Hurricane Cleanup Do's and Don'ts!

Here at Paul Davis Restoration of Northeast NJ, we hope you, your family and your home are safe and sound after hurricane Irene charged through northern New Jersey this weekend. While we understand that you probably want to jump right in to cleaning up and getting things back to normal as soon as possible, there are some things that you must consider to stay safe during the clean up process. Here are some "do's and don'ts" for your storm cleanup.

DO- Contact your insurance agent immediately and provide them with a temporary phone number and address where you can be reached.

DO - Report the damage to your insurance company as soon as possible. Most companies have a toll-free call center number or you can report the loss to your agent.

DO - remove perishable foods from your refrigerator and freezer. The odor created by spoiled food is usually impossible to remove.

DO - be aware of wires that may have been pulled down by wind or falling tree limbs. DO - keep a listing of anything you have discarded and receipts for any expenses you incur in protecting your property.

DO- Remember to be safe. Many injuries from storms actually occur during the cleanup process. Please do not take any unnecessary risks.

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.

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 dish-washing liquid and warm water instead. Bleach leaves a residue that could cause mold growth that will be hazardous to your health.

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.

We understand that you want to return your home to it's previous condition as quickly and easily as possible. Here at Paul Davis Restoration of Northeast NJ, it is our personal mission to help you accomplish that as quickly and conveniently as possible. If there is anything we can do to help either by providing you with information, education or service, please contact us immediately.

Prepare For Hurricane Irene This Weekend!

As many of you know, the eastern seaboard is bracing itself for the coming of Hurricane Irene this weekend. For many of us up here in New Jersey, we're not used to getting prepared for hurricanes. Check out this short video from Paul Davis Restoration for great advice on how to prepare:

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The video explains what you may need to prepare in your "emergency ready kit". This is a kit that will include anything that a family may need either during or immediately after a disaster, especially in situations where power and water could be cut off for days at a time.

The video suggests first, using a clear container to house your emergency ready kit, so that all of its contents will be easy to find. Here's what your kit should include:

-at least a 3 day supply of water and non-perishable food
- a battery powered radio with extra batteries
- a cell phone and charger
- a utility knife
- a can opener
- first aid kit
-important family documents (copy of your insurance policy)
- prescriptions
-cash
-maps
-sleeping bags and blankets
- fire extinguisher
- matches
- water proof container
- food, water, toys for pets
- books or puzzles for kids

Make sure to store your emergency ready kit in an easily accessible place. Irene should have it's greatest impact on the New Jersey area Sunday, especially in coastal beach cities. Make sure to head out and get your supplies today if you haven't done so already!

Use Heaters Safely This Fall

Use Heaters Safely This Fall

No one wants to think about disaster striking their home or their family, but it is really important that we do so in order to prepare and protect ourselves and our homes from any event that may occur. The summer season is the one that comes to mind for most people when they think of fire risk and the like. However, one cannot write off the fall as a time that fires and damage may occur.

The first thing to think of is the fire danger that can come with heating systems and space heaters. Run your heater once before the weather gets cool just to make sure everything is working well. Space heaters can create a major hazard when it comes to fires starting. ABC News did a great feature on space heater safety that includes the following tips:

-Use space heaters only as a supplementary source of heat. These devices are not intended to replace the home's heating system.

-Do not use extension cords with space heaters unless absolutely necessary.

-Inspect the heater's cord periodically to look for frayed wire or damaged insulation. Do not use a space heater with a damaged cord.

-Check periodically for a secure plug/outlet fit. If the plug becomes very hot, the outlet may need to be replaced by a qualified technician. This could be the sign of a potential home wiring issue.

-Heaters should be placed on a flat, level surface. Do not place heaters on furniture since they may fall and become damaged or break parts in the heater.

-Unless the heater is designed for use outdoors or in bathrooms, do not use in damp, wet areas.

-Look for the UL Mark on your electric heater. This means representative samples of the appliance have met UL's stringent safety standards.

-If you have a liquid-fueled space heater, use only the fuel recommended by the manufacturer. The wrong fuel could burn hotter than the equipment was designed for and cause a serious fire.

-When refueling, turn off the heater and let it cool down completely before adding fuel. Wipe away any spills promptly.

-Before you buy a kerosene heater, check with your local fire department to ensure that it is legal.

These devices can be useful and definitely make life more convenient, especially in the in between seasons where you may not need full central heating to be turned on. It's essential that you take precautions when using space heaters, reading and acting on the above will help you protect your family and your home. If you have questions about fire safety and preparation contact a contractor or restoration company like Paul Davis Restoration of Northeast NJ.

Avoid Storm Damage To Your Vehicle

New Jersey got hit pretty hard by severely isolated thunderstorms last night. It was pretty crazy.

There was hail, lightning, thunder, and torrential downpours. I was actually out driving in the middle of the storm before I pulled my car into a parking lot to try to wait it all out. What I saw in the lot was shocking and unfortunate. So many people had left their cars either parked right under or near trees or in the vicinity of telephone poles. Further tons of people, figuring it was a nice night ( because it was, the storms moved in very quickly) left their windows or sun roofs open.

