Five Things You Should Do Immediately If Your Home Floods

A flooded home is a situation no one wants to deal with, but it does happen. The best way to minimize the damage and repair costs is to react quickly and confidently to the situation. With that in mind, here are five things you should do immediately if your home floods:

Shut off the electricity

As soon as the waters begin to find its way into your home, shut off the electricity to protect yourself and your family. Water carries electrical currents with devastating efficiency, and can seriously harm or even kill anyone it comes into contact with. Shutting off the power until the situation is under control will prevent that from happening.

Contact your insurance company

If the flood is serious enough that you have to evacuate your home, or even an area of your home, you should contact your flood insurance provider immediately to get started in handling the paperwork. There will likely be several steps and inspections before the company can sign off on anything, and getting the process started early can save you a major headache.

Protect yourself

If you have to go back into your home, make sure you are properly protected against hidden dangers under the water or potential hazards, such as sewage, mold or chemicals. Wear waterproof boots and waders, as well as gloves. You want to avoid as much contact with flood waters as possible. Be aware of any areas that might have a current running through them due to electricity, and shut off any live connections before entering.

Find a way to remove the water

If the flood is serious, you will likely need to contact a company to help with the damage. These companies have the technology to help pump water out of your home and dry the possessions that remain. The longer the water sits within your home, the more damage it can cause. If your water company offers carpet and other drying services, have them try to dry out your carpet and wet linens to prevent mold from forming. It is also important to find the cause of home floods if it’s not due to weather, suggests professional drain cleaners at Alberta Water services. Broken pipes and drains can cause lots of damage and should be fixed immediately.

Take pictures

You will want to document all of the damage in your home, both for insurance purposes and for figuring out what has to be replaced when everything is said and done. Taking pictures of the damage, the watermarks on the walls and the source of the flood will help in the repair and recovery process.

A flooded home is a major disaster, but taking these steps as soon as it happens will make the restoration process much smoother.

Let's Keep In Touch!

New ORC Form Lead

"*" indicates required fields

Orlando Realtor- Seller Testimonial

https://orlandorealtyconsultants.com/ VIDEO – client testimonial

This is the story of Gayle McKenzie. Gayle found our company online after being let down by another Orlando real estate agent who wasn’t able to help her out of a tight situation. She owned a beautiful house in Whisper Lakes that she was no longer able to afford and needed to get a short sale done on her home before the bank foreclosed on her.

After sitting down with Gayle on the first appointment, Jenny Zamora RE Broker, explained the short sale process to Gayle in detail making sure that she was aware of what to expect moving forward. After collecting all the documentation needed for a short sale, she submitted the complete package to the lender including a contract.

Within a few months, Zamora was able to negotiate with Gayle’s lender and got the bank to reduce a balance of $310,000.00 down to $163,000.00

Getting the house at such a steep discount made it easy to sell. Within one week of getting the approval from the bank, we had a solid buyer. Three weeks later we went to closing and Gayle was able to move into another house with the $3,000.00 relocation assistance that she received from the lender.

Let's Keep In Touch!

New ORC Form Lead

"*" indicates required fields

Orlando Real Estate Joint Venture to Bring 800 Luxury Apartments to Central Florida

  Orlando real estate developers, the Del American Real Estate Group Inc, have ventured into a partnership with the BentleyForbes LLC from California to build around 800 new apartments in Central Florida. Their development partnership goes by the name BentleyForbes Del American.

The BentleyForbes Del American Projects

BentleyForbes Del American was created to build high-end apartment communities in California, Florida and Texas. These apartment communities would constitute of luxury, resort site multifamily apartments.

Chairman and CEO of the Del American Real Estate Group, Chris DelGuidice revealed that a letter of intent of their first project as a partnership had already been submitted for two Central Florida sites that the state had approved and zoned for housing construction.

These two potential sites include one in the Winter Park or Maitland sub-market and another in Orange County. DelGuidice also reveled that, if approved, the apartment communities on both sides would be constructed like the Pure Living apartment complex in Heathrow.

Constructed by the Del American Group in 2008, Pure Living Heathrow complex was put up for sale in 2010 and has since, become the symbol of luxury living.

According to DelGuidice, both deals can be expected to come through, by the second or third week of February. If approved, the BentleyForbes Del American would begin the design and engineering work by March and the actual construction work is to begin in the fall of this year.

Apart from the construction of Pure Living apartments on these two sites, the joint venture is also working on sealing other deals the details of which haven’t been revealed by CEO DelGuidice yet, because of the lack of any “definite agreements” as he puts it.

Support to nearby businesses

Construction on the first, two-site project is projected to cost anything between $108 million to $132 million for the joint venture. Real estate agents in Orlando and Central Florida have welcomed the news since the project has opened up several opportunities for them. The project would bring new high-end apartments – boosting the growth of the Central Floridian sub-markets. Additionally, local businesses – shops, restaurants and so on would see higher traffic and the possibility of the emergence of new businesses.

