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The presence of rain in a nation is in the city in most places in the world is considered to be a very good thing and most people rejoice when it rains in their locality because of the good tidings that rain brings with it. Some of the happiest people in the world when it rains are farmers because rain for them means that they get to have a larger harvest when it comes to the season for harvesting the crop that they had planted. A large harvest for them means that they get to have greater earnings from the efforts that they put into sow the seeds. As much as rain is perceived to be a good thing generally, as the saying goes, too much of anything is poisonous.

It is the same with rain. When it rains too much in one area, it becomes risky for the people who live in that area and they are likely to incur losses that would be rain-related. Some of the damages that rain can cause are bringing floods that roofing property such as houses or sweep away vehicles that might be parked on the path of the water.

The water that comes as a result of too much training in a particular area can gain access to homes and houses and cause damages that are beyond repair, bringing unforeseen losses to that family. Water damage restoration companies are companies that have dedicated time and resources to help people recover some of the losses that they incur when such natural calamities occur in their locality. When picking out a specific order damage restoration company to help you provide solutions to your losses, there are a few factors that you must take into consideration in order to pick out the best water removal company.

In the event that a natural calamity occurs, the amount of time that a water damage restoration company will take to respond to the call that you’re going to place to them is a factor that you must seriously think through before deciding on a particular water damage restoration company. A water damage restoration company that has a 24/7 working customer care service would be a good choice. If they do provide a 24/7 customer care service, it means they can respond to your call at any given time of the day.

What to look for?

Responds Immediately when Disaster Strikes

Because water damage only compounds and gets more complicated the longer it is unaddressed, it’s crucial to choose a water remediation service that can arrive quickly when you call. Does the company respond to calls 24/7? How fast can they start the clean-up and repair process? Do they offer peace-of-mind emergency planning services if you want to ensure you’ll have fast help whenever needed?

Employs Licensed, Insured, Well-Trained Teams

As you research water damage restoration companies, focus on water restoration services that are properly licensed and insured in your state. In addition, consider the staff’s expertise. How long has the company been in business? What level of training and experience do the restoration team members have? Are they certified through a reputable certification program? Do they undergo ongoing training?

Has Reputable Local References

After storms and other weather-related disasters response, homeowners often find themselves besieged by unreliable, fly-by-night repair services. To avoid that problem, look for reliable water damage restoration companies with great references from local customers such as your friends and neighbors. Also, consider where the company is located, because locally owned and operated companies are more likely to rely on the word of mouth created by offering trustworthy, thorough repairs.

Offers a Detailed Plan for Damage Repairs

Getting your home back into proper, safe shape after a water disaster means having a clear plan of attack for making all repairs, as well as preventing future problems like mold growth. Having an emergency checklist, such as our free “5 Things Smart Property Owners Do FAST When Disaster Strikes,” is a great place to start preparing yourself ahead of time or giving yourself a set of guidelines if you’re already facing a water disaster. In addition, a reliable, experienced water damage restoration company will offer you a complete, accurate assessment of your property’s damage, the repairs that need to be made, and a reliable estimate of costs so you’ll be equipped to make good decisions about how you want to proceed.

The plans that a water damage restoration and mold removal company has four the repair and restoration of damaged property is also another important factor that should check for before deciding on a particular water damage restoration company to subscribe to. A water damage control company that is professional will have a plan on how to recover from all types of losses that could possibly arise from water damage.

Grab some more details at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_damage  

Nothing can damage a house or building more than fire does. The moment you see or feel that your house is on fire, call for help immediately and vacate the building. You should not go back until authorities say that it is safe to do so. After any fire, even a small one, dealing with the aftermath can be difficult. Fire and smoke can cause significant damage to any building, particularly on the walls or ceilings. And on average, homeowners pay between $3,500 and $5,000 for restoration for just a small fire.  Thankfully, there are things you can do to clean up the damage and restore your house into its former state.

Safety first

Before anything else, you need to ensure your safety and the safety of the people you live with. Do not go home until officials say so. You need to make sure that the fire and its cause is totally out before stepping in. If the blaze is small enough to handle on your own, ensure that the fire is completely extinguished. It is always recommended to have your home. Inspected by professionals especially if the cause of the fire is an electric problem.

