Why does it take so long to reinstate a property?

Bringing your home back to life after a flood isn’t something that happens overnight. Depending on the extent of the damage, it can take weeks or even months before things are fully back to normal. There are a lot of moving parts involved, and plenty of factors that’ll influence just how long the whole process takes. But the biggest one? The level of damage your property sustained from the flood.

Processing the Insurance Claim

One of the first (and often most frustrating) delays in getting your home restored is waiting for the insurance claim to be processed. Your insurer may send out a loss adjuster to assess the damage and report back. Only then will a recovery schedule be created, working with various contractors to arrange the necessary repairs and renovations.

Bear in mind: insurance companies tend to work with several specialists, all handling different parts of your claim. It can be tricky to keep track of who’s doing what.

Cleaning and Drying the Property

The cleanup process is no small task. As we said earlier, it can take weeks or months to fully dry out a property, especially if the flood damage was severe.

Water gets everywhere, and drying it out properly means opening up spaces and making sure every nook and cranny is moisture-free. That’s where specialist contractors come in; companies like Polygon have the right equipment and experience to ensure your home is dried out to the correct standard. The ultimate goal is to get your home back to how it was before the flood.

Tip: If your home has a timber frame, be prepared for an even longer drying time. Extra treatments might be needed to prevent further issues down the line.

Refurbishing the Property

Once the property is dry, it’s time to tackle the refurbishment. That means repairing or replacing anything that is flood-damaged, furniture, flooring, décor, the lot. This part can feel overwhelming. After all, you’re trying to redo in a few months what probably took you years to put together.

You’ll also need to run any planned purchases or work past your insurer before going ahead. So yes, more paperwork, but it’s worth it to make sure you’re fully covered.

Reinsuring After a Flood

Once the dust settles (and the water clears), there’s still the matter of insurance. If your home has already been affected by flooding, getting reinsured can be tricky, especially if you’re in a high-risk area.

Still, it’s something you shouldn’t ignore. After living through it once, you know just how important insurance is. Without it, any future damage could end up costing a fortune.

Restoring your home after a flood isn’t easy, and it’s rarely fast. But understanding the steps involved, knowing what to expect, and staying on top of communication can make the road to recovery a whole lot smoother.

For more information, contact us on: 01480 442327