Additionally, the project is expected to create temporary construction jobs for over a thousand workers as well as subcontracting opportunities for other Orlando real estate developers.

Considering other new projects that have been creeping up all over Central Florida, like the 330-unit apartment community near Orlando International Airport, Orlando Realtors are convinced that 2014 is going to be good year for the housing market.

Let's Keep In Touch!

New ORC Form Lead

"*" indicates required fields

Perfect Patio: How to Create Your Own Backyard Ambiance

Patios today are not just outdoor areas to stop before heading into a backyard. They are living areas and extensions of the inside of the home. Many different options are available that allow homeowners to design comfortable, elegant, and functional patios. Several ideas will help Orlando homeowners to create a perfect patio with ambiance and style.

Pick a Comfortable Patio Furniture Set

Modern patio furniture is just as comfortable as furniture inside the home. A great patio should have a complete set of furniture. This should include a relaxing couch, chairs, and at least one table. They can be made from strong resins or sustainable woods like teak and bamboo. Comfortable furniture will make spending time on the patio more enjoyable.

Install Designer Lighting

Good lighting is responsible for the ambiance on the patio, especially in the evening. Homeowners should install designer lighting in several places. Landscape lights can illuminate the area around the patio. Sconces and hanging pendant lights can create gentle light while dining or relaxing outside. Lights can even be installed in the patio surface for safety or unique ground illumination.

Add Attractive Plantings

Part of the ambiance of a backyard patio is the presence of nature around the property. Homeowners should add attractive plantings on, and around the patio. Large outdoor pots can hold small trees or robust succulents. Climbing vines can cover nearby fences or the walls of the home. Shrubs and hedges can act as dividers. Plants make the patio more attractive while also sometimes absorbing sound and creating privacy.

Consider Patio Heaters

Patio heaters make the space comfortable even during cold days in the winter. Patio heaters look like tall lamps or poles. They can increase the temperature on the patio so it remains comfortable, in all but the worst conditions. They can create a warm and inviting patio all year long.

Choose the Right Patio Surface

The patio surface will largely determine the comfort and stability of everything from furniture to appliances. Homeowners will want to choose concrete when designing a patio. Concrete companies provide mixtures that will pour easily and level simply. Concrete is durable and does not attract pests like some other materials. Concrete can also be finished in a number of ways to create a very distinctive and memorable appearance.

Patios should be designed just like any room inside the house. They must include lighting, a solid surface, and comfortable furniture. Patios today can even be equipped with fireplaces or kitchen appliances so it is easier to spend hours enjoying the outdoors with friends and family.

Let's Keep In Touch!

New ORC Form Lead

"*" indicates required fields

Four Warning Signs That Your Home Might Be In Major Trouble

For many common damages to homes, there are telltale warning signs that allude to the problem long before it officially sets in. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with what to look for in a home that is potentially vulnerable to excessive damages. These are four warning signs that your home might be in major trouble.

Clogged Drains or Leaky Plumbing

If you’ve noticed a drain that doesn’t seem to flush water as quickly as it once did, or if you’ve noticed a bit of water accumulation under the sink, it’s definitely time to make the appropriate fixes to avoid bigger problems down the line. Steer clear of excessive damage by shopping around for Orlando plumbers for quick and effective repairs to your plumbing problems.

A Weak HVAC System

HVAC systems are notorious for losing their momentum sooner or later. This is often because they are used almost all year round, and they are constantly working to keep homes and other facilities stay neutralized at a constant temperature. Eventually, this can lead to less than satisfactory results. Take caution if you hear any clunking or banging coming from your HVAC system, or if the compressor stays on a lot longer than it should. This is a sign of the system working harder than it should and the fact that it needs repair.

A Weakening Roof

On most roofs, shingles are layered with a solution of granules that provide an extra layer of protection against natural wear and tear. Over time, granule will wear away and expose the shingles to harsh weather conditions which can, in turn, excessively damage a roof. You might be up against a potentially exposed roof if you find bits of granule on the ground and around the area of where gutters drain. If you attack the problem as early as possible, it’s often easy to reroof without starting completely over with a new roof.

A Shifting Foundation

Lastly, a shifting foundation could quite possibly be the worst sign of damage for your home. As soon as you notice any cracking, bulges, or indentations, document it with the date, time, and a photograph. This will help contractors know how to fix the problem.

Above all, keep an eye attributes about your home that don’t seem or aren’t normal. Generally, if you feel like there could be potential damage done to your home due to observing questionable warning signs, there probably will be. Remember to document and contact repair professionals right away!

Let's Keep In Touch!

New ORC Form Lead

"*" indicates required fields