Wear proper gear

As with any kind of cleanup, you have to wear the right clothing and gear to avoid direct contact with chemicals and other hazardous compounds resulting from the fire. Note that the soot left by fire can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and skin. Protective gear for fire damage cleanup includes a face mask, gloves, boots, and goggles. Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move around with ease and covers as much skin as possible.

Keep the area well-ventilated

This is very important not only for your health and safety but also for the prevention of further damage in your property. You want to allow the air to circulate freely not only to eliminate any toxic fume but also to avoid water damage (after extinguishing the blaze), including potential mold buildup on the surfaces. Once it is safe to do so, turn off your home’s HVAC system. This must be one of the first things you should do before starting the cleanup. Then, open all windows and doors. Using tools like air scrubbers can greatly help reduce harmful particles, chemicals, gases, and other contaminants in the air through a series of filtration systems.

Clear soot and charring immediately

Remove items damaged by fire or smoke. Dispose of all things that have been damaged by fire or smoke. Once removed, you can now deal with soot and smoke odor. Soot is a black powdery or flaky substance left by burnt things after a fire. It can be very dangerous to your health because it contains a lot of carbon-based impurities coming from all sorts of materials, most especially plastic. That is why cleaning soot and charring should be one of your first tasks. The longer it stays in your house, the more they could pose risks to your health and property. To clean soot from surfaces, you can use a vacuum cleaner. Then, scrub the surface with Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) solution (1 tbsp mixed in one gallon of water) using a sponge. Finally, rinse with warm water. Wipe the surface with a dry, clean cloth. Again, always wear goggles and mask all the time.

Get help

Restoring your home after fire damage is a laborious, time-consuming process. You need all the help you can get. Better ask friends or relatives to help you with sorting damaged items and cleaning up. You may also need help from smoke and fire damage restoration specialists to get rid of the smoke odor. That is because the removal process is complicated and requires expertise and tools to perform effectively. For damaged walls, priming and repainting are necessary. Nonetheless, there are things you can do to minimize the smoke odor. One is by wiping surfaces (walls, floors, ceilings, and furniture) with white vinegar. You can also put some baking soda in small bowls (as well as activated charcoals) and place one in each room to neutralize the smoke odor. Other odor-reducing products include oil diffusers. Experts usually make use of special fog that eliminates the smoke odor completely.

Inspect everything

Thoroughly inspect your house after the cleanup. Double-check items, such as clothing, fabrics, and furniture for signs of fire or smoke damage. Clothes that have burn holes should be disposed of immediately while those that were only covered with soot can still be recovered but would require thorough cleaning. Inspect your home electronics and appliances too as these are easily damaged by fire and have them checked by a licensed electrician.

Fire damage cleanup is no doubt a difficult task. For major damage, you will likely need help from restoration experts. However, for minor fire and smoke damage, you can follow these tips and bring back your home into its original state.

Note: This article is informational only. When making purchasing decisions, conduct your own research.
For more information or support call us we are here to help you.

Repairing extensive water damage can cost a fortune. That’s why it’s critical to know when exactly the landlords or tenants are financially responsible for restoration activities. While there are state-specific differences, you’ll find all the main guidelines in this article. Colleen of Income Realty Corporation goes over the main facts regarding water damage responsibilities in order for you to make the right decisions as soon as possible.

What are the tell-tale signs of water damage?

When water damage is mentioned, most people imagine river-like streams flooding the rooms and soaking every inch of your belongings lying on the floor. But that’s just one way to imagine water damaging the rental property.

1. Brown spots

In reality, many cases of water damage start as a subtle process. You may notice brown spots and discolored blotches appearing on the walls or ceilings. The surfactant used to bind the paint is usually brown and the intruding water separates the brown liquid from the surfaces. This is the reason behind the brown marks.

2. Different surface textures

You may also start noticing changes in the surface textures of your home. If you notice bends, bubbles, and cracks, these are all indications of an underlying disturbance that’s often caused by excess water.

