This is a post that will be of particular interest to all of you insurance agents! You've heard us talk about them a million times before, but the time is here! That's right- our CE classes are running next week!
We'll be holding a class on Wednesday August 10th. This class will be on Health Insurance. All of our CE classes are completely free of charge and count towards fulfilling your continuing education requirements.
We'll be offering two sessions. One will run from 9am-12pm and the other will run from 1-4pm. Breakfast will be served at the morning session and lunch will be served at the afternoon session.
This is such a great opportunity to get out, meet other agents, meet the professional staff from Paul Davis Restoration of Northeast NJ and check completely your continuing education requirements off of your to-do list.
Make sure to reserve your spot today! Email dholm@pdr-usa.net to make your reservation or with any questions.
We can't wait to see you then!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Saving Your Home's Contents
You've probably heard the question posed at one point in your life or another... "what would be the first thing you'd grab if you had to get out of your house in the event of a natural disaster?" It may sound hypothetical but it's not a bad thing to think about. Planning ahead is the best possible way to stay ahead of the game when it comes to protecting your possessions.
If you live an area with a particularly bad natural disaster season, one that's either prone to tornadoes, hurricanes or wild fires, it may be a good idea to make protecting your home's contents something routine that you do each year before the season begins.
A few weeks before any natural disaster season begins, take a video inventory of your home's contents, this way your insurance agent can see the condition of your possessions if they have to be claimed as a loss. Then, make up a binder that includes lists and locations for different things you would want to grab in case you had to leave. This list could include photo albums, family heirlooms, letters, government documents, etc.
Further, in the unfortunate event that you do have a loss, don't give up on your cherished posessions. Just because they're damaged, doesn't mean they're lost. Call the experts, and do so as quickly as possible. Here at Paul Davis Restoration of Northeast NJ, we specialize in restoring your home's contents as quickly and conveniently as possible. "While many of your most cherished items may seem beyond repair, our trained and experienced staff will work with you to evaluate what can be cleaned, repaired and restored. And when your house is once again your home, you can count on us to help put it back in order. Our thorough restoration and deodorization process ensures that your belongings will be returned to their pre-damaged condition and put in their rightful place."
If you live an area with a particularly bad natural disaster season, one that's either prone to tornadoes, hurricanes or wild fires, it may be a good idea to make protecting your home's contents something routine that you do each year before the season begins.
A few weeks before any natural disaster season begins, take a video inventory of your home's contents, this way your insurance agent can see the condition of your possessions if they have to be claimed as a loss. Then, make up a binder that includes lists and locations for different things you would want to grab in case you had to leave. This list could include photo albums, family heirlooms, letters, government documents, etc.
Further, in the unfortunate event that you do have a loss, don't give up on your cherished posessions. Just because they're damaged, doesn't mean they're lost. Call the experts, and do so as quickly as possible. Here at Paul Davis Restoration of Northeast NJ, we specialize in restoring your home's contents as quickly and conveniently as possible. "While many of your most cherished items may seem beyond repair, our trained and experienced staff will work with you to evaluate what can be cleaned, repaired and restored. And when your house is once again your home, you can count on us to help put it back in order. Our thorough restoration and deodorization process ensures that your belongings will be returned to their pre-damaged condition and put in their rightful place."
Friday, July 22, 2011
Paul Davis of NENJ Does Cars!
Recently, a potential client reached out to us because of a consistent mold smell in his car, he found us by doing research on the web. When he asked if we could help him restore his car back to his original state we said what we always say, "Of course!" We used our groundbreaking technologies to help remove the odor and any potential health risk from his vehicle. We're proud to say that the job went well- below are the photos that came from our work:
Mold damage isn't just for houses! It can occur in your car due to poor weather stripping, leaking pipes, excess water draining into the car or a variety of other problems. As you've read before it's usually marked by a distinctive odor. If you think you have a mold issue in your car, call the experts in NJ Mold removal at Paul Davis Restoration of Northeast NJ today!
