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WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER A LOSS
We all know having a claim can be highly stressful. The shock of the unexpected, along with the emotional pain that stems from damage to your property, makes it difficult to perform the steps necessary to report and resolve the problem.
That’s why Auto and Home Insurance Agency is here. “Our goal is to accompany you through the claims process and make your experience as smooth as possible,” explains Joyce Greenberg, agency claims manager. “I’ll work on your behalf to resolve all issues with insurance companies during the adjustment process.”
The close relationship Auto and Home has with each insurance company we represent results in quick answers and excellent service. “When we go to bat for you” says Greenberg, “you gain an advantage no online insurer or “direct writer,” such as State Farm, can give you: leverage, which is due to the large volume of business we have with most companies we represent.”
WATER AND MOLD
This month, we focus on steps you should take after experiencing a loss due to water damage and/or mold. Marcus Smith is a restoration specialist who is president of SERVPRO® of Downers Grove and Oak Brook, and he suggests that in the event of these types of damage, it’s wise to call a restoration firm even before you call us. Here’s why:
“If you call us first, we may be able to get on site that much quicker and begin dealing with the problem,” says Smith. Time is of the essence when responding to damage caused by moisture, because the sooner water is removed, the sooner everything it has touched can begin to dry. Left unattended for several days, mold can start to form on flooring, carpeting and padding, walls and insulation, and personal property already damaged by water. To that end, many restoration companies have 24-hour services you can call at any time to get the process started. So feel free to call a restoration firm in the event of water damage, and make sure to call your agency to report your claim.
To explain what a restoration company does, Smith lists the steps his crew takes after arriving at your property: “First, we make sure the environment is safe, that the water isn’t electrically charged,” he says. Next, workers determine how to pump the water out of the areas it has penetrated. “We also help you identify the source,” says Smith. Has the leak stopped or is water still coming in? If a water pipe is broken, the restoration crew will call a plumber to come immediately to stop the leak and make the repair.
Once the water is removed, the restoration crew assesses the damage of your personal property. “We’re not as worried about a couch as we are about a wedding album on the floor, or a filing cabinet that contains tax records or passports,” Smith explains. Firms like ServPro have special processes to restore damaged photographs, portraits and documents, and even electronics. “If you have any electronics that have been damaged, don’t turn them on to learn if they still work,” Smith cautions. “The moment you send electric current through a wet machine, it will cause damage.” The trick is to remove any debris inside the machine and dry it out. Once this is done, the machine will likely work again.
After the restoration crew has addressed difficult or impossible-to-replace items, workers will examine your home’s structure to determine the damage to it, and then form a plan for remediation. The crew also communicates with us, explaining the damage, costs of repair and replacement, and the timeframe for doing this work.
Mold remediation requires several different steps. Air-scrubbing machines with special, dense HEPA filters are used to collect airborne mold spores. And rather than cleaning mold-infected objects with bleach, which can damage many surfaces, Smith says it’s best to dry all areas completely and then clean with special anti-microbials that kill and remove mold. Servpro also treats certain hard-surface areas, like walls and floors, with advanced encapsulants, which are special paints that inhibit future mold growth. In the event mold has attacked wallboard and insulation, a restoration company may remove the baseboard, drill holes in the wall, and set up fans and dehumidifiers to get air circulating.
“So don’t wait,” says Smith. Whether your water damage has sprung from a burst pipe or seepage from outside, “We really can bring a lot of things back from damage,” he says. And don’t forget to call us! “If you would rather have us call a restoration company for you, we will be happy to do that.” says Greenberg.
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