CSLB Quick Tips: Consumer Warning About Unlicensed Contracting in Disaster Areas

Unlicensed contractors often prey upon survivors of disasters. Watch these tips to help prevent yourself from getting scammed by someone who will take you money without doing the work or who will do poor quality work.

Alltek Restoration Provides 24/7 Emergency Services

Emergency Services

We are here to help when you need it. Providing first response to your needs 24/7. Our team will be dispatched to your loss, will assess the damages, explain the course of action required and with your approval start immediately preventing further loss and damages.

The post-loss condition of a structure or dwelling can vary and is specific to each type of loss and the severity of the damage that has occurred. Determining the cause of the loss and the affected area is the first step and often most important. How and what steps are taken can have a significant impact on further damages and what is necessary to prevent or limit further damages to a structure. Alltek Restoration, Inc. provides all emergency or temporary services which your property may require.

Board Up Services

Are very common requirements after storm or fire losses. The damages caused by the actual fire and tactics use to extinguish can leave your property with broken or blown out windows, burnt doors or broken doors, ventilation holes in roofs, and structural deficiencies all of which leaves the property open to access, in distress, and insecure. We will secure all loss related openings with temporary measures securing the property and temporary structural repairs to help prevent further damages.

Temporary Weather Proofing

Your property may require temporary weatherproofing as a result of a loss. Both storm and fire damages can leave your property exposed or vulnerable to weather elements which will cause further damage to your property. Preventing additional damages is key as secondary damages can exceed the preliminary damages.

Content Services

Depending on the type of loss and severity will determine what needs to be done.

Services can include the following: manipulation, both salvageable and non-salvageable / total loss inventory, packing for on or off-site storage, cleaning and restoration, and pack back after repairs.


Mitigation Services

Includes initial loss assessment, determination of cause and source, water category/classification, moisture mapping, and determining the affected areas that require structural drying. Removal of both salvageable and non-salvageable building components, and the placement of required drying equipment as well as monitoring the drying progress until completed. After the drying process, repairs may proceed.

Temporary Utility Services

After a loss, a structure's utilities can be interrupted or shut off until safe operation and use can be confirmed. All utilities are subject to interruption which can make your home uninhabitable or unsafe. After a fire, if the electrical system is damaged emergency personnel will have the utility provider interrupt service to prevent the risk of injury and further structure damages. We can provide emergency repair or provide temporary utilities that are required so repairs may begin.

Water Damage Information

What can damage your home in many ways. Do you know what is covered and what isn't? This video explains the different types of coverage from burst pipes to torrential floods. Spokespersons: Jeanne M. Salvatore, Insurance Information Institute; Ed Connor, National Flood Insurance Program.

https://alltekrestoration.net/

Earthquake Safety

Stay safe before, during and after an earthquake. Use these 7 steps to protect you and your family.

Got False Alarms? The Truth About ‘Pesky’ Smoke Detectors

                                   Got False Alarms? The Truth About ‘Pesky’ Smoke Detectors

How to Prevent Water Damage From Household Fixtures - This Old House

This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows ways to detect and stop common plumbing leaks.

Do’s And Don’ts When Restoring Your Home After Fire Damage

Watching your home go up in flames could cause an emotional turmoil that’s difficult to deal with. However, a fire accident isn’t the end of the road for your home as you can always restore it.

The key to restoring a home after fire damage depends on several factors you should do and don’t. Remember, fire damage restoration is a serious matter, and you don’t have any room for mistakes. For example, even if the firefighters declared that the fire’s over, it doesn’t mean that getting inside is safe. You might step on glass shards, nails, and anything sharp. There’s also a chance that heavy debris may fall on you while you attempt to clean and restore your home right away.

And because of those things, it’s always advisable to work with professional restoration companies like Arsidaho.com and others that offer similar services. Hiring these companies can hasten the restoration process.

Dos And Don’ts

Surely, you still want to help with the restoration process. It might be because you want to quicken the process or reduce the amount you need to spend. Whatever the reason, you want to make sure that you do it safely and properly.

What To Do

Here’s a list of the things you should do when restoring your home after fire damage:

1. Avoid The Scene Of The Fire

You need to avoid the fire scene until the firefighters permits you to go inside your home. Even if the fire appears to be out, it can restart. You don’t want to trap yourself inside when that happens. Moreover, the burnt part of your house can be unstable after a fire. Something may collapse and it may fall on you.

2. Document The Scene

Taking pictures, collecting receipts, and recording conversations with firefighters can help you with your insurance. This is because the evidence will help speed up the insurance claim process and ensure that you get a fair claim to cover the restoration process.