Mold- A Little More Info
We've talked about mold and the problems it can cause in a few of our previous articles, but what you may not know is that there's still more to know about the household nuisance that can turn into a major problem. Read on to learn more.
Did you know mold has an odor? I wasn't completely aware of this either, but mold, after collecting for a long period of time can build up and cause an odor. Black mold in particular has a very distinct smell and can be incredibly toxic to your health.
You will probably smell a mold issue before you will see it- so with the talk of how much mold stinks ( pun completely intended) you should know that in most cases you will smell mold buildup before you will actually see it. Therefore if you smell anything of continuously you may want to call a mold removal specialist immediately.
The best way to remove mold- tip- it's not bleach- when most people think mold they think bleach, while this can work it is not the best way to remove mold. Aside from calling in a professional, the best way to remove mold is by combining white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, spraying the surface and wiping.
Leave it to the experts- as you already know mold can be incredibly hazardous to your health and to the structure of your home. If you think you may have a mold problem, the best way to protect both of those things is by contacting your insurance agency and getting a home restoration specialist to do a consultation immediately.
Did you know mold has an odor? I wasn't completely aware of this either, but mold, after collecting for a long period of time can build up and cause an odor. Black mold in particular has a very distinct smell and can be incredibly toxic to your health.
You will probably smell a mold issue before you will see it- so with the talk of how much mold stinks ( pun completely intended) you should know that in most cases you will smell mold buildup before you will actually see it. Therefore if you smell anything of continuously you may want to call a mold removal specialist immediately.
The best way to remove mold- tip- it's not bleach- when most people think mold they think bleach, while this can work it is not the best way to remove mold. Aside from calling in a professional, the best way to remove mold is by combining white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, spraying the surface and wiping.
Leave it to the experts- as you already know mold can be incredibly hazardous to your health and to the structure of your home. If you think you may have a mold problem, the best way to protect both of those things is by contacting your insurance agency and getting a home restoration specialist to do a consultation immediately.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Protect Your Home While You're On Vacation
It's that time of year, everyone is making plans and taking trips. We all look forward to our family vacations for months on end. Even weekend get-a-ways or overnight trips can help us beat mid-week blues. One thing to keep in mind among all the excitement of packing, leaving and spending time with friends and family is protecting your home.
Law enforcement agencies continuously report a large increase in home burglaries and break in's during the summer months, due to the fact that many people are on vacation and criminals know how to track this.
It's very simple to protect your home from harm even when you aren't there. Like many other things with your home, it just requires common sense and advanced preparation.
- Put your lights on a timer- I know it can be tempting to turn everything off to lower your energy bills especially since you'll be away, but no signs of lights in a home can lead robbers to your home. It's an obvious sign that they have a free pass and can't get caught by the homeowners. Putting your lights on a timer will save more energy than leaving them on but will also cut down and make it less obvious that your place of residency is empty.
-Have a neighbor or friend collect your mail and newspaper- Mail and newspaper piling up for days or weeks at a time can also be a dead give-a-way that you're away. Have someone pick them up to make it less obvious and less inviting for anyone unwanted looking to enter.
- Tell a close or trusted neighbor- make sure you find someone you trust, who lives nearby and tell them that you'll be out of town. Leave them your phone number and ask them to report anything sketchy if it arises.
- Create records- just like in pre-storm situations, if you know you're going to be a way for a while, it's not a bad idea to take a video or inventory of what's in your house and the condition you're leaving it in.
Law enforcement agencies continuously report a large increase in home burglaries and break in's during the summer months, due to the fact that many people are on vacation and criminals know how to track this.
It's very simple to protect your home from harm even when you aren't there. Like many other things with your home, it just requires common sense and advanced preparation.
- Put your lights on a timer- I know it can be tempting to turn everything off to lower your energy bills especially since you'll be away, but no signs of lights in a home can lead robbers to your home. It's an obvious sign that they have a free pass and can't get caught by the homeowners. Putting your lights on a timer will save more energy than leaving them on but will also cut down and make it less obvious that your place of residency is empty.
