With the various roles of a property manager, fire damage restoration could be the least of your concerns, except it is one of the most crucial expertise a property manager must learn because the most unexpected to happen is often prevalent. Utilizing a project-based cleaning service can put you at an advantage by saving you time and stress when it comes to cleaning up the aftermath of a fire.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, fire departments responded to fire incidents anywhere in the US approximately every 23 seconds in 2020 (NFPA). This only implies how important the role of a property manager is to step in on the issue and take responsibility for his clients. Accidents happen, so getting a one time project-based cleaning service to help clean up any damage done will save you time.
As a PM, fire restoration can be stressful when you don’t know what to do. That is why in this article, we will discuss with you the 7 steps you should take to properly manage fire damage as a property manager. These are:
- Secure and Protect the Building.
- Determine the Cause of Damage.
- Communicate with Your Insurance Company.
- Check for the Extent of the Damage.
- Know When to Contact a Restoration Firm.
- Learn the Structural Elements of the Premises.
- Begin the Restoration Process.
Step 1: Secure and Protect the Building
The first thing you want to do is secure the area surrounding your building in order to protect bystanders from injuries and to prevent further damage to the building. While you may be overwhelmed by the destruction, keep in mind that a project-based cleaning service will handle this while you worry about other aspects of fire damage. Even the US Environmental Protection Agency acknowledges that even the smoke regardless of where it comes from, can affect one’s health and may cause risks to the respiratory system.
In order to avoid bystanders from the parameters of your building and the surrounding premise, you can immediately set up temporary fences or borders to avoid the damaged area as you begin assessing the situation.
It is important to keep in mind that being proactive in the situation is essential in order to prevent further damage to the area. This includes calling fire safety officials, insurance professionals, project-based cleaning services, and more.
Step 2: Determine the Cause of Destruction
After securing the building, you may begin investigating the cause of the property fire by inquiring the neighbors, renters, and the tenant about the incident. You may also find that the landlord is not cooperating with you.
Regardless, while you’d expect different perspectives as to where and how the fire started, you begin to have an understanding of the situation. Regardless of the source of the fire a project-based cleaning service will be able to handle cleaning up the aftermath.
Step 3: Communicate with Your Insurance Company
Restoring a building from a fire can be financially and mentally distressing. That is why it is essential to call your insurance company immediately after the fire incident has occurred. This will help the insurance company to have more time to assist you and process the best possible action in order to help with the expenses. After fire safety and insurance professionals are contacted it may be a good idea to get in touch with a project-based cleaning service to make sure you get back up and running as soon as possible.
But keep in mind that it is important that you do your research for the time being in order to evaluate which construction firm has the willingness to accommodate your needs as a pm. Getting all the information on what your insurance company requires of you is important so that you can get this information over to your project-based cleaning service.
Project-based cleaning services are highly beneficial when it comes to fire damage clean up. A fire can cause extensive damage to a property and the cleaning process can be complex and time-consuming. Project-based cleaning services provide a structured approach to clean up, ensuring that the property is restored to its original condition in the most efficient manner. They have specialized tools, equipment and cleaning solutions that are designed specifically for fire damage restoration, making the process more effective.
Moreover, project-based cleaning services have trained and experienced staff that understand the complexities involved in cleaning up after a fire. They can quickly identify potential hazards such as electrical damage, structural damage, and water damage, and take the necessary steps to mitigate these risks. Additionally, project-based cleaning services can help in the insurance claims process, by providing accurate documentation of the damage and restoration process. Overall, project-based cleaning services provide a comprehensive and effective solution for fire damage clean up, ensuring that the property is restored to its original condition as soon as possible.
Step 4: Check for the Extent of the Damage
When the building is finally safe for reentry, in accordance with the fire department’s protocol, you may begin documenting the interior of the premises by taking pictures of areas that have been extensively damaged by the fire. Be sure to send these over to the project-based cleaning service you decide on to get the best estimate and to help the team better understand what they will be handling.
This will also help the insurance company to determine which part of the property needs to be remediated. Extensive destruction may include:
- Loss of personal items
- Loss of records, documents, and other materials
- Exposed wiring and other electrical components
- Exposed ductwork and plumbing
- Exposed walls and floors
- Exposed piping and other structural components
- Exposed insulation and other building materials
Regardless of the building’s condition, whether it has less destruction than expected, refrain from cleaning the property without the assistance of fire safety experts, insurance professionals, and consider reaching out to a project-based cleaning service such as Rainbow. Helping insurance and fire safety professionals to have open communication with a project-based cleaning service of your choice is encouraged as it will decrease time wasted and help you make sure your building is up to standard and ready to reopen.
Avoid reconnecting any utilities that require electricity and gasoline as long as the fire safety team does not allow it. Instead, encourage your tenants to just look for the valuable items, and let the professionals assess the condition and determine what kind of remediation the building would require.
Step 5: Know When to Contact a Restoration Firm
Although some fire incidents do not lead to extensive destruction, it is important to contact a fire mitigation company to immediately restore what has been destroyed. Contacting a projected-based cleaning service can also help get your business up and running sooner.
When choosing a fire restoration firm, it is crucial to choose a company that has experience and expertise in the restoration of properties caused by fire incidents.
You may ask for suggestions from family and acquaintances who have prior experience in property fire management and services, or you may simply ask your insurance company to assist you in selecting the most qualified restoration firm to work on your property.
If you are searching on your own, you may discover the Best Fire Damage Restoration Services in 2022 in this article.
Step 6: Learn the Structural Elements of the Building
Although this job is already handled by qualified engineers in the remediation firm of your choice, it is essential that as a property manager, you should also understand how your building is structured and built.
By being knowledgeable of your property’s structural elements, you and the company could save more time and money as it could prevent further work interruption in the process. Especially when working with a projected-based cleaning service. This also helps the restoration company to understand the depth of damage, and how best to repair the property.
To learn more about what structural elements need to be restored after fire impairments, you may read this article here.
Step 7: Begin the Restoration Process
As emphasized from the beginning, it is vital to be efficient and proactive in the restoration process of the premises. To avoid further accidents with the condition of the building, the remediation should start immediately after the insurance has been settled and the restoration firm has been selected. You may also want to schedule another time for your chosen project-based cleaning service to come back a few months later to run back through anything that may come up in the future.
You would expect that the restoration process might take some time as it addresses concerns on soot removal, utility repairment, and removal of other hazardous materials, in order to bring back–or even enhance–the property’s functionality. This is why working with a project–based cleaning service or commercial cleaning service is encouraged. This can ensure that your business gets back up and running sooner.
Consider A Professional Commercial Service
Managing property fire destruction can be overwhelming at first. But when you begin to learn the inside and out of how to address it and find a project-based cleaning service you trust, the process of remediating a property after an incident becomes easier and you get comfortable handling the situation. In this article, we have learned the processes of handling fire damage restoration. Additionally, we took some important notes to remember:
According to the NFPA, fire incidents are prevalent in any part of the US. Thus, knowledge of fire damage restoration as a property manager is important. Smoke from any source, including back from a property fire, can cause great risks to a person’s respiratory system.
As a property manager, being proactive is important in order to avoid further property damage. If the damage at hand is overwhelming consider partnering with a commercial cleaning service in your area. Contacting your insurance company is vital before you start with any restoration projects.
And lastly, finding a project-based cleaning service you trust can decrease the time your business is closed and undergoing repairs. This will help you know who to call in the future if other fire damage occurs.
