Christ Church NZ – Congratulations. You’ve bought a home, and everything seems to be coming up daisies. But what happens when something goes horribly awry because of a natural disaster—let’s say a winter storm, for instance. This is really scary for a lot of people, no matter how new or old they are about owning a home.
When your home hasn’t been hit with a natural disaster like a snowstorm in years, it can be easy to ignore them. The reality is that most regions are prone to winter storms. Imagine how you and your family would recover if the building would suffer a major storm.
If you got a little nervous, that’s because preparation to the storm is critical. With the right knowledge, however, you’ll recover quickly after natural disasters and your home will be back up and running in no time. Here’s a quick guide to cleaning up after a winter storm.
Finances
Believe it or not, the first steps to cleaning up are done prior to the storm. As a homeowner, you should always be looking ahead. This means you probably already know the storm is on its way.
Be proactive and call your primary bank or financial institution where you have credit. If you let them know about your situation ahead of time, they’ll most likely be more helpful in providing help. Financial institutions are understanding of your situation—especially when it comes to natural disasters. If all goes well, they’ll work with you to defer payments and waive fees until the home is back up and running.
Prepare the Building
After covering some of the financial, it’s time to move on to prepping for the actual tempest. Extreme weather conditions can cause expensive structural damage to your home. One of the most common culprits are frozen pipes. They freeze over and eventually burst—and wreak havoc on the home. Not only these, but melting water will seep indoors and end up ruining much of your floor plan.
Take precautions for these common culprits. Be sure to check your home carefully for drafts, and leaks and creaks; especially on your roof and around doors and windows. Clearing out and shutting off outdoor plumbing also helps. This way, the remaining liquid won’t freeze and break your pipes. Additionally, replace old weather stripping at the bottoms of doors to hold off melting snow that piles up outside.
Snow and Ice Removal
Snow and ice removal seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many homeowners forget about this part of the cleanup. Whether it’s a removal service or a close friends and family, have a plan to get rid of snow and ice around your home. If you don’t, they cause structural damage to your building and in some cases, prevent your family from entering your home.
Insurance
That’s why it’s always smart to have homeowners insurance. Keeping your home protected in the event of there being a major snow storm will help you finance the disaster. Find a policy that fits you and your family’s needs. This way you’ll save time and money, all the while keeping your family protected.
Don’t fret. Dealing with snow storms are a part of life. Be the responsible adult that you are and prep for the natural disaster to ensure all safety. Remember to get insurance for the home as well as take precautions for snow, ice, and finances for the home. With this guide, you’ll recover in no time!
