The emotional and physical devastation left behind from Hurricane Harvey will take months—and potentially years—to recover from. Residents across the Texas coast have seen immeasurable damage to their homes, businesses, and spirits. As you and your family or business prepare for restoration, consider these helpful tips and get back and running in no time.
REACH OUT
- Get in touch with your home insurance, and figure out what is and isn’t covered.
- Sign up with FEMA, and see if you qualify for emergency relief.
- Get some insight from friends and neighbors who are in similar situations.
BUDGET
- Determine real time contractor pricing.
- Adjust your claim so you can figure out what your settlement amount will be.
- Prevent another financial disaster by properly planning your cashflow so your project won’t run out of money before it is finished.
PLANNING
- Don’t spread yourself too thin, and don’t try to take on more than you can handle. Ask for help when it’s needed.
- Be patient. A rushed job isn’t a productive one. Waiting for the right contractor, the right time and the right plan will pay off.
- When it comes to your vision and your budget, be realistic. Making smart decisions will benefit you and your family later down the line.
SELECTING YOUR CONTRACTOR
QUESTIONS to ask your contractor:
- Where are you located?
- Are you currently doing work in the area? If so, can I speak with them for a reference?
- Do you have liability insurance and workers’ compensation?
- Can you ask your insurance company to make me a certificate holder so that I can have proof of insurance?
- Who will be the supervisor, and how present will they be in this project?
RED FLAGS to watch out for:
- A contractor who asks for money down
- A contractor who insists on only charging for the labor
- Out-of-town license plates and cell phone numbers
- Work trucks with no company logo
- No local address
- No local references
- Door knockers
- A “YES” man who claims they can do it all.
- Handwritten proposals
PROPOSALS should include:
- Start and end dates
- Itemized project price
- Payment schedule
- List of services INCLUDED and EXCLUDED
- A procedure for changes
- Final payment and closeout procedure
Nan and Company Properties wishes you and your family a hopeful and fortunate recovery. At this time, our firm has implemented a fundraiser to aid the employees, patients and families of Texas Children’s Hospital — many who were trapped in the hospital during the storm and will not have a home to return to in the aftermath.
If you would like to donate to our fundraiser, click here for more information.