.
“You might not be thinking about the fact that it's claimable,” Maria said. “If you have documentation from before, you can show the insurance company, ‘Here's the room, the clothes and the furniture before the tree came through.’”
Homeowners don't need to document their property every time bad weather approaches. Updating the video once or twice a year can provide a relatively recent record, while another quick recording may make sense if a major storm is headed toward the area.
Homeowners should also take a look around their property before storm season. Dead or leaning trees near the house can become dangerous in high winds, so it's better to deal with them before a storm is on the way.
Inside the home, preparation should include the supplies needed to function without electricity for several days. Flashlights, batteries, drinking water, food, medications and a way to receive emergency information should all be readily available. If a homeowner relies on a private well, losing electricity can also mean losing access to running water.
“We're on a well, so when we lose power, we lose water,” Maria said. “We make sure we have a few gallons available for flushing and washing, not just drinking.”
A generator can also help keep critical systems operating during an extended outage. Depending on the home's setup, that could mean powering the entire house or simply maintaining essentials such as refrigeration, heating, cooling and other necessary equipment.
Even the best preparation can't prevent every type of storm damage. Once the weather has passed and it is safe to inspect the property, homeowners should look for obvious signs of damage and take reasonable steps to prevent the situation from getting worse.
“If you have damage to your home whereby there has been an opening caused, whether it's to the roof or a window, you're responsible for mitigating exposure as much as possible,” Mike said. “Tarp the roof. Cover the window. Try to start drying out water that may have entered the home.”
Safety should always come first. Homeowners should not climb onto a dangerous roof or put themselves at risk trying to make temporary repairs that require a professional. Some damage may not be immediately apparent. Missing shingles, damaged gutters or a small roof opening might not be noticed until a ceiling stain or another warning sign appears later.
“If you see things later on, you don't want to ignore them,” Mike said. “Have them checked out. If you see a stain on your ceiling, you might have a roof leak, and that needs to be addressed right away.”
After a storm, water damage isn't always easy to spot. Water can move underneath flooring and soak into other materials, so a small stain or wet spot may be only part of the problem. If that moisture isn't found and dried, it can lead to mold and further damage.
“A lot of times, there's a lot more water than what you can see,” Maria said. “Water will travel under a floor 20 feet in every direction if there's enough of it. You can't see it, but it's sitting there soaking your materials.”
A small wet spot may be a sign of a much bigger problem. Restoration professionals can use moisture meters to find hidden water and see how far it has spread.
“If you think you have water, it may be nothing,” Mike said. “Or it could be three rooms’ worth of water that has gone under the floor that you'd never see. At that point, call someone in to come and check.”
Homeowners should also contact their insurance company quickly if they plan to file a claim. Reporting the damage early can help avoid problems that may come up if repairs are made before the insurance company is notified.
“If you have a water situation or any kind of claim situation, inform the insurance company as soon as possible,” Mike said. “You don't want to get the restoration people to fix it and then give the insurance company the bill afterward.”
Homeowners should also stick to what they know when describing when damage began. If they genuinely don't know how long a leak or other problem has existed, Mike recommends saying exactly that rather than guessing at a timeline.
The goal after any storm is to act quickly without acting recklessly. By understanding insurance coverage, documenting the property, preparing for outages and addressing signs of water intrusion early, homeowners can put themselves in a much better position when severe weather arrives.
“You don't know what kind of damage a storm will cause,” Mike said. “Will it be minor? Will it be significant? The number one thing is to understand what to do right after.”
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/unitedwaterrestoration.
United Water Restoration Group
SPONSORED
United Water Restoration Group franchise owners share what homeowners can do before and after severe weather to protect their property and avoid turning minor damage into a major problem.
When a major storm is approaching, homeowners often focus on stocking up on food, water, batteries and other emergency supplies. Those preparations matter, but protecting the home itself requires some planning, too.
United Water Restoration Group (UWRG), the 50-plus-location restoration franchise, helps homeowners deal with water intrusion and other property damage after storms and emergencies. From understanding insurance coverage to documenting a home's condition and watching for hidden water damage, some of the most important steps can be taken well before severe weather arrives.
One of the first things homeowners should do is understand exactly what their insurance policy covers. Storm-related damage may be treated differently than other types of property damage, and wind or named-storm deductibles can sometimes be considerably higher than a homeowner's standard deductible.
“Probably the number one thing you could do is to have the right insurance coverage in place,” said Mike Tempesta, who owns a UWRG franchise in Asheville, North Carolina, with his wife, Maria. “Make sure you have proper coverage. Sometimes wind and storm-related damage will have a much higher deductible or a separate deductible from your regular coverage.”