-Have a neighbor or friend collect your mail and newspaper- Mail and newspaper piling up for days or weeks at a time can also be a dead give-a-way that you're away. Have someone pick them up to make it less obvious and less inviting for anyone unwanted looking to enter.
- Tell a close or trusted neighbor- make sure you find someone you trust, who lives nearby and tell them that you'll be out of town. Leave them your phone number and ask them to report anything sketchy if it arises.
- Create records- just like in pre-storm situations, if you know you're going to be a way for a while, it's not a bad idea to take a video or inventory of what's in your house and the condition you're leaving it in.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Paul Davis Restoration of Northeast NJ is Going Green!
Here at Paul Davis Restoration of Northeast NJ, we pride ourselves on helping to protect you, your home, your family and our environment. For that reason we are very proud to announce that we are going green! In the future, all of our jobs will be completed using products from Rochester Midland Corporation's line of green cleaning products!
Rochester Midland Corporation has provided us with a supply of non-pathogenic, biological cleaners to help increase productivity, safety and the satisfaction of you or your insured. They will aid us in more effectively cleaning up water damage, and fire damage as well as odor control. The use of these products will also increase safety for our works and clients.
Rochester Midland Corporation says, "Our biological cleaning technologies will begin to destroy soils and odors as soon as they are applied, and can even continue to work long after initial application in hard to reach areas. This will help you improve response and cleanup time, odors in working conditions and within your equipment, recovery of content, and customer satisfaction."
As you probably know, many household cleaning products can contain toxins that can cause illness, respiratory problems, and allergic reactions. Using Rochester Midland's non-pathogenic biological cleaners will help us help you avoid such negative effects and clean and restore your home fully, safely, and efficiently.
Questions on home restoration and green cleaning? Call us, the northeast NJ home restoration specialists!
Rochester Midland Corporation has provided us with a supply of non-pathogenic, biological cleaners to help increase productivity, safety and the satisfaction of you or your insured. They will aid us in more effectively cleaning up water damage, and fire damage as well as odor control. The use of these products will also increase safety for our works and clients.
Rochester Midland Corporation says, "Our biological cleaning technologies will begin to destroy soils and odors as soon as they are applied, and can even continue to work long after initial application in hard to reach areas. This will help you improve response and cleanup time, odors in working conditions and within your equipment, recovery of content, and customer satisfaction."
As you probably know, many household cleaning products can contain toxins that can cause illness, respiratory problems, and allergic reactions. Using Rochester Midland's non-pathogenic biological cleaners will help us help you avoid such negative effects and clean and restore your home fully, safely, and efficiently.
Questions on home restoration and green cleaning? Call us, the northeast NJ home restoration specialists!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Save Your Documents From Natural Disaster
We've talked a lot about protecting your home from damage due to natural disasters such as flooding, storms, or fires, but what's more important than the structure itself is the things it houses. Of course, first this includes your actual family members, but after getting them safely together and evacuated in the event of a disaster, you'll want to save any important papers or records you may have, as you may need them later for insurance or appraisal purposes.
- First things first, record everything. I grew up in Florida, where hurricanes and tornadoes were a common occurrence. One of my earliest childhood memories is my mother, walking around with a camcorder, recording the prior condition of all of our belongings before hurricane Andrew struck. This is the best way to insurance replacement if any of your possessions are destroyed.
- Maintain organized files. It sounds simple, but we all know it's not. Other things become important and that credit card statement or medical record sits on your dresser or kitchen counter for months before it's put away. The minute it comes in the mail, file it. This way, when you're in a crunch for time, you know where everything is and you only have to grab one file.
- Go digital. How many photos do you think you have in your home? If you're anything like me that number is countless. These are one of the first things people want to save, however if you can get your photos (even the hard copies) created into digital files, all you'll have to grab is a lap top, flash drive, or CD. The same goes for tax documents, credit card statements or other records. Many companies, banks, and government bureaus allow you to set up accounts that forward statements to your email. Do this as soon as possible, this way, if something happens you don't have to worry about finding your credit card statements before you have to evacuate because they're already in your email account.
