Your Belongings and Storm Damage
Beware of Storm-Chasing Contractors
If a major storm damages your house, the last thing you want to worry about is whether you've hired a trustworthy general contractor for home repairs. Additionally, you want to begin the restoration process as soon as possible. Storm chasers are companies that complete home repairs (common repairs include roofing and siding), and typically solicit business from homeowners after large natural disasters occur, such as hailstorms, hurricanes and tornadoes.
There are some benefits of working with these types of contractors. For instance, they can help speed up the restoration process in an area that has been hit by a storm because professional storm chasers are able to quickly organize an entire unit (including project managers, construction crews, and insurance claim specialists), while it’s nearly impossible for only local contractors to respond to all the damage in a timely manner.
Unfortunately, some storm chasers exploit vulnerable homeowners with money-making scams that can end up costing them and their insurance company thousands of dollars. A few types of scams to beware include prepayment, offering to pay your deductible, performing low-quality work, and creating fake or inflated damage.
If You Have Questions or Need Help, Call Us Today – (704) 393-7890
Contents Restoration
SERVPRO of NW Charlotte, Lincoln County, Southern and NE Gaston County specializes in restoring contents damaged by storms and other water damage events. Our expertise and our “restore” versus “replace” mentality can help you save money while preserving precious keepsakes that can’t be replaced. We pretest your contents to determine what items can be restored back to their condition before the water damage. We utilize several methods of cleaning your contents, including:
- Dry Cleaning - Used for cleaning light residues or to pre-clean prior to cleaning.
- Wet Cleaning - An effective cleaning method for removing moderate to heavy residues.
- Spray and Wipe -Effective for items that can’t withstand cleaning.
- Foam Cleaning - Used for upholstery fabrics that might shrink or bleed if cleaned.
- Abrasive Cleaning - Involves agitation of the surface being cleaned.
- Immersion Cleaning - Contents are dipped into a bath of the cleaning product.
Move-Outs/Pack-Outs
If your home requires extensive restoration or cleaning, SERVPRO of NW Charlotte, Lincoln County, Southern and NE Gaston County can conduct an organized, efficient move-out of the affected area. A move-out will provide several benefits, including:
- A quicker remodeling process
- Protecting items from potential damage
- Protecting contents from further on-site damage
When restoration is completed, we will work with you to coordinate the move-in according to your needs. The services offered upon move-in may depend on your insurance coverage.
Electronic Cleanup
Water-damaged electronics can present a serious hazard. Do not attempt to turn on or operate any electrical device that you suspect has been damaged by water. We will coordinate the restoration of your electronics, including:
- Television sets
- DVD players
- Computers
- And more
The key to restoring electronics is taking prompt action to prevent further damage. We start by cleaning the exterior of electronic devices to help stop further corrosion and damage. Electronics will be cleaned and inspected by a qualified electronics technician.
Document / Photograph Drying
When your valuable documents, including photographs, are damaged by water, extreme caution should be taken to help ensure the water damage does not destroy the document. Although some documents may not be restored to pre-water damage condition, SERVPRO of NW Charlotte, Lincoln County, Southern and NE Gaston County can save a great deal and help minimize additional damage.
Depending on the type of documents and the level of water damage, we have five options for the restoration of documents:
- Air Drying
- Dehumidification
- Freezer Drying
- Vacuum Freeze Drying
- Vacuum Thermal Drying
Contents Claim Inventory Service
When a storm event happens, the damage can often feel overwhelming. We can help ease the worry and confusion during the recovery process by offering our Contents Claim Inventory Service (CCIS), which provides a detailed and accurate list of your belongings. We take a room-by-room inventory of your contents, including digital photos, and in some instances, bar coding.
Our Contents Claim Inventory Service:
- Preloss list and value of contents
- Detailed and accurate report
- Better information to settle claims quicker
- Assistance with burden of proof for claims
- Peace of mind when you need it most