3. Call Your Insurance Company

Insurance providers will have to assess the extent of the damage before they can start processing the claim. And to get them to process it as quickly as possible, you should call them immediately and let them know about the damage. Once they come, you can show them the parts that you documented to help with the process.

4. Find A Reliable Restoration Company

After the fire, you’ll want things to go back to normal as soon as possible. Therefore, you should find and contact a restoration company. Let them handle the restoration and help them out if they need anything. Even though you may be tempted to start the restoration by yourself, don’t; you may not have the right cleaning equipment and skills to do it alone.

5. Discard All Exposed Food

The food that has been exposed to fire or smoke isn’t suitable for consumption anymore as it may have chemicals that are unsafe to your body. Therefore, once you’re allowed back into the house, ensure that you discard all of them.

6. Seek Support

Watching your house go into flames can be traumatizing even for emotionally and financially strong people. You don’t need to go through such moments alone, and you should call and talk to your friends and family to seek emotional support. With a calm mind, you can trust yourself to make proper decisions.

7. Seek Temporary Shelter

Depending on the severity of the fire damage, you may need to seek temporary shelter as soon as possible. Take all the valuables you can, and make sure to do it right away. You don’t want your pets and family members to stay in your home as the soot and other toxic fumes may harm their health.

Also, you need somewhere to rest and pull yourself back together. Restoring your home may be on top of your priority list after the fire, but don’t forget yourself.

What Not To Do

After the fire, there are things that you should be keen to avoid doing to prevent further damage and make the restoration process smooth. Such things include the following:

1. Do Not Use Utilities

After a fire, you need to stop using the utilities such as gas and water. Remember that water that’s mix with dirt and debris becomes more electrically conductive. If it comes in contact with faulty electric equipment, it may result in electrocution.

On the other hand, there’s a huge chance that your gas line has been damaged or it might even be the reason the fire started. The last thing you want to do is to try igniting anything within the vicinity as there might be a gas leak.

2. Avoid Cleaning Before Insurance Assessment

Even after documenting the fire scene, you should avoid scrubbing soot, smoke, or moving anything in the house before an insurance inspection. This is because cleaning up may lessen the extent of the damage and consequently reduce your insurance claim.

3. Don’t Turn On Any Electric Equipment

Sometimes, the cause of the fire could be faulty electric equipment or connection. Turning on electric equipment soon after you’re allowed back into the house without a safety clearance could start another fire.

And even if the firefighter declared that your house is safe, don’t hesitate to ask about the status of your electricity service. Remember that aside from starting another fire, having problems with electricals may lead to electrocution or short your appliances.

4. Don’t Use Or Clean Carpets And Curtains

When soot or debris gets to your carpet after fire damage, it could be a headache to try and clean it. To avoid wasting time and further trouble, you should just dispose of it or get professionals to work on it. They can provide the best cleanup process for those items.

Conclusion

Fires can happen, and if a fire damages your home, you’ll be so distressed. The best you can do is ensure you do the right thing to make the restoration of your home easier and faster so that you can get your old life back. Follow all the things you’re supposed to do and act with caution.

SOURCE: https://purehomeimprovement.com/restoring-your-home-after-a-fire-damage/

Six Things You Need to Do After a House Fire

Written by Heidi Petschauer 

You may think a house fire will never happen to you. But what if it does? Are you prepared?

Figuring out what to do after a home fire can be a very stressful and overwhelming process, and it can be hard to decide what to do first. With a little help from your insurance agent, though, you may be able to settle your claim more quickly and get your life back to normal.

Here are the six things you should do after a home fire.

1. Call your insurance agent immediately. You will be getting calls at all hours of the day from public adjusters and contractors who will try to offer you a deal on putting your house back together. These calls can create a lot of stress and confusion. I suggest you speak to no one but your agent to discuss your options at this point in the process.

2. Ask about restoration companies that can help with cleaning up soot, boarding up windows, and other construction. Immediately after a fire, especially if it is a minor one, you’ll need to clean up any soot or water damage. It is important to hire a reputable service to deal with these issues. Ask your agent or insurance adjuster to recommend a few different companies. They deal with these situations more often than you do and likely know of some businesses that fit your needs. Many of these restoration companies have connections to good contractors, engineers, and architects, as well.

3. Separate damaged property from undamaged property. The insurance company will need a detailed inventory list from you after they inspect the loss. Separating your damaged property from your undamaged property will make it easier for you to make a list of your damaged items. This list needs to include the date you purchased each item, the brand name, the price you paid, and the serial number, model, or description of each item. If the item was a gift, be sure to indicate that as well.

