When a storm passes through, it can leave devastating results to your home and property. Your first thought is to be relieved that no one was injured, hopefully. Your next thought is likely to be, where do we begin cleaning up this mess.
Even if you have a little damage, it can still be a headache. There could be insurance agents to call, photographs to take, and belongings to replace. You might not have enough to even make a claim, but you still have debris to get rid of.
Once you’ve first assessed the damage and resolved any issues with the insurance company, then its time to get rid of everything.
Cleaning up after a storm
Here are some things you can do to get the job done quickly and efficiently, while also keeping everyone safe.
Clear Out Any Water Damaged Items
If you have water damage, then you want to get the items out of your house. The last thing you want to have happen is to start to get mold damage from the moisture. If the items are valuable or have sentimental value do you best to clean and dry them out. Once everything is removed make sure the room is completely dry.
Are There Any Potential Health Risks?
A chance of mold we’ve already warned about, but there could be broken glass, damaged electrical appliances
Something else to consider is how much lifting involved. If there are heavy items in the basement that are water damaged or large tree limbs in the yard. Don’t try lifting things that are too much for you to carry or which you could twist you back as you haul it up. If necessary, leaves these items until you have more help, or better yet, can have professionals do the heavy lifting.
Broken branches, a damaged swing set, or maybe a shed that was damaged by a storm could be something someone can easily get cut on or trip over. Especially with swing sets and sheds, decide if you can repair them or if they’re too damaged to use safely anymore.
Time Might Be a Factor
Letting wet things lie around the house have the potential for mold, but simply hauling everything outside and piling it along the house isn’t something to do long term. It could quickly become a home for small creatures. You don’t want a family of mice suddenly becoming tenants alongside your home. This is why you want to get things hauled away as soon as you can.
Damage to A Business
It’s not just homes that are singled out in a storm. Perhaps it’s your business.
Professionals cleaning up after a storm
Then its not just your employees who could be at risk or simply inconvenienced, but your customers, as well. You don’t want customers coming in and finding a mess in your place or see a lot of junk piled alongside the building. The incentive to have everything cleared up is just as strong for a business owner as a homeowner.
Getting Rid of Everything
Now that you’ve decided what needs to be hauled away, you have to decide on how to accomplish this. If it’s just a few items that you can easily bag up and set out for the city to pick up. Just be careful that everything you set out is allowed to be picked up. Wet drywall or other building materials might be prohibited by your city.
If you have a vehicle full of junk to be hauled, you could do it yourself. Just be careful that wet items or damaged items that might have sharp edges don’t damage your vehicle. You don’t want to add to your woes by having the family SUV damaged in a run to the landfill. And make sure that everything you have packed up to haul will be accepted at the landfill. If you have questions, call their office and explain to them what you have.
Here’s Where Professionals Can Help
You might have already started calling contractors to take care of any damage to
Nova Junk cleaning up storm debris
your property, but before they even begin working, call a junk removal company. They can take of everything from the items damaged in the house, to any debris in the yard. There is no items to bag and you don’t even have to do the lifting. Just let the haulers know where items are, and they can take it from there.
Many insurance companies cover the removal of the debris. Even if your insurance carrier doesn’t cover it, the savings in time might be worth it. Not just the time in cleaning up but also in hauling it away to your local landfill. If your community even has a landfill open to the public. Some cities like Washington DC, don’t.
The other advantage to get professionals is that they can also take care of the junk you’ve been accumulating over the years. There might be items in your basement that weren’t damaged by water, but which have been taking up space for years. Or maybe those old appliances you have tucked away in the attic can finally be gotten rid of. As with the other stuff just lead the haulers to the spot and let them do the lifting.
Damage from a storm, whether its water in a room or damage to the exterior, can be disheartening, but it doesn’t have to become a long term problem. The sooner you can take care of it, the sooner you can get back to your family or if you’re a business, to your customer.
If you’re home, or your business, has been through a storm and you need to clean up the mess, then contact Nova Junk Removal to help. We serve Washington DC, northern Virginia, and parts of Maryland. When you call us at (877) 211-6682, we’ll schedule a time that is convenient for you to pick up your debris and any other junk you need hauled.
