Minneapolis Water Damage Restoration MN | Flood Damage Repair MN
Flood Damage Repair MN | Water Damage Restoration MN The aftermath of a water damage problem is not the time to discover what is and is not covered in your homeowners’ insurance policy. Too many people wake up to a flood, call their providers, and are politely told that they are on their own. Insurance, as it applies to water damage, is a tricky situation. It becomes of utmost importance for homeowners to learn and understand their insurance plans, knowing what is covered, what isn’t, and making the appropriate adjustments. This is the only way to avoid being caught unawares when that upstairs pipe breaks or the local dam gives way. A Minnesota Water Damage Restoration Expert has both the skill and the experience that allows us to work directly with your homeowners’ insurance provider or claims adjuster. This not only spares you, the homeowner from the headaches that always seem to go along with handling insurance matters, but gives you the peace of mind knowing they have done it many times before and that they will do the legwork for you, submitting your claim, and doing whatever is necessary to make sure that claim is properly processed and resolved. Many homeowners mistakenly believe that flooding is covered by your homeowners’ policy. It isn’t. Flood coverage may be available for an additional premium, but it depends on the provider, whether or not your home is located in an area prone to flooding, and other factors. Many flood prone communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), established by the Federal government to provide flood insurance coverage, as well as working with communities in high risk areas to take the proper steps to protect their residents from the flooding threat. People often overlook the importance of flooding protection, believing that they will simply get Federal disaster relief if their home is damaged by flood waters. While this may be true, it is predicated on whether or not the community is declared a disaster area, and even then, disaster relief often comes in the form of low interest loans that must be paid back, along with whatever the current mortgage payment is on the property. By having adequate flood insurance coverage, you are simply responsible for the premium, and will not have to deal with the added burden of a substantial new monthly payment following the restoration of your home. In other cases of water damage, coverage may not exist, or may be denied if the damage can in any way be traced back to negligence on the part of the property owner. If your roof gets damaged in a storm, that may be covered, but if the roof was damaged in a storm because it was not properly maintained, then coverage will be denied. Coverage may also be denied if you wait too long to file your claim. Some companies will deny water damage coverage if the damage is more than 48 hours old. In every way, timing is important in the wake of water damage. Water Damage | Water Damage Insurance Water damage cleanup, repair and restoration can be a costly operation, and surely you’d want to receive financial help from your home insurance policy. In fact, water damage is one of the top reasons why most home insurance plan holders make claims. Unfortunately, home insurance tends to be tricky when it comes to water damage, which is why many people have had negative experiences when claiming insurance benefits for their water damaged house. The biggest challenge in making a water damage insurance claim lies in determining whether...
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Water Damage Insurance Claim | Insurance Restoration MN You’ve just returned to your home after vacation to find a flooded basement, perhaps due to a sewer or septic backup or broken water pipe and realize that in order to be able to get your life back on track you will have to have your house repaired. Or perhaps a drain clog caused the water in your sink to back up and overflow, and now your kitchen is a virtual swimming pool, right inside the house. What to do? Look for and bring out that homeowner’s insurance policy because you will have to file an insurance claim for water damage. Water Damage Insurance Claims The aftermath of a water damage event is not the time to discover what is and is not covered in your homeowners’ insurance policy. Too many people wake up to a flood, call their providers, and are politely told that they are on their own. Insurance, as it applies to water damage, is a tricky situation. It becomes of utmost importance for homeowners to learn and understand their insurance plans, knowing what is covered, what isn’t, and making the appropriate adjustments. This is the only way to avoid being caught unawares when that upstairs pipe bursts or the local dam gives way. Find out if your insurance will pay for water damage. Filing a Damage Claim For Water Damage Your responsibilities, as outlined in most residential property insurance policies, include, but are not limited to: • Give prompt written notice to the insurer of the facts relating to the claim • Protect the property from further damage • Make reasonable and necessary repairs to protect the property • Keep an accurate record of repair expenses Your actions should include, whenever possible: • Stop the water leak/flow • Remove standing water and begin drying the area • Photograph the damaged property • Remove water soaked materials • Keep removed materials and move them to a secure, dry and well-ventilated area, or outdoors • Protect repairable and undamaged items from further damage • Keep an activity log, including a record of all contact with your insurance company • Keep all receipts • Don’t throw away removed or damaged materials until instructed by your insurance company • Don’t jeopardize your safety • Don’t make large structural or permanent repairs • Don’t exceed personal capabilities By following these guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to properly taking care of any water damage situation in your home. Creating a Home Inventory Creating a home inventory is one of the most important steps you can take in order to make sure you are adequately insured–and it can make filing a claim in the event of a disaster much easier as well. Now comes the hard but necessary part – computing the damage costs. You’re probably at a loss, and don’t know where to start and how to do it. Here we’ll show you how and what to do step by step. Call the Insurance Company The first thing you’ve got to do is call your insurance company to inform them that you’re going to file a claim. Make Temporary Repairs Next, try to prevent further water damage from occurring by making temporary repairs. Make sure you keep the receipts for any repair work done, as payments for temporary repairs will be among those costs you will file for. What is important is that you’re able to arrest any water damage from further destroying your house. If you need to relocate, bring the receipts with you. If there are any wet areas...
