5 Property Damage Mistakes to Avoid For Homeowners

1/14/2022 (Permalink)

Contact the restoration professionals at SERVPRO for property damage assistance!

Property damage can happen at any time, even to homeowners who make every effort to protect their homes.

Being a homeowner is a rewarding and important responsibility. One of the significant responsibilities of a homeowner is maintaining their property and knowing how to navigate property damage when it occurs.

The professionals at SERVPRO of Union, Towns, Fannin & Gilmer Counties have put together the following blog post to ensure that a homeowner avoids the most common property damage mistakes when navigating a property damage situation.

Not one property damage situation is like the other, but the most common mistakes are consistent. Therefore, you will want to read this post thoroughly to the end, where you will find why you should contact the professionals at SERVPRO to help you navigate your property damage situation.

What is property damage?

Property damage is damage done to a property caused by a natural event or an accident. Property damage often occurs when damages occur to a home's exterior or interior.

Different types of property damages that can occur:

• Water damage: Water damage commonly occurs when a property has a leaky roof or water from a burst pipe. When standing water is in your home, getting the water extracted right away and professionally dried must be a priority.
• Fire damage: Fire damage can occur when a fire has broken out in a home, and the most common area for fire damage is in the kitchen. 
• Mold damage: Mold damage can occur when water damage is left untreated for longer than 48 hours. Mold can grow rapidly and create severe structural damages. It is essential to clean the entire area where there was water damage and then get it tested by a professional company specializing in mold damage.
• Storm damage: When there are strong winds or hail, this can cause major exterior damages such as damaged shingles; or even structural damages.

5 Property Damage Mistakes

1. Waiting to file a claim
2. Delaying property damage repairs
3. Failing to document the damages
4. Failure to keep an inventory list
5. Throwing out damaged contents

Property damage mistake #1: Waiting to file a claim 

One of the most significant property damage mistakes a homeowner can make is not promptly filing a claim with their insurance company. The more time a homeowner waits, the greater possibility the insurer will deny the claim.

When property damage occurs, it will be a good idea to call the insurance company to file a claim at the first sign of damages. All property damage claims go through an extensive process, which will take time. Therefore, the sooner you start the process, the better.

Property damage mistake #2: Delaying property damage repairs 

When homeowners delay repairs, they usually do so because they hope that the damage is just a temporary situation or that it will get better with time. 

Repairing property damage as soon as possible is the recommended procedure because it will save a homeowner money and time in the long run. Delayed repairs can result in more severe damages, costing much more to repair down the line.

Property damage mistake #3: Failing to document the damages 

Documenting the property damage is crucial for insurance purposes. Therefore, it is good practice to record what was damaged.

When documenting damages, you will want to take pictures and videos of the damages. You will also want to keep records of quotes and bills you incur for property damage repairs while your insurance company processes your claim.

Property damage mistake #4: Failure to keep an inventory list 

It would be beneficial if the homeowner could keep a list of the items in their home before damages occur. Therefore when property damage occurs, there will be a list that includes the damaged items and their estimated value. Keeping an inventory list has proven to help a homeowner get reimbursed for their damaged items. 

The professionals at SERVPRO recommend using XactContents for all inventory needs. 

Property damage mistake #5: Throwing out damaged contents 

A homeowner may think it is easier to throw away everything damaged or ruined. However, this is not an ideal decision to make.

In some cases, the damaged content may help an insurance adjuster understand what happened to your property. Therefore, it is best to keep all damaged contents to help with the claims process and get reimbursed later on.

Wrapping up

If you avoid these five mistakes, your experience should be much smoother when trying to deal with property damage in your home. One last thing that we must mention is to keep calm and be patient to help you make the best decisions possible for the property damage situation.

When it comes to home property damages, you should trust the team at SERVPRO of Union, Towns, Fannin & Gilmer Counties to help you through the entire process. Our professionals are IICRC certified and have extensive knowledge of property damage restoration.

Please contact us if you have any questions. We are available 24/7 to help with your property damage restoration needs.