It takes years and a vast amount of money to own a property, only to be destroyed by fire, natural calamities and other circumstances beyond your control. Discovering that your property has been reduced to ash or rubble is indeed devastating. When faced with damage, the most practical thing you can do is to assess the damage so you can take necessary actions. The assessment only involves 3 steps.
1. Document the full story.
It is important that you have detailed information on the full story. First, you need to define the cause of the damage. Find out who or what caused your property to be damaged. Is it because of your general contractor, plumber or roofer? Depending on the degree of the damage, it is possible that two or more parties are involved.
Be sure to be as detailed as possible when documenting the damage. Including a photo or video is better as they serve as your evidence. The Police or Fire Department should also provide reports upon request. You should know who is held liable for the damage. Liability will be determined based on the extent and cause of the damage. Be sure to consult this matter with an expert so you will know the additional steps to take in documenting everything. Documentations will also be used for filing insurance claims to shoulder the cost for repairs.
2. Repair the property
Upon discovering that your property has been damaged, you need to act quickly by considering repairs to your property. This decision will prevent harming your property further. If you intend to make insurance claims, you need to consider making repairs to avoid escalating claims. There are instances when making claims will no longer be considered valid if it already lapses the allowable period.
3. Be prepared
Disaster strikes at any given time. While these things are inevitable, it should not be an excuse to be unprepared. Prepare yourself for the next disaster by reading the details of ownership and liability. It is also a good practice to schedule a regular inspection and maintenance as it will ensure that your property is in good shape all year round. Do not underestimate the powerful and serious impact of natural disasters as it is often the common cause of damage. Take time to address concerns so you can lessen if not eliminate the risks.
Knowing what to do when your property has been damaged bypasses unnecessary steps and ensures that things go as planned. Property damage assessment is a way to become more prepared when calamity hits you.