3. Strange smells

Even strange smells alone may give off a warning signal that should be interpreted as a water emergency. When there’s too much moisture in the air or inside porous materials, then mold growth is a real possibility. If you notice any of these signs, act on the first signs and contact your landlord immediately. You can work together to find out the underlying causes. Not notifying your landlord after the first signs have clearly appeared could be interpreted as negligence. This situation could turn more expensive in the long run.

Landlord’s Responsibility

As a universal principle, landlords need to provide a rental space that’s safe for habitation. Lack of maintenance creates issues, making the landlord responsible for the outcome of improper care. For example, when the pipes burst because they hadn’t been changed for a long time, then the tenant isn’t clearly at fault. The landlord should have organized the plumbing works and repairs. The same goes for neglected roof problems. Upon being notified of the first issues, the landlord should have decided to get the roof fixed. That is the landlord’s responsibility.

But you should also not forget that there are situations that minimize or entirely remove the landlord’s responsibility. When the tenant has done something wrong, neglected the property, or failed to notify the landlord of the first problems, then the landlord is not responsible for paying for the repairs.

Note that not all cases are clear-cut, which means that sometimes big disagreements need a middleman to decide who’s exactly in the fault.

Grey areas of responsibility

Yes, landlords do need to keep their properties safe and fit for habitation. Once the water problem unfolds, the tenants still need to do everything they can in order to restrict the extent of the damage. For example, let’s say that your roof starts leaking during the rainstorm, and the water gushes into the house. The landlord is surely responsible for the fact that the roof wasn’t properly maintained. But your responsibility is to remove all of your personal belongings out of the water’s way.

Also, you should take every step to minimize the water from making serious damage to the property. Even taking these practical steps inside the home isn’t enough. You need to call your landlord immediately. Not having an active attitude could seriously harm your chances of getting fully reimbursed for the damage to your personal things.

Tenant responsibilities

Yes, landlords may sometimes carry out improper maintenance and repairs. But tenants might be neglectful as well. You are responsible when you go to the countryside and leave your apartment’s bathtub faucet on, flooding the whole rental along with your neighbor’s property downstairs. In this and similar cases, you have to accept the whole responsibility and the owner doesn’t need to pay a dime. Does that mean overflowing sinks and toilets are always the tenant’s fault? Not so fast. Again, if the situation is caused by bad maintenance, then the landlord is assumed to be responsible. But when the tenant has been throwing garbage into the sink or flushing sanitary pads, tampons, or condoms in the toilet, then it’s their own fault. In many cases, the responsibility depends on the particular root causes, not the situation itself.

Balancing the risks

In fact, the answer lies in signing contracts that are detailed enough to cover the grey areas. While not every single situation can be possibly covered by the contract, there are many common scenarios that result in opposing views. Insufficiently detailed contracts lead people to consult the law and this can become quite expensive. It’s much cheaper to focus on the contract straight from the beginning, protecting yourself against unusual situations that could end up creating costly disputes in the court.

So, is the tenant or the landlord responsible for water damage? Landlords should provide a property that’s safe and fit for habitation. Reckless attitude towards any maintenance issues can result in situations where the property along with the possessions inside gets seriously damaged. In these cases, the landlord clearly needs to bear the weight of the financial responsibilities. Keep in mind that the tenant always carries responsibility when they have created an issue themselves. Also, in an emergency, they need to take necessary actions to minimize the damage and notify the landlord immediately.

Note: This article is informational only. When making purchasing decisions, conduct your own research.
For more information or support call us we are here to help you.

Water damage is one problem that needs immediate attention. When you address the issues early on, you can minimize the damage. Failure to start restoring the water damage in a timely manner can easily cost you more time and energy. After years of professionally managing a number of properties and having experienced water damages a few times, Income Realty gained some knowledge on what to do in these situations. Here’s what you need to know about the best practices and smart tricks to combat the problems created by the water invasion in your home

1. Safety first

Water damage can result from a variety of reasons. Some underlying causes raise the risk of more serious consequences that need extra attention. For example, the damage resulting from flooding creates unique needs. You have to ensure that the water hasn’t caused damage to the power lines nor introduced snakes or rodents into your home. If it seems that your home has experienced heavy structural damage, then it’s wise not to enter the home before getting any professional help. Also, you need to keep clear of standing in any water that could be in contact with damaged power lines.

