If you're considering purchasing a new home in Salt Lake City or already have, you're probably very excited! Being a homeowner is a big step. Unfortunately, sometimes that step involves a stumble. If buying your new home involves dealing with Salt Lake City water damage, the first step is to assess the damage. That's a job to entrust to the professionals. If you spot signs of water damage like a mildew smell or rotting wood, give your Salt Lake City restoration company a call so they can assess the damage, begin repairs, and prevent any future damage. You don't want to leave things up to chance! Things to Do When Buying a Home with Water Damage in Salt Lake City
So, you've found the home you want to buy and need help dealing with the water damage waiting for you there. Whether you've handled water-damaged homes before or this is a first for you, it's time to call in the experts. Water damage restoration in Utah doesn't have to be a hassle or a headache for you. Trained professionals are standing by and ready to handle the water damage home inspection for you! Here are a few things you need to know to handle the situation correctly. Assess
You can't know how to proceed with the home-buying process until you know the extent of the damage. Not all water damage is equal. Some damage can be tricky to repair, like if the leak has occurred behind drywall. If you're getting ready to purchase a home with damage, don't put in an offer until you have a good idea of what you're getting yourself into. A water damage home inspection will give you a more complete picture. The process of assessing Salt Lake City water damage begins with determining whether or not the water has been stopped and whether contaminated water is present. This involves classifying the water by level of contamination. Level 1 water (a leak from a bathtub, for example) has little to no contamination present. Level 2 water, which would be something like water from a washing machine, has some contaminants present. Level 3 water is highly contaminated and has the sort of damage you'd see from a sewage system or flooding. This is very important to know when buying a home because the cost and requirements of repairs are quite different between the different categories! Factor in Cost
Complete knowledge of the costs associated with buying a home is important, even if there's no damage to consider. It becomes even more critical when you're dealing with something like water damage. To know whether you want to purchase the home, you need to determine the market value of the home in question. After you have the market value, subtract the cost of the restoration needed to fix the water damage and the inspection cost. After you've figured out those numbers, you may need to adjust your bid to account for the damage to the home. Consider lowering your bid to leave yourself the means to handle the restoration. You don't want to take on a home at a price so high you can't afford to fix it - especially when you'll know just how much needs to be fixed! Get Insurance
While it's possible that the water damage in the home was a result of a one-off incident, it's better to be prepared. You never know when a pipe might burst, or when your dishwasher will spring a leak any more than you can know when a storm will blow through and send rain through a broken window. If you decide to put in an offer on purchasing the home, make sure you have insurance! While insurance does not cover damages under certain situations, if you properly keep up with maintenance on your property and have a sudden, unforeseen accident, or have the policy to protect your personal property, insurance will help pay for the damages. Flood policies can typically be purchased separately if you live in a flood-prone area. It's a situation where it is better to have it than to go without it! Don't spend all that money on restoration and risk losing more cash because you didn't get insurance. Diagnosing and Cleaning Up Water Damage in Your New Home
If you already have your new home and are in a position to handle water damage cleanup in Utah, there are a few things you need to do immediately. These will help you minimize the damage that has already occurred and hopefully prevent future damage. Fortunately, you can do several of these steps yourself or contact professionals who handle Salt Lake City water damage cases. Identify the Source
The first thing you need to do is identify the source of the leak. The most common types of water damage come from things like roofing and siding, plumbing systems, sealing issues with doors and windows, and so on. As part of the preventative maintenance in your home, ensure you're regularly checking the areas and appliances that can be prone to leaks. It's easier to prevent water damage than to restore and repair once it's already done! With that said, for water damage that's already happening, work quickly to find the source and cut it off immediately. Turn off the water to stop the leak if it's a faulty appliance. You'll want to contact a professional for burst pipes or sewer issues as soon as possible. Water damage repair in Utah can and should be handled quickly! Repairs
Once the source has been identified, and the water itself has been stopped, don't waste any time beginning repairs. Water damage that sits for too long can begin to grow mildew and mold. If that happens, you're looking at a lot more than just water damage restoration in South Lake City. You'll want to start repairs within 1 to 2 days of the damage occurring, if at all possible. You may need to remove flooring or damaged drywall. Try to determine what can be salvaged from your furniture and other personal items. You might be able to save many things, or it might be a total loss if the damage was extensive. Restoration