- Know what's important. Most important certificates, statements and records are not irreplaceable. Most federal documents, including Social Security cards and birth certificates can be reproduced without much hassle. Remember that in the event of an emergency, getting your family out of the house safely is the most important thing. Many of these documents can be replaced or restored.
- Call the experts. If you're home and documents are damaged as a result of a natural disaster, report the claim to your insurance and contact a professional restoration company immediately. The sooner you get a contracting and restoration company on the job, the sooner they can repair everything. Many restoration companies, including Paul Davis Restoration of Northeast NJ have innovative methods that help them to save or restore your documents and records after damage caused by natural disaster.
- First things first, record everything. I grew up in Florida, where hurricanes and tornadoes were a common occurrence. One of my earliest childhood memories is my mother, walking around with a camcorder, recording the prior condition of all of our belongings before hurricane Andrew struck. This is the best way to insurance replacement if any of your possessions are destroyed.
- Maintain organized files. It sounds simple, but we all know it's not. Other things become important and that credit card statement or medical record sits on your dresser or kitchen counter for months before it's put away. The minute it comes in the mail, file it. This way, when you're in a crunch for time, you know where everything is and you only have to grab one file.
- Go digital. How many photos do you think you have in your home? If you're anything like me that number is countless. These are one of the first things people want to save, however if you can get your photos (even the hard copies) created into digital files, all you'll have to grab is a lap top, flash drive, or CD. The same goes for tax documents, credit card statements or other records. Many companies, banks, and government bureaus allow you to set up accounts that forward statements to your email. Do this as soon as possible, this way, if something happens you don't have to worry about finding your credit card statements before you have to evacuate because they're already in your email account.
- Know what's important. Most important certificates, statements and records are not irreplaceable. Most federal documents, including Social Security cards and birth certificates can be reproduced without much hassle. Remember that in the event of an emergency, getting your family out of the house safely is the most important thing. Many of these documents can be replaced or restored.
- Call the experts. If you're home and documents are damaged as a result of a natural disaster, report the claim to your insurance and contact a professional restoration company immediately. The sooner you get a contracting and restoration company on the job, the sooner they can repair everything. Many restoration companies, including Paul Davis Restoration of Northeast NJ have innovative methods that help them to save or restore your documents and records after damage caused by natural disaster.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Insurance Agent? Have you checked out our CE classes yet?
Like what you see?
Are you a NJ Insurance agent? Still need to fill some of those continuing education requirements? Don't worry! Paul Davis Restorations of Northeast NJ can help. We offer continuing education classes very frequently each month (usually every other week!) at no charge to you. For each course we offer two sessions, an AM session from 9AM-12noon and an afternoon session from 1PM-4pM. We also provide a complimentary breakfast at the morning session and a complimentary lunch at the afternoon session. It's a great, convenient way to get your credits completed close to home, in a comfortable setting while networking with other agents and industry professionals. Our schedule for this summer is as follows:
- Wed. July 20th- Evaluating claims and settlement
- Wed. August 10th- Health Insurance
- Wed. August 24- Fraud
What not to do when trying to prevent basement flooding
You've read our previous articles about how to avoid water damage in your home due to flooding, but with the storms raging in New Jersey today we thought it was important to go over some common mistakes people make when trying to clean up water damage or prevent flooding in their homes.
1.Don't go right for the shop vac.
While most people think a dry vac is the perfect way to tend to water welling up in your home, people also have a tendency to forget that it is an electrical appliance, and if you are dealing with a substantial amount of water, it could be dangerous. Resort to the shop vac for small spots etc. but remember that electrical appliance with large amounts of water can be very hazardous.
2. Don't reach for the bleach
Bleach is typically regarded as the end all and be all for cleaning up large household messes. Most people will look to wash floors with bleach once flood waters recede from inside your home. Go for dishwashing liquid and warm water instead. Bleach leaves a residue that could cause mold growth that will be hazardous to your health.
3. Don't skimp on insurance
We talked about this in our post last week, but when the economy crashed, many people ditched homeowners or renters insurance policies as a way to cut back. Don't. Don't. Don't. This could leave you high and dry and with a huge bill to pay especially if your home has a tendency to flood.
