Whether your home was flooded, hit by a hurricane or tornado, or suffered through another type of natural disaster, the aftermath can leave you feeling overwhelmed.
To deal with this situation in the best possible manner, here are four things you should do as quickly as possible.
Assess the Damage
One of the first things that you need to do after a natural disaster hits is to assess the damage that occurred to your home. Sometimes, this can seem obvious as to what is damaged. Unfortunately, not everything is visibly damaged.
For example, water damage can be obvious when looking at Sheetrock, but electrical and plumbing damage can be more difficult to identify. Typically, in these situations, you should rely on a professional to assess the damage to ensure you get everything covered.
Quickly File Your Claim
While you may have lots of debris to sift through, it is important you not let much time pass between when the natural disaster took place and filing your claim. In any of these situations, those homeowners who get their claims filed fast usually receive the financial help they need quicker than others.
When filing your claim, be sure to have plenty of photos or videos you took when assessing damage, since this can be crucial in proving your home is as extensively damaged as you say. Additionally, by filing your claim earlier, you may also get financial support if you are displaced from your home.
Find Reputable Contractors
There are a lot of charitable organizations that offer to repair your home and though many of those companies are reputable, this isn’t always the case. When natural disasters take place, con artists claiming to be contractors come out of the woodwork to take advantage of desperate victims.
Rather than fall victim to these scam artists, always make sure you take enough time to find reputable contractors to help you with water damage restoration, roof repairs, and other issues from the natural disaster.
When considering contractors, don’t only look for a contractor that works in residential homes but also considers focusing your search on contractors that specialize in specific types of damage.
For example, water damage restoration companies would be ideal for hire if the natural disaster included flooding. Whereas, a fire restoration contractor works well for fire-related disasters.
Keep Track of Your Expenses
If your home was damaged so much that you may need to stay in a hotel until repairs are made, keep track of your expenses. With many insurance policies, homeowners are surprised to learn their policies do cover what are known as additional living expenses.
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By keeping track of your expenses and speaking to an insurance agent, you should be able to get reimbursed by your insurer for many of these expenses.
Be Willing to Ask for Help
Even if you have always been a person who has never asked for help prior to this natural disaster, be willing to ask for help when facing this situation. From the Red Cross and FEMA to the Salvation Army and your local food or clothing banks, relying on the kindness of others in these instances can make the situation much less stressful.
While you never want to experience a natural disaster, knowing how to deal with it should your home be damaged, can make the process much easier for you and your family.
Image Credit: ways to deal with a natural disasterby twenty20.com
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