A Tale of 2 Homeowners

They have been living next door to one another for many years and are reasonably friendly to one another. One night, while enjoying a cool summer breeze, Bill reminds Bob that a storm is coming. Bob can hardly believe it as the air seems relatively calm, but his mind is swayed when the sky starts to darken and the temperatures drop. 

"Do you have a general contractor on speed dial?" Bill asks.

"What for?" says Bob.

"In case there is storm damage, of course," replies Bill.

"There's no need. My house is strong enough and if there is any damage, I can manage on my own," says Bob. And with that, he returns indoors. He will regret his words later. 

The Night Of the Storm

Heavy winds and a deluge of rain strike the neighborhood and much chaos is caused. Roof tiles are dislodged from both Bill and Bob's houses and rain comes in through the now open gaps above. The problem doesn't only lie with their roof, however, as water starts to seep into both homes from ground level thanks to the drainage system that has overflowed with the rain. Bob is woken by an uprooted tree smashing through his bedroom window. And Bill's beauty sleep is interrupted by the water that is raining down on him from above. 

It's a terrible night indeed and both Bill and Bob fear the worse for their properties. 

The Next Day

The next morning, both neighbors deal with the damage from the night before. Bill rings his local contractor, a specialist in storm damage, and they arrive shortly after taking his call. They assess the damage and get to work quickly, knowing that time is of the essence. The restoration process includes a deep clean of the rooms that have been affected by drainage water, and work is started on the roof too. 

For Bill, their support is much appreciated, as the clean-up process is much less stressful than it might have been for him. They know what they are doing, and while he does what he can to assist with the clean-up himself, they take care of any part of the property where health and safety could be an issue. They also offer assistance with the insurance claim Bill has to make when trying to recoup his losses after the storm. 

Sadly, Bob is not having an easy time of things next door. He is struggling with the clean-up as he doesn't have the tools to deal with the flood water that has seeped into his home. Unfortunately for him, the towels he has put down are ineffective as the water damage is far too great. While many of Bill's belongings have been rescued by the contractor team, Bob is too late to salvage his most prized possessions. Standing knee-deep in water while parts of his ceiling collapse around him, he starts to regret his decision not to call a contractor. This job is far too big for him to take on alone. 

Moving On

Things only get worse for poor Bob as, without professional help, his home starts to become unlivable. Mold growth and damage to his home's foundations are just two of the problems that arise after the storm. Many of his belongings are lost too. 

For Bill, the story is much different. Thanks to the rapid work of his general contractor, his home starts to feel like home again. They are far more efficient in their work than Bob. And thanks to their support with the insurance claim, the risk to Bill's finances has been reduced. 

After years of living next door to one another, the two men say their final farewells. For Bob, the decision to leave isn't an easy one, but for the sake of his health, he has to leave his storm-damaged house. 

"If only I had listened to your advice about a contractor," Bob says to Bill as he waves goodbye.

I wish you had too, Bill says to himself as waves one final time to his neighbor. 

The Moral Of This Story

Don't be like Bob!

The damage caused by a storm can be great! Attempting to repair your home yourself can be both dangerous and time-consuming. If you don't act quickly, the damage will only become worse, so do the sensible thing: Save time and money, and get in touch with us if your home is affected by a storm. Thanks to the experience and tools that we can provide, we can protect your home from further damage. We can also get to you quickly, so don't delay. If your home is badly hit by a storm, get in touch as soon as you can, and we will begin the storm restoration process.