If you own rental properties, you need to constantly be on alert for the many different types of disasters that could occur in your properties. One of the most serious and common is water damage. In a matter of minutes, a burst pipe could flood your property with thousands of gallons of floodwater and displace the tenants who live there. To prevent a mad scramble in case this happens, it’s best to be prepared.
Here are four tips on how you can prepare for this from our team of water damage restoration technicians at Rumsey – Augusta.
Once you’ve leased the property, make sure your renters have renter’s insurance to cover any water damage not covered by the landlord’s policy—like personal property and temporary housing. Also, be sure your renters know where the main water shut-off valves are in case a pipe bursts late at night. It’s also a good idea to make sure your tenants know to contact you immediately if a flood occurs. The sooner you are notified, the sooner you’ll be able to begin the process of removing the water and restoring the damage.
In the wake of a water damage disaster, there will be many different issues you need to juggle. If you can figure out some of these issues ahead of time, you will be better off if a crisis hits. Preparing your renters ahead of time should be part of this, but there are other things to do as well. These include having a water damage restoration company to work with already in mind, knowing your water and flood damage insurance policies well, and having some equipment on hand to remove floodwater while waiting for the restoration company to arrive.
Water detection devices could be your best friend if your properties are ever affected by a flood. Like smoke detectors, water detection devices sound a loud alarm if they detect excess moisture. This makes it possible to detect a flood even if no one is home. This could potentially save you thousands in repair costs and a huge headache.
One key element of limiting the effects of a flood is stopping the flooding as soon as possible. One of the best ways to do this for properties with basements or crawlspaces is to invest in a sump pump. Sump pumps are automatically activated by a flood and immediately begin pumping water out of the home. They are the best water damage mitigation tool for basements and crawlspaces.
If disaster strikes, we at Rumsey – Augusta are on your side. Give us a call right away if any of your rental properties are ever affected by water damage and we will be right out to repair the damage and get you and your tenants back on your feet.
Augusta, GA
706.842.3290
