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When you decide to buy a new home, or if you want to renovate your home, this is a good time as ever to consider disaster-proofing your home. 

Natural disasters have become frequent and erratic over the past few years because of the heightened climate-changing activity, which is why we are seeing snow in April, or summer heat in autumn.

Some of the risks that you need to be prepared for, depending on the area you live in, include earthquakes, hurricanes, and even flood concerns. In this article, we take a look at how floods can affect your home, and how you can take actionable steps to prevent it.

 

What are flood risks?

Flood risks are the damage that could be done to your property in the event of a flood. Floods are a natural disaster that is a result of torrential downpours that the city’s drainage systems are not designed to accommodate. This may be due to climate changes in the area, or aged infrastructure. Flooding can be also due to local water bodies not being naturally equipped to store the water from the rains.

Non-natural flooding

Accidents can happen, your washing machine malfunctioned, your bathtub overflowed, or a pipe burst in your basement. This abundance of water and the damage that occurs can also be considered as flooding.

Type of damages that can be expected with floods

In addition to environmental damage, floods cause a flurry of other issues. In terms of your home, floods can end up damaging the infrastructure and foundations of your home. Due to wood being integral to the building of houses, it can cause mold to grow because of the damp wood. The volume and pressure of the water can affect the doors and windows of your home, as well as affect your plumbing and electricity as well.  Over and above this, it will also damage your belongings in your home.

How to check if your home is in a natural disaster risk zone

If you’re concerned about your house being in an area where floods occur frequently, or if your house is an area where it will get damaged if a flood occurs, then you need to research a risk assessment service for the area you belong to. For example, if you live in the state of New York, the assessment will provide you with a detailed reprot of floood and other risk factors you may suffer if not adequately prepared. For this state in particular there is a history full of hurricanes, snow storms, and coastal storms.  

Flood Proofing your home

By using the assessment report you can look at ways to renovate your home to prevent too much damage from occurring.

You first need to ensure that you have the budget for the renovations you need to do, thereafter you need to acquire a construction permit so that you can make the changes. 

Water damage will make up most of your challenges. Some of the changes you need to include in your plan are attending to cracks in your foundation or elevating it instead. Make sure to water seal the foundation as well as the walls of your home. Implement flood barriers and use flood-resistant materials when doing the renovations.

The next step would be to check that your home’s drainage system is fully functional. Following these changes make sure to inquire about flood insurance to cover any other damages that are out of your control.

How risk assessment and management can help your property value

If your home is in a high flood risk area, chances are it will have a lower value than a home in an area that is in a medium to low flood risk. 

The reasons why flood risks devalue the home are mainly due to the maintenance, repairs, and losses that will be incurred by the damage it will eventually cause. 

 By taking actional steps to prevent floods from affecting your home’s foundation, plumbing, and electrical sources, you are no doubt raising the resale value of your home. 

Keeping this in mind, when you are looking at buying a property and you note that the value of the home is relatively low, this should alert you to check the area’s disaster risk factors. This will help you make an informed decision.

Wrapping Up

Property damages caused by flooding can cost thousands of dollars in repairs. If you find that you will be moving into a high-risk area, you will have to take measures to flood proof your home to reduce the amount of damage your home sustains. Not only will this protect your assets and belongings, it will also help increase the value of your property in event you need to resell in the future.

 

 

[Image: Brett Jordan/Unsplash]