What should I do if I have a fire, flood, smoke/water damage, or other disaster loss?
First, contact your insurance company immediately. Then contact a restoration company to secure and restore your property.
Do I need to contact someone to secure my property?
Yes. Your insurance policy states that you are obligated to:
1. Report your loss in a timely fashion
2. Prevent further damage by securing the property or whatever means necessary to mitigate the loss.
Do I need to get more than one estimate?
No. It is up to you which contractor you choose to restore your property. The Insurance Company will work with the contractor of your choice to negotiate your loss.
Will I be billed in excess of what the insurance company pays?
We work with the insurance company and the homeowner to complete the restoration with little or no out of pocket costs. Of course, you may want to take advantage of an otherwise bad situation, and make some remodeling changes or upgrades that wouldn’t be covered by the Insurance Company. In that case, the scope of work will be agreed upon before construction begins and billed additionally.
Is there anything I can do before you arrive?
- Identify the source of the water and shut it off.
- Turn off the power at the electrical breaker for affected areas.
- Try to keep the indoor temperature below 70°F. Leave the heat on in the winter, or use the air conditioner (if possible) in summer.
- Don't use electrical equipment around the affected area. Unplug any electrical items. Do not try to use shop vacs or wet/dry vacs…this could result in electrical shock or fire.
- If the affected area contains valuables or breakables, you can begin moving them to a safe location so that our technicians may begin moving large furniture as soon as they arrive.
- Move furniture out of the affected area if possible. If not, you can place plastic or aluminum foil under the legs of furniture to prevent damage.
- Raise/pin up draperies and upholstered furniture skirts to keep from skimming wet carpet.
- Remove books, newspapers, and any other paper products that may stain the carpet.
- If ceiling is wet and sagging, punch holes to drain water.
Why should I call East Coast Interiors?
East Coast Interiors works with the insurance adjuster to handle the entire process from beginning to end. We handle everything from the initial restoration to the final reconstruction, using all East Coast Interiors employees and contractors to complete the job in a timely manner. Insurance companies actually prefer to work with just one Company because of the simplified and more efficient recovery process.