2. Act immediately

Surveying the damage, you see wet curtains, puddles on the floor, and soaked sofas. Looking at all the water damage can make anyone depressed. While seeing the damage that water can cause is shocking, there’s no time to wait. It’s very important to act quickly and start fixing the damage. Wet materials, regardless of the particular type, start to seriously degrade in a day. For example, the invasion of mold may easily start in the first 24 hours after the materials soak in water.

3.Determine the type of water

You should definitely determine the different types of water that may cause damage to your home. Professionals distinguish between these types of water: clean or white, grey, and black water. The latter is the worst. Blackwater might result from flood or sewer water entering the house. It’s the most dangerous water because there are bacteria and waste material in the mix. The risk of contamination is extremely high. In most cases, you shouldn’t even try to clean up this water without expertise and tools as there are numerous health risks involved.

Gray water is more benign yet could still harbour some risks. This type of water enters your living space from toilets, washing machines, and similar appliances or pipelines. The contamination risk is relatively lower compared to black water, but you still need to take proper safety measures. Be careful not to get into direct contact with the water by using safety gear. The third type of water is clean water. Also known as white water, this umbrella term covers rainwater, leaks from non-sewer pipes, condensation, and other sources that aren’t carrying the potential for great contamination.

4. Mold is a serious concern

Water-damaged materials need an inspection for traces of mildew and mold. You could be surprised how easy and fast mold colonies could gather strength and invade the soaked materials. Sometimes water damage may uncover more deeply rooted mold issues. For example, a flooded crawl space could have provided a good environment for mold for a long time. You just discovered the infestation because space got flooded, making you explore every nook and cranny more in-depth. Of course, any prior mold contamination could be exacerbated by an extra influx of water and moisture. When you are taking care of the mold problem, then ensure you take all the necessary precautions. Some forms of mold can be toxic to people and almost all types of mold can be quite aggressive in their nature. You may think that you removed all of the mold, yet if there’s a critical number of spores left, you’ll see a regrowth quite soon. That’s why serious mold infestations are better left to professionals. They’ll sort it out in a way that the risk of regrowth is kept to a minimum.

5. Watch out for porous materials

Assess all the porous materials in your home. These are the materials that prove to be the most difficult to work with after water has damaged your home. There’s a great chance that you just need to remove and throw away some of these materials. Porous materials include carpets, drywall, fabrics, and even unsealed wood. When these materials have soaked up excess water, then serious damage might occur that could only be fixed by turning back the time. That said, should you have any damaged objects of high emotional value, then take them to a restoration expert. Sometimes, there’s a way to restore smaller items, but the associated cost could be quite steep.

6. Dry the affected areas

Your most important step to prevent further damage is drying out the affected area and soaked materials. When the damage isn’t too bad, you might feel that it’s a piece of cake. In reality, you need to be very thorough even when there has been a small leak. Water can be quite sneaky, making its way into tight crevices not immediately recognizable to the naked eye. Take extra care to recognize the possible affected areas and dry them out completely.

7. Check the ceilings

While porous materials prove to become a nuisance under wet conditions, ceilings may take a turn towards being outright dangerous. Gravity is the key here. Too much water in the wrong place adds extra weight that might make the roof collapse. The critical step here is to ensure that there are no structural issues resulting from the water damage. You need to check whether the beams or rafters have been affected in any way. If they are compromised, then don’t enter the hazard zone before getting professional help and an expert’s reassurance that it’s safe to enter the area under the soaked ceiling.

8. Disinfecting is an important step

When you have completely removed any damaged stuff and materials, it’s time for disinfection. Many people opt for bleach (in the form of a solution), but you can also use lighter disinfectants as long as they have proven to be effective against any contaminants. Use a spray bottle and wipe the area before starting any further damage repair. This way you’ll ensure that no mold, mildew, or bacteria remain on the surfaces. Skipping the disinfection entirely raises the chance that the affected areas start harbouring mold or other biological hazards in the long run.

Note: This article is informational only. When making purchasing decisions, conduct your own research.
For more information or support call us we are here to help you.