The recent flooding in Dunedin was yet another reminder of New Zealand’s vulnerability when it comes to major weather events. With global climate change, the frequency and severity of weather events like this is increasing, and we are seeing ever more property owners affected by flood damage throughout the country.
For anyone who has to deal with a flooded property, cleaning up and getting things back to normal can be a dirty and daunting task. Christchurch-based Registered Building Surveyor Heather Crilly offers some advice for those going through the process, and explains how engaging a specialist can speed up insurance claims and remediation, so your property can be occupied again sooner.
When a flooding event happens, it is important to act quickly to reduce the extent of the remediation required. But for most property owners, there is a case of “you don’t know what you don’t know”, which is why it pays to bring in an expert sooner than later. In our experience, if the right action is not taken immediately, buildings can end up beyond economic repair due to toxigenic mould growth and timber decay.
We strongly recommend that access is gained to the building as soon as safely possible once flood waters have receded, and the strip out to allow the drying process to begin is commenced quickly. Advice from an experienced professional at this stage is invaluable. Our Building Surveyors have significant experience with flood damage and can advise on the immediate works necessary to minimise damage. Failure to allow the building to dry out properly can result in water being trapped in voids, creating the potential for timber decay and toxigenic mould growth to establish unseen. This damage may only become apparent years after the flood occurred.
Our Building Surveyors respond rapidly to requests to attend sites nationwide, where they can complete a detailed building fabric damage assessment and assess compromised structural elements if required. Once on site, we can instruct contractors on temporary works, including stripping out and decontamination, as well as making a full photographic record of the damage to assist with insurance claims and remediation.
While temporary works are ongoing, our Building Surveyors can continue to help by preparing a full repair scope to make good all flood damaged elements. This repair scope can be used for pricing by a contractor, or costing by our in-house Quantity Surveyors, to allow the true cost of the flood damage repairs to be valued and agreed with the loss adjuster or insurance company. We can also prepare accurate rebuild estimates for properties beyond economic repair.
To assist in handling your insurance claim, we can act as technical experts and provide forensic evidence of the damage and advice to your insurance company as required. We can also prepare claim settlement proposal reports and assist in negotiation of claims, ensuring you receive the full entitlement under your policy.
Once the extent and costs of repair works have been agreed, we can assist in appointing a suitably qualified contractor to carry out the remediation works, negotiating a contract sum as required, and project managing the remediation from start to finish. This gives you complete peace of mind that works are completed in compliance with relevant statutory legislation and best practice. We ensure correct procedures are followed to avoid any potential for future damage, and works are signed off by the Territorial Authority or qualified professionals as required.
During this process we manage delivery of the works on behalf of our clients within the agreed time and budget constraints, and liaise with all stakeholders, including insurance companies, property owners and tenants, to ensure the best value for money, taking into account ancillary costs such as out-of-business expenses. This minimises the stress and disruption caused and gives you peace of mind knowing that your property will be made good as quickly as possible and to the full extent allowable under your policy, or to your own requirements and budget otherwise.
At Prendos we regularly work with insurance companies, loss adjusters and property owners to assist in assessing and managing this otherwise stressful process, speeding up remediation and reducing the amount of time before property owners can return to their businesses and homes.
Heather Crilly is a Chartered and Registered Building Surveyor and Senior Project Manager, and an Associate at Prendos in Christchurch.
If your property has been affected by flooding or natural disaster, we have the specialist skills and experience to help you achieve the best outcome, wherever you are in the country. Just contact your nearest Prendos office or fill in the form below and have us call you back.