When your home suffers damage from a storm, you may not know how to move forward from this stressful experience. Not only do you have to worry about the safety of yourself and your loved ones, but you also have to deal with the consequences of the damage. However, you can take steps to minimize the problem and ensure your home is safe.
Learn what to do when your home suffers storm damage and how to get your life back to normal as quickly as possible.
Assess the Damage
The first thing to do when your home suffers storm damage is to assess the extent of the harm. This involves going around your home and checking for any visible signs of damage to your roof, windows, siding, and other outdoor areas that the storm may have affected.
Keep an eye out for cracked glass, dented siding, missing shingles, or detached gutters. You’ll also want to assess your home’s interior to see if water damage has occurred because of the storm. Take photos of the problem areas so that you can provide them to your insurance company.
Contact Your Insurance Company
After assessing the damage, the next step you should take is to contact your insurance company. Your insurance agent can help guide you through the claims process and provide you with information on what your policy covers.
Be sure to provide your insurance company with as much information as possible, including photos of the damage and any receipts for repairs you have made. The insurance claim process can be a little involved, so it’s best to know what to expect when filing a water damage insurance claim.
Make Temporary Fixes To Prevent Further Damage
While you wait for your insurance company to assess the damage, make temporary fixes to prevent further issues. This could include putting a tarp over a damaged roof, boarding up broken windows, or doing your best to dry out a flooded basement.
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These temporary fixes can help prevent further damage to your home and protect it from the elements until you can make more permanent repairs.
Repair or Replace Damaged Items
Once your insurance company processes your claim, you can begin to repair or replace any damaged items in your home. This may include replacing damaged roofing tiles, fixing damaged drywall, or switching out damaged appliances.
Be sure to document any purchases you make when repairing or replacing your belongings, as you may need to pass this information on to your insurance company.
Choose a Reputable Contractor for Permanent Repairs
It’s important to choose a reputable contractor to permanently repair the damages in your home. Look for licensed and insured contractors with experience working on homes that have suffered storm damage.
Be sure to get multiple quotes before choosing a contractor, and ask for references from previous clients to ensure the contractor has a good track record of quality work.
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