Living in Houston we are no strangers to hurricanes, flooding, and lots of rain! Our first personal experience came a couple of years ago when we got home from work and our house was flooded! A toilet in our master bathroom had cracked during the day and water flooded most of our home during the 8 hours we were at work. It was a huge shock walking into that and we understand how heartbreaking it can be. We have also been on the front lines during several hurricanes, including Harvey, volunteering our time and resources to help those in need. These 8 tips will help make the painful process a little smoother.

1. Don’t panic, ask for help!

Easier said than done right? When you walk in to your carpet floating above the flooring your first instinct is probably going to be to burst into tears but time is of the essence to save as much of your valuables as you can! Take a deep breath, then call anyone that you know that can help you. Many hands make light work and you will be surprised how quickly you can pack up a house when you have help. Texans are known for helping and I am sure you could make a quick post on Facebook and have a dozen people show up to help you.

2. Call your insurance company.

Take another deep breath, you are going to need it. Why does everyone hate talking to insurance companies? Well, if you have ever worked with insurance companies you know they are not the easiest people to deal with. There are so many different people involved and it can get really confusing on what the field adjuster is supposed to do and why you have to submit things to other people. All of this is unavoidable so just do the best you can and have patience. Document every correspondence.

Do not ever mention mold. Ever. Ever. Ever. “Water damage” “Wind driven rain” “Water spots” are considered “safe words” to use when describing water in your home. If someone from your insurance mentions mold or mildew, ask for their Mold Remediation Certification! Otherwise, it is water spots!

3. Start snapping pictures and videos.

More is better when it comes to pictures. Take pictures of absolutely everything. Then back them up, just in case. Anything the water has touched needs to be photographed. Anything that has any damage whatsoever needs to be documented. I am not just talking about flooring, baseboards, and doors. You also need to take pictures of all your personal items. I lost my used gift bag collection when our house flooded a couple of years ago. I stored them under our bed and they were all destroyed. I got over $150 back from the insurance company because I snapped pictures of them before tossing them in the trash. Take pictures of everything! Do a video walk-through of your entire home just in case you missed something.

4. Start boxing things up.

All those people you called to show up and help you can start boxing things up. Run to Lowe’s and buy boxes, tape, wrapping paper, and bubble wrap. SAVE EVERY RECEIPT! SAVE. EVERY. RECEIPT. This is so so so important as insurance will reimburse you for any costs you incur due to your home taking on water. If only part of your house has damage then you can store things in a dry room, otherwise get a storage building. If your house is uninhabitable then make sure and pack suitcases for at least a weeks worth of clothing just in case you can’t find your pants when they are boxed up. Yes, I am speaking from experience on that one.

5. Call a water restoration company.

The next step in the process is to call a reputable company to help you with the process of drying your house out. You should find a company that is willing to come out within the next couple of hours. Time is of the essence when your most valuable asset has taken on water. The longer you wait the higher chance of the M-word (mold) starting to grow. The Texas humidity will not be your friend in this process. The water restoration company should also be equipped to do any demo work that is needed so the house is properly dried out. Your insurance company will pay for all of this so make sure you don’t go with the cheapest company out there that might cut corners. Make sure they have the proper equipment to get your house as dry as possible. This will take several days.

6. Hire a general contractor.

Your water restoration company should be able to recommend a reputable company if they do not offer those services as well. You want someone trustworthy as they will help you fight, I mean talk, to the insurance company about what is and is not covered. Now is also a great time to do any upgrades you have been dreaming about from Pinterest. Insurance will only replace with similar materials but you can upgrade and just pay the difference.

7. Document everything.

Any phone correspondence from you and the insurance company should be followed up with an email stating what was talked about in the conversation. It is best to over-communicate and always have proof of anything that is said. Like I mentioned earlier, keep receipts for everything. Hotel stays, eating out, moving supplies, anything you would not normally have to purchase. It is better for them to say “sorry we won’t cover that receipt” then “we would have covered it if you kept the receipt.”

8. Try to have patience.

In conclusion, this is going to be a long process. There is rarely a quick and easy fix when your house has taken on water. Have patience with yourself, your family, and anyone involved in the process. The most important part is finding trustworthy, reputable people to work on your home.

I hope these 8 tips help the horrible process go a little smoother for you and your family. Please reach out with any questions. We are here for you.

-The Petermans