It’s a good idea to submit your receipts with this inventory list. If the receipts were destroyed in the fire, or you didn’t keep any receipts, request copies of prior bank statements. This can make obtaining duplicate receipts easier. Keep in mind that photos of any damaged items are always helpful if receipts are not available.

4. Save undamaged property from further destruction. Any items that are not damaged should be put in a safe place, even if it means putting them in storage. Insurance adjusters are typically fair when it comes to adding additional costs for storage.

5. Cooperate fully with the insurance company’s investigation. When a fire claim is reported to an insurance company, it is given top priority. Usually, the adjusters come out to see the loss within 24 to 48 hours. To help settle your claim in a timely manner and to your satisfaction, be sure you are available and on time for all meetings, that you return calls promptly, that any requested paperwork is completed as quickly as possible, and that you contact the company or your agent immediately with any questions.

6. Find somewhere to stay if you can’t live in your home. Most homeowner’s policies include “Loss of Use or Loss of Rents” coverage, which will pay for the food, clothing, and shelter that you and your family may need for a specified period of time. Keep in mind that your policy will pay for “like kind and quality” living arrangements. You may want to save the Ritz for a special occasion and instead stay in a more reasonably priced hotel.

What to do before disaster strikes

• Review your homeowner’s policy to be sure you have replacement cost coverage, loss of use coverage, and adequate dwelling coverage. The last thing you want to hear after a fire is that you were underinsured.

• Save all your receipts and put them in a metal fireproof box or in a storage facility off the premises, such as a safety deposit box. Better yet, scan the receipts and save them to a computer file. Taking a video of your entire home and the possessions within it is the next best thing to receipts. This will show the insurance company what sort of lifestyle you had prior to the claim.

• Be sure to have smoke detectors in every room of your home to ensure that everyone gets out of the house or apartment safely in the event of a fire. Have exit ladders and fire extinguishers handy, and know how to use them.

• Discuss escape strategies and plans with your family prior to a fire, and consider a fire drill to help ensure everyone’s safety.

Article Source: https://blog.equifax.com/credit/six-things-you-need-to-do-after-a-house-fire/

What To Do If Your Home Is Flooded

Your home is flooded. Now what? Danny Lipford joined us to walk you through the steps you should take if you find yourself in this situation.

Disaster Prep: A Simple Way To Make Sure You Recover Your Stuff | Consumer Reports

In the case of a disaster like a house fire -- the more detail you have about your valuables, the more you'll be able to recover in an insurance claim. Consumer Reports says it's a pretty easy thing do to: use your smartphone!

Why You Should Hire Professional Fire and Water Restoration Services

A fire can have a devastating effect on a family, causing several losses. We sincerely hope that the fire you might have experienced in your house did not have any casualties and it was only property that was damaged. Though even property loss can be pretty frustrating and disheartening, you should know that most fire damaged houses can be restored to their old self. Your best bet to tackle damage caused by fire and water would be to hire the services of a professional fire and water restoration company. A professional fire and water restoration contractor will have the know how that will help them assess the damage to your property and take the most appropriate steps necessary to restore it.

Unless the damage was very minimal, it is highly recommended that you seek the services of a professional fire and water restoration contractor for the following reasons.

Damage caused by fire can be made much worse by home owners who attempt to restore the damaged area without the proper knowledge. Your insurance company will also recommend that you choose a fire and water restoration contractor to carry out the repairs and no do it yourself.

The cost of services of a professional restoration company might be steep at first glance but you have to understand that they will have the best knowledge to save you money with the whole restoration process. Fixing things up on your own might seem much more economical although you will quickly blow your budget as you discover more and more problems that you have to deal with. Even if it means forking over a decent sum of money, it is highly recommended that you hire the services of an expert fire and water restoration company to carry out your restoration.

If water was used to put out the fire, you will have to be worried about water damage in addition to the damage caused by the fire. Fire and water restoration contractors deal with both types of damage on an everyday basis and will quickly begin work to minimize and restore properties affected by both types of damage.

Restoration companies will advice you on what is salvageable and what can be restored. If you didn't consult with experts, you could be throwing away furniture and furnishings that can be easily restored at a fraction of the cost that it would take to replace them.

The odors from a fire can easily penetrate the structure of the house and only a professional fire and water Restoration contractor will be able to use deodorizers and ozone to completely remove the odor of fire and smoke from a property.

Last but not the least, a professional restoration company will allow you to carry on with your life without having to leave your job or business unattended which is exactly what you would have to do if you were trying to restore your house on your own.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5764207