Once the cause of the damage has been identified and stopped, you'll want to focus on restoring your home. Water damage restoration in Utah can be accomplished easily with the help of local companies. Whether you hire help or choose to work on the damage yourself, the same steps will apply.The first step in restoration following water damage is to remove the water. Take out all the furniture and items from the area that you can. Use fans, possibly of the industrial variety, to dry the area. If you can get hold of a vacuum that safely removes water, then use that too! The important thing is to remove as much water as possible, as quickly as possible. Once you've done that, check around for any areas you might have missed. Moisture can build up beneath stairwells and other hidden areas you might not think to check. If you find evidence of mold, it will need to be removed and the area disinfected. While you can do some of that work yourself, it's better (and safer) to utilize professional options if possible. Professional restoration services will disinfect and begin repairs, including drywall, roofing, electrical wiring, and so on. Big projects are difficult and potentially even dangerous to take on alone, as they often require more than just cleaning up excess water and drying out a room. [free_consultation_form title="Contact us" subtitle="Register Your Business on Serveantage"]
What Does Salt Lake City Restoration Company Do for You?
Water damage is no joke. It can affect the safety and quality of your home for years, often in ways that you can't see. Mold slowly spreads, wood rots, and even after the initial damage seems to be repaired, there can be things going on behind your walls that you can't see. Is that a risk you want to take? By using a water damage repair company, you can sleep soundly knowing that your home is being taken care of. The Big Picture and How to Fix It
As part of the restoration process, the damage will be fully assessed. This includes identifying and stopping the source of the leak if the homeowners have not already done so before contacting them. Once they've ensured that damage is not ongoing, they'll begin removing water and drying the area for you. As discussed previously, this is a critical step that needs to happen preferably within the first 24 hours. If the water damage was incurred through something like a violent storm or a flood, local professionals will perform a roof inspection in Utah. If repairs are necessary, you'll be working with the right people! These experts can handle damaged roofs, faulty seals on windows and doors, or other foundational issues. They will also check out your siding for any signs of cracking or other possible evidence of issues. Even if those were not the causes of the current water damage, it's important to know if they might be a problem in the future. If the mold inspection Utah professionals perform yields evidence of mold, they will have a disinfectant protocol to remove it. Mold might not be obvious right away, which is why experts will also thoroughly inspect your home for hidden moisture that might allow mold and mildew to form. Mold is not a problem you want to deal with long term. It can cause a range of issues for your home and your health. If your drywall or other porous areas of the house have been damaged, your Salt Lake City restoration company will remove the damaged material. This is necessary to prevent mold, but also to guarantee your home continues to be structurally sound. Rethinking Your Flooring
In addition to the steps already mentioned in the above sections, the water damage repair company helping you handle your restoration will walk you through selecting flooring that might better hold up against future damage. This is especially important if the damage is from something like natural flooding. If you're in a flood-prone area, having wood flooring might not be the best idea! Professional restoration companies can help you select and install waterproof vinyl or other suitable options. Insurance
Handling insurance claims is never easy. It doesn't matter if it's for your car or your home; it's practically always a draining experience. Having a team of experts on your side helping you deal with your situation can be incredibly helpful when it comes to being reimbursed. They'll be able to say definitively and professionally that the damage was no fault of your own. That goes a long way in convincing the insurance company that you should be reimbursed for the damage. Anything to help expedite that process seems worthwhile! Act Quickly with Water Damage
The most important takeaway from this information is that water damage can be a serious problem in the home. Whether you are just placing a bid on a new place in Salt Lake City or you're a current homeowner dealing with an unfortunate problem, you must act fast. Say goodbye to standing water, mold, faulty roofs, leaky windows, and busted appliances. The last thing you want is to make the problem worse by sitting on your hands when you could be giving a professional water damage restoration team a call! [free_consultation_form title="Contact us" subtitle="Register Your Business on Serveantage"]