There were a number of problems with this. First and foremost because their cars were parked right under or near trees or telephone or light poles. Remember when parking your car in the summer when a storm is forecast, to try to avoid poles or trees that could fall and do major damage to your vehicle. That being said, the best place to park during a storm, if possible, is probably in your garage or in a covered carport.

The other problem, which is definitely the most obvious one is that open windows or poor weather stripping can lead to flooding in your car. Most people just spend the next day buying a new air freshener and wiping down the seats. This isn't always enough. Water left over from storms can lead to mold growth or damage of your vehicle.

Hopefully you won't come across any of these problems, but if you do, remember that the experts at Paul Davis Restoration of Northeast NJ can help address the problem for you, quickly and conveniently.

An Offer You Can't Refuse For NJ Insurance Agents!

So, are you going? Clearly it's the place to be next Wednesday, August 24th! Food, info and networking, what's not to love? Yes, you guessed it, I'm talking about Paul Davis Restoration of Northeast NJ's free continuing education course!

The course will be offered next Wednesday, August 24th at two different times. The morning session will begin at 9AM and end at 12pm. The afternoon session will run from 1PM until 4PM. The morning session includes a great selection for breakfast and the afternoon session includes and equally appealing lunch spread.

The course topic will be "Fraud" and is worth 3 continuing education credits. This is such a great opportunity to get out of the office, meet other local insurance professionals and get your continuing education classes out of the way. The two sessions make it easy for accommodating even the busiest of schedules. Space is limited and fills up very quickly, so please email Desiree Holm- dholm@pdr-usa.net to reserve your spot today!

Fall is Coming! Prepare Your Home Today!

It may seem like the summer just started, but we're seeing the days get shorter and slightly cooler already- the fall season is right around the corner. Being that fall doesn't bring the harshness of winter with it right away, or the storms of summer, many people forget that there are still steps every homeowner must take in order to protect their home and prepare themselves for the fall season.

First things first- turn up the heat. It may sound crazy, most people want to save money and conserve energy by leaving their heat off as long as possible, but it's important to at least once, early in the fall season to try it out just to make sure it's working properly. This way, if it isn't you have more than enough time to fix it before the temperature drops and you're literally left out in the cold.

Also, you'll want to check out what lies beneath your home. Flush out underground sprinkler systems after they've been run all summer, so that anything sitting won't be sitting for an entire year. Check for cracks in your foundation as well so that you can fix them before anything freezes over.

You should also make sure that you have a contractor or roofer come to check your roof for rotting or missing shingles or other weaknesses and problems. This way you know it's solid and safe when winter weather comes around.

The best way to ensure your house is protected for the winter months though is to have a licensed home restoration specialist or contractor come take a look during the fall season.

We're Offering the Mandatory NJ Ethics Course for Insurance Agents- For Free!!!

Paul Davis Restoration of Northeast NJ is very proud to announce that they will be offering a continuing education course on Ethics on September 21 that is mandatory for ALL NJ insurance agents.

Our continuing education courses are offered free of charge and provide a great setting for an escape from the office, a great networking event, and an excellent opportunity to check that continuing education requirement off of your to do list.

What’s really important about this specific CE class opportunity is that the completion of this course is a MANDATORY requirement for all NJ insurance agents looking to renew their licensing.

What’s better though than to complete it for free in the beautiful facilities where lunch or breakfast will be provided?

Linda - The course instructor said the following, “Ethics is mandatory for license renewal. Some of the highlights that are discussed in this class is the ethical responsibility of the producer and insurance company. In addition,confidentiality as well as full disclosure to the client are also reviewed.”

The course will definitely be an excellent opportunity for all who partake. Space is filling up fast. Reserve today by contacting dholm@pdr-usa.net,

The Things You Must Know Before Hiring a Contractor

Hiring a contractor, especially after your home has been effected or damaged by natural disaster, can be a tricky and taxing process, but the one thing to keep in mind is that it most definitely have to be. It's most important to be educated before you head into making any decisions. The more knowledge you equip yourself with, the better a decision you can make for yourself, your family and your home.

Make Sure Their Licensing is Current: In many states, contractors and reconstruction professionals are required to keep specific licenses current and up to date. Check with your town or county's building department, since the licensing requirements change from place to place, they'll be able to tell you what you should be looking for.

Insurance: As important as licensing requirements, is making sure that the contractor's insurance documents are also up to date. They may have liability insurance in case they get hurt or break something on the job. If you're looking to bring in a contractor in to repair damage caused by natural disaster, you want to make sure that this is a contractor that you're insurance company will cover.

Do Some Extra Research: Just make sure to tie up all the loose ends, check out the company's website, call and ask questions. Don't be afraid, this is your home we're talking about, you want it to be a positive experience.

Have questions? Contact us! Paul Davis Restoration of Northeast NJ prides themselves on providing excellent service to all of their costumers.