CPR Nashville Blog

Residential Emergency Planning

Don’t just sit there and wait for disasters to strike, prepare yourself and your family.

Natural or other disasters can strike suddenly at any time, and anywhere. A disaster can damage or destroy your property, force you to temporarily live somewhere else, cut your wages and other income, and/or ruin valuable and irreplaceable records, pictures and other keepsakes. The important thing is to begin planning now, before the unexpected becomes a harsh reality. The professionals at Choice Property Restoration can help you develop an emergency response plan that’ll leave you feeling as prepared and confident as possible.

The Importance of a Disaster Preparedness Plan

The American Red Cross, among many organizations both locally and nationally, encourages all households to make the commitment to planning for the “What if…” scenarios. Your family may not all be together when a disaster strikes, and because of this, it is important to plan for certain things in advance:

• How you’ll get to a safe place;
• How you’ll contact one another;
• How you’ll get back together;
• What you’ll do in various situations.

Taking a little time to work out the potential kinks on the front end will reduce the likelihood of serious problems on the back end. You’ll be better prepared to safely reunite your family and loved ones during an emergency by thinking ahead and communicating with others in advance.

The CDC encourages you to choose two places to meet in the event that you’re separated during an emergency: one place should be right outside your home in the event of a sudden emergency (e.g., a fire), whereas the other place should be outside your neighborhood in the event you can’t return home and/or are asked to evacuate. Everyone should know the address and phone number and how to get there.

Once your family is prepared, it’s time to look to your neighbors. In times of disaster, your neighbors will probably be the first ones available to come to your aid. Find out what resources your share and how you can work together for the common good should a disaster strike.

Disaster preparedness planning isn’t only for Californians, Midwesterners and Gulf Coast residents. Most communities can be impacted by several types of hazards, and knowing what to do before, during and after an emergency is a critical part of being prepared and can make all the difference in the world when seconds really count. Contact us at your earliest convenience to see how our trusted staff can provide you with the confidence of knowing that you’re doing everything within your power to prepare yourself and your family for all of the possibilities in an attempt to set your mind at ease.

Getting Ready to Move?

If you want to avoid all those headaches caused by all the stress of planning to move and marketing your home, follow the advise of Choice Property Restoration.

We thought about titling this post “Fixin’ta Move?” since we live in the South and all, but we restrained ourselves. The spring is known for being an ideal time to put a house on the market. This is especially so this year, after we all weathered such a brutally cold winter here in Nashville. According to a recent AOL article, Nashville’s not the only place where the housing market is flourishing right along with so many daffodils and cherry blossom trees. Countrywide, the market is experiencing a lot of activity, as homebuyers and sellers come out of hibernation after a long winter.

It’s very possible that the 16-day government shutdown may also have deterred a number of real estate transactions late last year. “The fourth quarter with the government shutdown put a lot of people on the fence, so I think there was a lot of pent-up demand,” Jared Weggeland, director of sales and marketing at Southern Homes in Florida, told AOL.

Are you one of those who feels like the time is right now to sell? Whether you’re just considering a move—or are already actively working to get your house market-ready—there are some simple yet important steps you can take to make your home more valuable, more desirable to potential buyers, and thus easier to sell quickly. Choice Property Restoration can help.

Things to Do Before Putting Your Home on the Market

Tackle repair and remodeling projects. You know that drywall you’ve been meaning to patch? The water damage you’ve had on your to-do list to repair? It’s time to scratch the biggest offenders off your list so they won’t get in the way of your real estate transaction. Your realtor will be able to help you prioritize which repairs are most important. You may also want to discuss whether or not it would be worthwhile to take on bigger remodeling projects prior to putting your home on the market.

Have your carpet or hardwood floors deep cleaned. Gross, soiled carpet can be a deal breaker for many potential buyers. So can stained grout in your bathrooms. Even hardwood floors can get so dirty that they detract from the look of your home. Hire a professional to deep clean your carpet, your grout, and your hardwood floors, and you’ll find it’s the easiest facelift you can give your home.

Deodorize (if necessary). One of the tricks of the trade when it comes to selling a house is to put chocolate chip cookies in the oven to bake right before an open house. That’s because scent is tied so strongly to the way we feel about a setting. As such, if your home is in need of a freshening-up with a professional deodorization (because of cigarette smoke, pets, disaster contaminants, or water damage), it’s strongly recommended that you do so prior to putting your home on the market. You want your house to feel, and smell, like a breath of fresh air to potential buyers.

Have questions about how Choice Property Restoration can help you get your home ready to sell? Call us today.