Hotel , Restaurant and Retail Water Damages Are Different From Other Water Damages . Find Out The Top 3 Reasons Why ?

Reason 1: Hotels , restaurants and retail stores must remain open at all costs ( if possible ) due to the fact that their revenue stream stops when customers can not access their location that has been damaged by water , fire , mold , etc. Now the average office, warehouse or business facility effected water damage , mold , fire ,etc. does need to get their operation up and running ASAP ( ex. business interruption costs to the company and the insurance carrier ), but these folks have the opportunity to find another location or telecomminicate and keep their customers happy and connected . Hotels , Restaurants and Retail on the other hand must have their location accessible , safe and in a business looking environment so as not to lose customers , clients to the competition .

Reason 2 : Hotels , restaurants and retail stores must have a plan before a water damage , fire damage , and or mold situation to keep their location ( if possible ) up and running . The time to think what to do shouldn't be while the problem is happening , but before so that cool heads will prevail . The plan should include the following :

A. Create an emergency manual that a few key staff members have access and understand how to use the manual . Trust me the night that the damage happens , you will be in the Bahamas on your fifth tropical drink and not in a position to make good decisions .

B. Have a printing company that has a sign in their system that says " We Are Open ". When the damage happens , you or your staff will just make a quick call to the printer ( printer name, phone number and where they filed your sign ) so that having to explain what you want at the time of crises can be avoided .

C. When the restoration water damage clean up company has completed the first stage of water extraction and equipment placement , you will need to have a plan of how to keep the " fort "open while restoration is on going . Some plan ideas are:

1. Step back and ask yourself if we have a damage how do we keep the hotel, store or restaurant going on with this turmoil to keep the revenue flowing . This will be different every time you have a water hotel, restaurant, or retail water damage , but having some type of plan can give you guidance so the we are open sign can stay lit .
2. If possible create a section or sections for the patrons to shop , eat or access .
3. Hide the problem ! - Come up with creative ideas with the restoration company you choose before a damage occurs on how the business can continue while work is being performed . Examples can be creating plastic walls to hide the clean up or drying ( different color plastic cans be used to make it more visually pleasing . Painting the unfinished walls white with one coat so the customers can't see that the walls are not complete .

Reason 3: The fact that Hotels , Restaurants , and Retail locations must be operating at any cost ( if possible ) , safety for patrons and staff must be listed and a solution developed in your emergency plan ( again your in the Bahamas on your fifth drink !). Please consider the following :

1. Have caution tape on hand ( plenty of it )
2. Wet signs ( your restoration company should also have them as well )
3. Walk off mats ( have a mat rental company with a phone number handy to get more ). Make sure you get many to put on tile floors .
4. Ceiling tiles maybe wet ( even if they look dry ) . They can possible fall .
5. Work with restoration company so that the mission of drying the location to prevent mold works with customers and guests accessing merchandise , tables , room , etc.
6. Have your electrical contractor , elevator , and kitchen equipment repair service phone numbers and contact names listed in your emergency plan book. Make sure your representative has someone that will respond and get techs out with 2 hours to respond . DON"T ASSUME. Make sure they have the equipment and parts handy to temporarily get the systems up and running in two hours .
7. Generators - make sure your restoration company has emergency access to generators .

There are more issues and concerns that should be listed . If you have questions or would like free help in preparing a plan for your property , give me Jeff Cohn at 410-458-5371 .