Disaster Preparation and Taking a Home Inventory

Disaster Preparation and Taking a Home Inventory DenverAt Project X Restoration in Denver, we recommend making time for disaster preparation and taking a home inventory. As professional restoration specialists, we’ve seen first-hand the devastation that can be caused by a natural disaster, plumbing issue, house fire and so much more. These situations are incredibly stressful, making it difficult for homeowners to clearly think through an exhaustive list of their home’s contents. Being prepared is vital.

Nobody expects their basement to flood or electrical system to ignite a fire, so it’s natural not to think too much about being ready. But, if it ever happens to you, disaster preparation and taking a home inventory can spare you added stress and more quickly get you on the path to restoring both your home and your life.

Some Statistics

According to a 2012 survey, over half of U.S. residents have not done an inventory of their home to account for all their possessions. Of those who have completed inventories, 27% do not have photos to accompany their inventory, 28% don’t have a backup stored outside their home, and 48% have no receipts to accompany their inventory. Almost 60% have not updated their inventories in over a year. If you fall into any or all of these categories and experience damage from a fire, you’ll likely face issues when seeking reimbursement from your insurance company.

A Successful Home Inventory

Because a home inventory can seem overwhelming, it is best to start with a portion of your home. Choose an inventory tool that you will be likely to use and will be able to best keep up to date. Treat your inventory systematically and keep at it until you have completed it.

Once your inventory is complete, you need an offsite storage place or an accessible online location. Saving this information to a home computer will do you no good if it’s destroyed in a fire or home flood. Every significant purchase should be added at least on an annual basis.

Successful methods for home inventories include:

  • Spreadsheets: Spreadsheets are an easy way to track and organize an inventory.
  • Photos: Be sure to photograph every room systematically and be sure to take individual photos of important or valuable items. You will need a way to track purchase dates, costs, and model or serial numbers.
  • Video: You will need to be sure to capture information similar to photos. Videos have an added advantage of having audio to accompany your inventory.
  • Apps: There are a lot of apps that are great ways to complete your inventory. Some that have been recommended include Inventory for Homeowners, DreamVault, Home Gallery, and The Home Inventory. These apps are just a few of the available options that may work well for you.

Worth the Effort

Disaster preparation and taking a home inventory can save you time and energy in case of an emergency. It may also mean a more streamlined reimbursement process. If you need help in your restoration efforts following an unfortunate event, contact our professionals at Project X Restoration in Denver. We can help you with clean-up and restoration following water damage, fire, smoke damage, and more. We care about helping you and your family.

Why Choose IICRC Certified Professionals for Water Damage?

Why Choose IICRC Certified Professionals for Water Damage? Project X Restoration DenverWhy choose IICRC Certified Professionals for water damage? Here at Project X Restoration in Denver, we want to share why the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) is so important when it comes to hiring a professional to clean and restore your home or business following water damage.

Water Damage Can Be Serious

Comprehensive water damage restoration involves going into a business or home following water damage caused by floods, burst pipes, or other destruction and involves helping with clean-up but also includes drying everything from substructures to drywall, wood, metal, and concrete. It’s a very intensive process that requires proper training.

Of course, one of the biggest concerns following a water disaster is mold damage, but there are many other issues related to moisture damage that are also vitally important, such as crumbling plaster and drywall, weakened supports and beams, as well as rusting of metal surfaces. Each issue must be addressed individually and restored meticulously.

Trained Professionals

So, why choose IICRC Certified Professionals for water damage? Because of the potential for the initial damage to spread, you need a professional service with appropriate training like Project X Restoration in Denver. A service that has earned the ability to post the IICRC logo has met a rigorous list of standards. The IICRC encourages consumers to look for the IICRC logo, not just because it is a sign of high quality, but also because this organization has led the way in establishing standards for water damage restoration and mold remediation.

Need to Understand the Source

In order to understand how to best to clean up after water damage, it is important that your restoration and cleaning professional know about the different types of liquid involved.

According to IICRC standards (there are 500 of them), there are three categories of liquid in water disasters.

  • Category 1: Liquid in this category is from a clean, sanitary source. Liquids like water from faucets, toilet tanks, drinking fountains, etc. are all category 1.
  • Category 2: Liquids in this category have a small level of contaminants. This category would include water from washing machines, dishwashers, or toilet overflow that involves urine only.
  • Category 3: This liquid is considered grossly unsanitary. Floodwater from rivers or streams, sewage backups, and toilet overflows with feces, etc. are in category 3.

Need to Know the Level of Destruction

It is also important to have a full understanding of the level of destruction in order to understand how to perform the water damage clean-up and restoration. There are different levels of damage depending on the types of material ruined and amount and category of the liquid involved. The clean-up and restoration for a Category 1 liquid that affected minimal amounts of a room with a concrete floor will be very different than a Category 3 liquid that has affected the entire house and has saturated the floors, carpets, and insulation. If you use professionals that have the IICRC’s approval, you are working with a company that knows the best way to deal with such dramatically different situations.

If you have water damage and need an IICRC approved company to help with clean-up and restoration, contact us at Project X Restoration in Denver. We’re available 24/7 in case of emergency and will help you restore your home to its preloss state.