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After the Water Damage: What’s Next? Water damage comes in a variety of ways and quantities, from simple seepage through cracks in the floor or foundation, leaky water heaters, and overflowing toilets or sinks to broken pipes, backed up sewers or septic systems, and outright floods from lakes and rivers. No matter what the source or cause, unwanted water can do enormous damage to your belongings and property. Water damage requires a prompt response in order to clean up the mess, make your home livable, and prevent mold. While the cleanup crews move quickly, the aftermath can seem to take forever. There are many things that demand your attention. You have insurance claims forms to file, bills to pay, and items to replace. In the event of a disaster, a detailed inventory will be imperative for your compensation. Creating a Home Inventory Creating a home inventory is one of the most important steps you can take in order to make sure you are adequately insured–and it can make filing a claim in the event of a disaster much easier as well. After all, it’s the inventory that establishes which items the insurance company will pay to clean, restore, or replace – and it’s the inventory that the insurance company uses to determine how much to pay. With this in mind, thoroughly documenting all damaged items is an absolute must. What should an inventory contain? At its most basic, a home inventory is a list of all of your home’s belongings and their value. Ideally, you will have created a home inventory before any damage occurs. This would give you a good starting point for your insurance claim. Whether you have an existing inventory or not, after a water damage claim, you will need to identify and list all damaged items as part of the insurance claims process. If you have an existing inventory, use it to highlight all damaged items, adding items to the list if necessary. If you do not have an inventory, you’ll need to start from scratch. Separate all water damaged items from the non-damaged items. Your water damage restoration company may have already done this step for you. Next, take photos of each item and list each item on a sheet of paper or in a spreadsheet. You’ll want to note the following: Item name – What type of item is it? For example, TV, antique vase, computer tower, area rug, etc. Item description – Describe the item in greater detail. For example, 55-inch Sony Bravia LCD TV or handmade 12×12 blue and yellow Turkish area rug Value – How much did you pay for the item? How much is it currently worth? Purchase date or approximate age – When did you purchase the item? How old is it? Any special notes – Here’s where you’ll enter additional details. For example, is the item one-of-a-kind? Upgraded? Home Inventory Worksheet Disasters happen. When they do, we will be there. We will keep you operating and get your facility or business back to normal as quickly as possible. We offer complete emergency services through minimizing further damage and restoration of both building and contents. “One Call Does It All 612-331-4454” Direct Insurance Billing | At Your Door in 1 Hour or Less | 24 Hour Service 24/7/365 Emergency Service. Approved by all insurance companies. Fast Response. A Rating with BBB. Done Right Water and Fire Restoration. Call today free estimates....
