The longer that storm damage persists at your home in Wheeling, IL, the worse conditions will become. Primary damage quickly leads to secondary damage, such as mold. Here are three storm tips for mitigating and documenting damage.
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Board Up As Soon As Possible
Debris and precipitation can enter your home through broken windows or holes in the roof. Even if your roof has already begun to leak, more water can enter the breach over time. Use sheets of plywood to board up broken windows and wood and tarps to cover holes in the roof. Contact a damage mitigation service if you do not have the necessary equipment, or are not capable of boarding up.
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Document Damage and Losses
Be sure to document the extent of the damage to your home. Taking pictures or recording video of affected areas can support your insurance claim. One of the best storm tips is to get in the habit of regularly capturing footage of every area in your home once or twice a year under normal circumstances. Back up this documentation and copies or scans of receipts for major purchases remotely and securely.
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Start Removing Water
Water damage will intensify over time. Mold may start to grow in just 24 to 48 hours. Even clean water resulting from a burst pipe can degrade from Category One to Category Two or Three status over time. Use brooms, buckets, or a wet-vac to remove as much standing water as you can. Professionals will use pumps to quickly get rid of water and start the cleanup and drying process.
Insurers require that homeowners take timely measures to mitigate damage in order to increase the likelihood that their claims will be covered. Schedule a consultation with a storm damage cleanup and restoration firm and follow these storm tips while you wait for help to arrive.
