Although coastal rentals can offer you a great return on investment, they come with the potential for hurricane damage. If you own a rental in a coastal area prone to big storm events, you need to be prepared to handle post-hurricane repair and cleanup.
Repairing and cleaning your home after a hurricane can be risky and dangerous. It takes time, planning, and work to get your property back into shape. We’ve compiled a list of tips to make your hurricane repair process easier:
- Come prepared with the right gear. From contaminated water to splintered wood to unwanted animals and insects, hurricanes can bring a wide variety of hazards into your home. So, before you enter your home after a big storm event, be sure to gather the appropriate clothing and gear:
- Long pants
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Sturdy shoes or boots (No flip flops or tennis shoes)
- Work gloves
- Eye protection
- Disposable masks (You probably already have plenty of these!)
- Hard hats
- Assess the damage. Evaluate any potential hazards in and around your home, such as downed power lines, unusual noises, and odd smells. In the case of life-threatening hazards, immediately call 911. You can try to contain the hazards if you can do so without endangering yourself.
- Make a cleanup plan. Cleaning and repairing your home after a hurricane is a long process and requires detailed planning. Floodwater will need to be drained, your home will need to be ventilated, hard and soft surfaces will need to be cleaned and dried, contaminated items will need to be tossed, and more.
- Contact your homeowner’s insurance agency. Your insurance company will likely cover your cleanup costs. When you call your insurance providers, they may offer advice for further steps. They’ll likely suggest you contact a restoration company. Be sure to take photos of the damage to your home for insurance claims.
- Do some cleanup. If your insurance company covers the major cleanup efforts, you will be responsible for clearing your home’s access points, walkways, driveways, and streets. You should also place tarps over damaged areas of your roof to prevent further water intrusion into your home.
- Consider electrical hazards. If your home is flooded, address any potential electrical hazards. For your safety, it’s important to have the property’s power turned off before you enter your home. Try to prevent water from reaching electrical outlets and move wires and electrical appliances away from the water.
- Contact a restoration company. Remember, you don’t have to tackle these cleanup efforts alone. Restoration companies can help you assess hurricane damage, drain water, clean and dehumidify your home, help you with insurance claims, and more.
- Be patient. It can take weeks or months for structural elements of your home to dry thoroughly. Only then can you start replacing drywall, carpets, and other floor coverings.
- Renovate & go shopping! You may have to rebuild parts of your home and/or purchase new furniture, decor, and appliances for your rental. Some restoration companies will also help with the renovation and rebuilding process.
With a strong clean-up plan and help from a restoration company, fixing up your rental property after a hurricane can be easy and stress-free. Have a property you want to rent in Wilmington, Carolina Beach, or Kure Beach this summer? Give our vacation rental agents a call at 910-395-4100.