Homeowners should know what their policy covers when it comes to wind and water damage. They should also check their deductible, since some storm-related deductibles are based on a percentage of the home's insured value and can leave homeowners paying thousands of dollars out of pocket.
Flooding is another important consideration. Standard homeowners insurance generally does not cover flood damage, which is why homeowners may want to explore separate flood insurance.
“You don't have to be near a river, stream or lake to have flood damage,” Maria said. “Mud, dirt and water can inundate your house, and it can be a huge mess to clean up.”
Because flood insurance policies may have a waiting period before coverage takes effect, homeowners should consider their options well before a storm is in the forecast rather than waiting until severe weather is approaching.
Homeowners can also take a few minutes to document the condition of their property. Mike recommends periodically walking around the exterior and interior of the home with a phone and recording a video.
“Take a five-minute video of the outside of your house so that if something does happen, you have a basis for comparison,” he said. “Even on the inside of your house, document your contents and what you have.”
That documentation can become especially useful after major damage. If a tree comes through the roof, for example, rain could damage furniture, clothing and other belongings before the homeowner has time to think about documenting everything.
“You might not be thinking about the fact that it's claimable,” Maria said. “If you have documentation from before, you can show the insurance company, ‘Here's the room, the clothes and the furniture before the tree came through.’”
Homeowners don't need to document their property every time bad weather approaches. Updating the video once or twice a year can provide a relatively recent record, while another quick recording may make sense if a major storm is headed toward the area.
Homeowners should also take a look around their property before storm season. Dead or leaning trees near the house can become dangerous in high winds, so it's better to deal with them before a storm is on the way.
Inside the home, preparation should include the supplies needed to function without electricity for several days. Flashlights, batteries, drinking water, food, medications and a way to receive emergency information should all be readily available. If a homeowner relies on a private well, losing electricity can also mean losing access to running water.
“We're on a well, so when we lose power, we lose water,” Maria said. “We make sure we have a few gallons available for flushing and washing, not just drinking.”
A generator can also help keep critical systems operating during an extended outage. Depending on the home's setup, that could mean powering the entire house or simply maintaining essentials such as refrigeration, heating, cooling and other necessary equipment.
Even the best preparation can't prevent every type of storm damage. Once the weather has passed and it is safe to inspect the property, homeowners should look for obvious signs of damage and take reasonable steps to prevent the situation from getting worse.
“If you have damage to your home whereby there has been an opening caused, whether it's to the roof or a window, you're responsible for mitigating exposure as much as possible,” Mike said. “Tarp the roof. Cover the window. Try to start drying out water that may have entered the home.”
Safety should always come first. Homeowners should not climb onto a dangerous roof or put themselves at risk trying to make temporary repairs that require a professional. Some damage may not be immediately apparent. Missing shingles, damaged gutters or a small roof opening might not be noticed until a ceiling stain or another warning sign appears later.
“If you see things later on, you don't want to ignore them,” Mike said. “Have them checked out. If you see a stain on your ceiling, you might have a roof leak, and that needs to be addressed right away.”
After a storm, water damage isn't always easy to spot. Water can move underneath flooring and soak into other materials, so a small stain or wet spot may be only part of the problem. If that moisture isn't found and dried, it can lead to mold and further damage.
“A lot of times, there's a lot more water than what you can see,” Maria said. “Water will travel under a floor 20 feet in every direction if there's enough of it. You can't see it, but it's sitting there soaking your materials.”
A small wet spot may be a sign of a much bigger problem. Restoration professionals can use moisture meters to find hidden water and see how far it has spread.
“If you think you have water, it may be nothing,” Mike said. “Or it could be three rooms’ worth of water that has gone under the floor that you'd never see. At that point, call someone in to come and check.”
Homeowners should also contact their insurance company quickly if they plan to file a claim. Reporting the damage early can help avoid problems that may come up if repairs are made before the insurance company is notified.
“If you have a water situation or any kind of claim situation, inform the insurance company as soon as possible,” Mike said. “You don't want to get the restoration people to fix it and then give the insurance company the bill afterward.”
Homeowners should also stick to what they know when describing when damage began. If they genuinely don't know how long a leak or other problem has existed, Mike recommends saying exactly that rather than guessing at a timeline.
The goal after any storm is to act quickly without acting recklessly. By understanding insurance coverage, documenting the property, preparing for outages and addressing signs of water intrusion early, homeowners can put themselves in a much better position when severe weather arrives.
“You don't know what kind of damage a storm will cause,” Mike said. “Will it be minor? Will it be significant? The number one thing is to understand what to do right after.”
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/unitedwaterrestoration.
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