Several years ago we experienced a water loss (pipe burst) in our home. I am writing this to help a family member and others that may need to familiarize themselves with events surrounding significant damage to their home. I am NOT an attorney and I do NOT work in insurance. I am a homeowner just like you.
My thoughts and prayers go out to you. The experience you are going through is traumatic. Cry it out. Hug it out. I hope that you and your family are doing well.
It's time to get to work. In my experience, some insurance companies will pay as little as possible and help as little as possible. You've paid your premiums, know your policy, and get an attorney involved if needed.
You will not be able to stay in your home. Take pictures. A remediation company should have been called on your behalf. Resources will likely be stretched thin. In the state of Texas, many households have been impacted by the Winter Storm (approximately February 15-19, 2021). If you are waiting, ask them if you can do something if you have doubts.
Sheet rock absorbs water and mold may begin to form in the walls. Remediation companies generally will cut the sheet rock out (not entirely - just where moisture is found) and remove the wet insulation. A wet vacuum will be used to suction all water from your floors. They drill holes into kickplates (under cabinetry) and place fans everywhere moisture was found in an effort to dry the area. Baseboard and crown molding will be removed and set aside in hopes of being salvaged.
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| Picture by Zach McNair via kvue.com |
If you're waiting for the remediation company, you can purchase a tool that has prongs to insert into the wall and it will detect moisture. You may want to call AND e-mail your water and electric company to see if they can help adjust costs (I had some success with this, but I had to find the right person to hear my story). Running those fans uses a lot of wattage because they will run 24/7. They will also want to run your HVAC system to reduce humidity in the home.
My family and I spent months in a hotel. Our insurance company was able to get us two bedrooms with a living area and a kichenette. Be prepared to "move in". Take EVERYTHING (I tried to avoid that, but I had small children at the time and we had to take extra things). Keep ALL of your receipts. I recommend using the same credit or debit card in case you misplace a receipt. The insurance company will likely reimburse you for groceries, fast food, and other incidentals (again, know your policy and if there is a limit).
You need to know the value of all your items (furniture, electronics, etc.). You will need to prove this as well. If not, someone from the insurance company will go to Wayfair.com (nothing against them - we've even purchased one item from them) and they will low ball you! For example, they seriously underestimated the value of our dining room table. I was able to find an invoice. Depending on the age of your item, your furniture company may have documentation in their system.
The remediation company may not be able to rebuild your home or you may not want them to do so. Try to stay a few steps ahead and start lining up a reputable (be careful - now there may be people in your area that claim they can do quality work - they cannot) contractor to fix your home. It's best to find someone that is personally recommended, has been rated well by the BBB or has good reviews on sites such as Google.
NEVER pay the contractors in full. Agree on partial payments until the work is completed. This will increase the odds that the work is completed. Secure all valuables and sentimental items. These strangers will be all over your home. They may be subcontracting work at some point, so you have to be careful.
This is a painstakingly slow process. My hope is that your home is restored to your satisfaction. I may not have addressed all of your questions or concerns. Please feel free to reach out.
Jesus T. Peña, M.Ed.
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