How Real Estate Agents Can Assist Clients Before, During, and After a Disaster

As a real estate agent, your role extends beyond helping clients buy or sell homes.

In times of disaster, your expertise and guidance can be invaluable in protecting your clients' most significant investment—their home. Here's how you can assist your clients before, during, and after a disaster to ensure they are prepared, safe, and supported.

Before a Disaster

Review Insurance Policies: Encourage your clients to review their homeowners or renters insurance policies. Many standard policies do not cover flood damage, and in some coastal areas, windstorm and hail coverages are excluded. Ensure they are aware of the need for additional flood insurance, which must be purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and requires a 30-day waiting period before coverage takes effect. For those in coastal areas, the Coastal Property Insurance Pool (CPIP) offers coverage for specific risks like fire, wind, and hail.

Create a Home Inventory: Advise your clients to create a home inventory to document their belongings. This inventory, which should include photos or videos of their possessions, will be crucial in the event of a loss. Encourage them to store this inventory in a safe, accessible place, and consider using an online platform or a physical safety deposit box.

Prepare an Emergency Toolkit and Go Bag: Help your clients prepare an emergency toolkit with essentials like a weather radio, flashlights, batteries, and non-perishable food items. Additionally, they should have an emergency "Go Bag" ready with blankets, medicines, important documents, and other necessities in case they need to evacuate quickly.

Property Protection and Evacuation Planning: Assist your clients in identifying ways to protect their property, such as installing storm shutters or moving vehicles into garages. Encourage them to have an evacuation plan that includes a safe location within their home or a predetermined escape route in case of evacuation orders.

During a Disaster

Sheltering in Place: If your clients are sheltering in place, remind them to stay informed through emergency broadcasts and to take shelter in the safest part of their home, away from windows and doors. If flooding is a risk, they should move to higher ground and turn off electricity if necessary.

Evacuation: In the event of an evacuation, stress the importance of leaving early, securing their home, and following designated evacuation routes. They should take their emergency toolkit and Go Bag, as well as leave a note indicating where they are going.

After a Disaster

Property Inspection and Documentation: Once it is safe, advise your clients to inspect their property for damage. Encourage them to document any damage with photos and refrain from making any repairs until an insurance adjuster has inspected the property. This step is critical for ensuring their insurance claim is processed smoothly.

Safety Precautions: Remind your clients to be cautious of hazards like downed power lines, ruptured gas lines, and contaminated floodwaters. They should also wear protective clothing during cleanup to avoid injury from debris.

Insurance Claims: Guide your clients through the insurance claim process by helping them contact their insurance agent as soon as possible. They should begin preparing an inventory of damaged or destroyed items and follow the insurance company’s instructions closely to ensure their claim is handled promptly and fairly.

You Can Make A Difference

As a real estate agent, your guidance can make a significant difference in how well your clients are prepared for and recover from disasters. By helping them take proactive steps before, during, and after a disaster, you not only protect their investment but also build lasting trust and loyalty. Stay informed about local risks and resources, and always be ready to offer your expertise when your clients need it most.

How else do you plan to be a resource for your clients in the event of a disaster? Sound off in the comments or share with a colleague in an upcoming CE Class!

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References

North Carolina Department of Insurance. "Before, During, and After a Disaster."