Read MoreWater Damage Mold Cleanup and Restoration MN Part 3
Water Damage Mold Insurance Claims Continued from Water Damage Mold Cleanup and Restoration Part 1 and Part 2 Water damage, Mold Damage and Flood Damage are some of the most common reasons people make claims on their home insurance. Frozen, broken or burst pipes, leaky appliances and flooded basements are just a few of the ways you could discover exactly what is and is not covered by your home insurance policy. One of the worst effects of water damage comes in the form of mold. If your home has water damage, mold could develop in as short of a time as 24 – 48 hours of water exposure. Even worse, it may continue to grow until steps are taken to thoroughly dry out the premises and eliminate the source of moisture. Mold is certainly not new—it’s been around for hundreds of millions of years—but the sharp rise in mold claims is definitely a 21st -century phenomenon. Multi-million dollar jury awards, sensationalized reporting in the media and profiteering by some individuals have led to an explosion in mold claims and costs. In 2004 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in otherwise healthy people; with asthma symptoms in people with asthma; and with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals susceptible to that immune-mediated condition. The IOM also found limited or suggestive evidence linking indoor mold exposure and respiratory illness in otherwise healthy children. In 2009, the World Health Organization issued additional guidance, the WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mold [PDF, 2.52 MB]. Homeowners Insurance: Is Mold Covered? Whether mold is covered by homeowners insurance often comes down to the source of moisture and the wording of a policy. Mold needs 3 things to thrive – moisture, food and oxygen Mold needs 3 things to thrive. All three of the basic elements – moisture, food and oxygen — MUST be present to support mold growth. If that moisture remains for 24-48 hours you will likely begin to have a mold problem. Problems can arise for homeowners when the presence of persistent moisture goes undetected or unresolved, leading to widespread mold growth. Moisture can result from high indoor humidity, flooding, or a leaky roof or dishwasher. Mold, like rot and insect infestation, is generally not covered by a homeowners insurance policy. Standard homeowners policies provide coverage for disasters that are sudden and accidental. They are not designed to cover the cost of cleaning and maintaining a home. If, however, mold is the direct result of a covered peril such as a burst pipe, there could be coverage for the cost of eliminating the mold. Clean Up Water Damage Now To Avoid Mold! Regardless of how the water damage happened, it is important to take similar steps to remedy it. Never ignore indications of an obvious water problem in your home. You should immediately attempt to find and stop leaks at their source. Properly dry or remove soaked carpets, padding and upholstery within 24-48 hours after a flood to prevent mold growth. Anything that can’t be properly dried should be discarded. Just letting items dry out will not remove the mold, and mold will grow again anytime there is enough moisture in the air, such as on humid days. Remove standing water as quickly as possible. Standing water is a breeding ground for microorganisms, which can become airborne and inhaled. Wash and disinfect all areas that have been flooded. This includes walls, floors, closets, shelves, as well as heating and air-conditioning systems. If you have...
Read MoreWater Damage Mold Cleanup and Restoration MN Part 2
Water Damage Mold Insurance Claims Continued from Water Damage Mold Cleanup and Restoration MN Part 1 Mold has recently emerged as the dominant cost driver in some states. Mold is certainly not new—it’s been around for hundreds of millions of years—but the sharp rise in mold claims is definitely a 21st -century phenomenon. Multi-million dollar jury awards, sensationalized reporting in the media and profiteering by some individuals have led to an explosion in mold claims and costs. Water Damage & Mold “Mold is Gold” has become the popular mantra of trial lawyers and no wonder. The true magnitude of the problem is obvious — there has been a 300% increase in mold-related lawsuits during the past three years. According to the Insurance Information Institute, there are 10,000 such cases pending today nationwide (“Lawsuits, Insurance Claims Over Mold Damage on the Rise, USA Today,July 17, 2003.) The cost to the construction industry is staggering. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent each year on mold litigation, claims and remediation. It’s hard to put a precise dollar figure on mold damage because most insurers don’t separate mold claims from water-damage claims, according to Claire Wilkinson of the Insurance Information Institute. About 22% of all homeowners insurance claims result from “water damage and freezing,” a category that includes mold remediation. A 2003 white paper on mold from the III put the cost of the average mold claim between $15,000 and $30,000, at least five times the average non-mold homeowners claim at that time. Fixing Water Damage NOW Prevents Mold Problems Later! Mold Can’t Grow Where Mold Can’t Eat! Unlike asbestos and other materials that have been the focus of “toxic” tort litigation and construction defect claims, mold is naturally occurring. The three elements necessary for mold growth—food, air and water— are found in every building. In fact, mold is everywhere. Because mold is always present, it is impossible to conceive of anyone who has not been exposed to some form of mold. Eliminating mold growth, or even the possibility of mold growth, is a key component of water damage restoration. The most effective way to prevent mold growth on water damage losses is to begin the drying process quickly. Restoration companies who are aware of possible mold growth problems usually know how to dry structural materials with heat, air movement and by lowering the indoor relative humidity. This is an effective way to dry a building because material removal is minimized and mold growth is retarded. Water damage is hazardous to health and dangerous for any home or business, therefore time is of the essence when it occurs. Within minutes of water intrusion, damage can begin. Unwelcome moisture starts by staining ceilings, walls, and floors, and then can turn into dangerous mold growth. It only takes mold 24 to 48 hours to grow in the right moisture conditions. Chances are, if you can’t see the mold and have a musty smell, that you have “hidden” mold. Hidden mold tends to be located in the air ducts, on the back side of dry wall, paneling or wallpaper, on the underside of carpets and pads, behind furniture, just to name a few locations. The long-term health issues associated with mold can be reduced by ensuring that a proper cleanup is done. If you suspect you have a mold problem from hidden water damage, it is always best to hire a qualified and experienced specialist that is knowledgeable in the latest water extraction and drying methods. A Certified (IICRC) Water Damage Restoration Professional can help you locate the water source, do the necessary testing and...
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