Now Comes the Cleanup

Now Comes the Cleanup

Governor Kim Reynolds declared disaster declarations in 56 counties after late winter, early spring flooding. Southwest Iowa got the worst of the flooding, but many communities throughout the state suffered damage like the eastern Iowa town of Manchester. Now comes the cleanup.

Now comes the cleanup.

Homeowners who were flooded in Iowa should focus immediately on trying to remediate their homes, meaning tearing out baseboards, insulation, and sheetrock and allowing the studs to dry out. Homeowners should use dehumidifiers and apply bleach on their studs to kill any bacteria and prevent mold.

“It’s a two- to three-week process minimum. “Don’t put everything back too fast.”

Homeowners should remember to be patient about when to start rebuilding. Naturally, you will want the remodeling work to begin as soon as possible, but make sure the house is completely dry before starting the work. Use a moisture meter and have a mold inspection done

Finally, it’s important to really vet contractors to make sure they are right for the job and avoid shady contractors and “storm-chasers,” Leggett said.

How to avoid getting scammed by shady contractors preying on flood victims in Cedar Rapids:

1. Get the contractor’s business card, and vet the company. See if they have a website and check reviews online. Ask for a list of recent projects they have completed in the area and if possible, talk to other homeowners who have worked with the contractors before to get their testimonials.
2. Get a copy of the builder’s risk insurance certificate, and call the insurance company to make sure it’s valid. “A lot of these contractors will give you forged certificates,” Leggett said.
3. Buy locally. Hiring a local contractor not only supports local businesses, but it may save you headaches when “storm chasers” ultimately leave town for the next big disaster zone. “The warranty is only as good as people and the company behind it,” Leggett said.
4. Be wary of contractors who offer a better deal if you sign a contract quickly or pay cash upfront. “Anything that’s a high-pressure pitch, there’s a reason for it,” Leggett said. “It’s a numbers game. They know that three or four homeowners are going to bite.”

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5. Be wary of contractors who offer to do their work without a contract or pulling permits. Every professional homebuilder executes a contract and pulls permits.
6. Be wary if the pricing is too good to be true because it probably is. “We’re all buying similar materials at similar prices,” Leggett said. “Maybe some people are buying 10 percent better, but no one is buying 30 percent better. If someone is half the price of another guy, that sets off warning sirens.”
7. In most cases, Iowa’s Door-to-Door Sales law gives you three business days to cancel a contract signed at your home.
8. Throughout the remediation and rebuilding process, document the remediation and rebuilding work to ensure the work is done per contract. Paying a photographer or videographer to document the process may also help sell the home down the road, Leggett said. “If you show what you did to fix your home, you can maximize what you can get for resale,” Leggett said. “Don’t cut corners to save a little bit now, because it’ll cost you in the end.”

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