4. Don't be afraid to call the professionals
You may be worried that having a professional restoration company come remedy the problem will be expensive but in most cases a large portion of their services are covered by your homeowners or renters insurance. This is the best way to guarantee that the job is done professionally and correctly and save your family and your home from future problems.
1.Don't go right for the shop vac.
While most people think a dry vac is the perfect way to tend to water welling up in your home, people also have a tendency to forget that it is an electrical appliance, and if you are dealing with a substantial amount of water, it could be dangerous. Resort to the shop vac for small spots etc. but remember that electrical appliance with large amounts of water can be very hazardous.
2. Don't reach for the bleach
Bleach is typically regarded as the end all and be all for cleaning up large household messes. Most people will look to wash floors with bleach once flood waters recede from inside your home. Go for dishwashing liquid and warm water instead. Bleach leaves a residue that could cause mold growth that will be hazardous to your health.
3. Don't skimp on insurance
We talked about this in our post last week, but when the economy crashed, many people ditched homeowners or renters insurance policies as a way to cut back. Don't. Don't. Don't. This could leave you high and dry and with a huge bill to pay especially if your home has a tendency to flood.
4. Don't be afraid to call the professionals
You may be worried that having a professional restoration company come remedy the problem will be expensive but in most cases a large portion of their services are covered by your homeowners or renters insurance. This is the best way to guarantee that the job is done professionally and correctly and save your family and your home from future problems.
Friday, July 1, 2011
The Home Improvements Every Host Should Make
Are you having people over this weekend? With the holiday weekend kicking off in most places today and tomorrow, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to run down a list of great home improvements for those of you who like to host parties and get togethers!
1. Add a bar: Whether it's a tiki bar that's perfect for summer time, or an inside basement bar that you can get use out of all year round, adding a bar is the perfect way to provide great party and social space to your home. Decide what you want to do and call a restoration and construction specialist. They'll be able to help you hone and tailor your vision to your needs.
2. Build a deck: This is easy enough and is one of the best home improvements for adding value to your home. A nice deck is a luxury amenity. It's a great place for socializing and doesn't take a ton of time to put together.
3. Expand your kitchen: Have you ever noticed the one place that everyone seems to gather anytime you're hosting a party? If you're like us, it's the kitchen. One more question... have you ever noticed the lack of space in their during party time? Expanding your kitchen will not only add a ton of value to your home, but will also give your guests more room to taste test all of your party platters.
4. Finish the basement: This is especially useful if you have kids, because it gives them a space of their own to enjoy during get togethers and holidays, however, a finished basement can prove useful for the entire family. You can add a bar in the basement, or a pool table or even create a living room type of space to add even more social space to your home.
So what are you going to do to ready your home for the summer party season? Contact the NJ Restoration specialists at Paul Davis Restoration of Northeast NJ for a consultation today!
1. Add a bar: Whether it's a tiki bar that's perfect for summer time, or an inside basement bar that you can get use out of all year round, adding a bar is the perfect way to provide great party and social space to your home. Decide what you want to do and call a restoration and construction specialist. They'll be able to help you hone and tailor your vision to your needs.
2. Build a deck: This is easy enough and is one of the best home improvements for adding value to your home. A nice deck is a luxury amenity. It's a great place for socializing and doesn't take a ton of time to put together.
3. Expand your kitchen: Have you ever noticed the one place that everyone seems to gather anytime you're hosting a party? If you're like us, it's the kitchen. One more question... have you ever noticed the lack of space in their during party time? Expanding your kitchen will not only add a ton of value to your home, but will also give your guests more room to taste test all of your party platters.
4. Finish the basement: This is especially useful if you have kids, because it gives them a space of their own to enjoy during get togethers and holidays, however, a finished basement can prove useful for the entire family. You can add a bar in the basement, or a pool table or even create a living room type of space to add even more social space to your home.
So what are you going to do to ready your home for the summer party season? Contact the NJ Restoration specialists at Paul Davis Restoration of Northeast NJ for a consultation today!
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