How to Help a Neighbor After a Fire

7/8/2024 (Permalink)

Imagine this. You’re sitting at home relaxing after a long day of work when suddenly you hear the telltale sound that something serious has just happened- firetruck sirens. You get up and look outside to see the engines have stopped in front of your neighbor’s house. What do you do then? Run outside? Go back to what you were doing and ask them or another neighbor about it later? Or do you panic and wonder what you can do to help? Well, here are some quick and easy ways you can help a neighbor after a fire.

• Gather Essentials. If there’s a fire in your home, the last thing on your mind is going to be if you remembered to grab the toothpaste. Raid your stash of minis you took from hotels, and toothbrushes you get every time you go to the dentist and see what you can assemble. Items such as shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, even extra floss that you have lying around could help someone feel the slightest bit more normal after a fire.
• Bring them some food. A meal, groceries, even some extra nonperishables you have tucked in the cupboard. Anything helps. We know we all can’t be Gordon Ramsay level chefs, so a nice home cooked meal may feel like less of a gift and more of a curse but it’s the thought that counts. If you still aren’t comfortable, there’s always take-out, again, it’s the gesture that’s important.
• Start a fundraiser. It can be anything from going door-to-door asking other neighbors to pitch in supplies, to a GoFundMe to raise money to help offset some of their financial burden. Another great place to get community support, or even ideas on how to help, is through local Facebook groups.
• Check in. Even if you haven’t spoken in ages, a simple “Hey, I’m thinking of you” can go a long way. When you go through a catastrophic, life-changing event, knowing people are there and thinking of you truly makes a world of difference, trust us. 
• Respect the Chaos. Odds are good that their phones are blowing up with messages from everyone they know. If you can, let them know they don't have to respond immediately. Acknowledge they have a lot going on and that responding to you does not have to be top priority.
• Offer to listen (and mean it.) No one needs to hear about how your Great-Aunt Helen’s friend’s daughter’s boyfriend’s shed caught on fire 17 years ago, especially if they were just the victim of a fire themselves. Let them talk. Let them cry if they need to. Don’t try to fix everything. Just be there for them. At the end of the day, that’s what counts.
• Give them our number. We know what kind of damage a fire can cause, and our team of trained professionals know what it takes to properly cleanup and restore their home back to normal.

Michael from Haverhill, MA's 5-Star Review

7/1/2024 (Permalink)

Before and after photos of the affected bathroom.

Earlier this year, we received an extremely kind Google review from Michael, who wanted to take the time to acknowledge some of the little things that our team did while helping him with the water remediation in his Haverhill, MA home. Thank you again Michael and we are so glad we were able to help!

"I can’t thank SERVPRO enough for everything have done for us in regards to our recent toilet back up. They came that day and cleaned everything for us perfectly. They were very clear on what was going on, what we needed to do, [and] guided us the whole way.

Alex, our estimator, was constantly in contact with me letting me know the status of where everything was. He went above and beyond with communication. When he found out we had a 1yr old, he was sure to tape off rough edges and baby proof the current state of our house.

The demo team of Bobby, Yeimi, and Jheremy were top notch. They were in our house for 4 days and were the utmost professionals. The work they did was perfect and their friendliness on top of it made it that much better. Yeimi witnessed my wife trying to bring groceries in with a toddler in tow and helped her carry them in.

Chris, our project manager, has been there from start to finish and has guided us the whole way. He cares and it shows.

I can’t recommend SERVPRO of Haverhill any more. A+ work & communication from them. When you have something unfortunate happen at home it’s good to know there is a company close by goes above and beyond to get your house back together."

Jan from Ipswich, MA's 5-Star Review

9/12/2023 (Permalink)

Jan was kind enough to share these before and after photos with us when he left his review. Thank you Jan! We're so glad we could help!

Earlier this year we received a very kind and detailed review from our friend Jan in Ipswich after we helped him with the remediation and reconstruction after a tree crashed through his roof. We wanted to once again thank him for the incredible testimonial and share his review here on our blog!

"A large bough from a tree crashed onto the roof of our house during a severe rain and wind weather event 2 days before Xmas last year. It damaged two bedrooms at one end, and necessitated a huge clean-up and an extensive exterior and interior rebuild. The master bedroom sustained major exterior and interior damage, and the interior of the 2nd bedroom considerable above-ceiling and roof damage as well as leakage. The damage included a roof, supporting strapping, insulation, 2 ceilings, 3 walls, carpet-cleaning and removal, wall and trim painting, many supportive tasks and a multitude of materials.
SERVPRO of Haverhill responded within a day of the damage to assess and begin designing a project plan. Josh, the project estimator and manager of the mitigation team, and Noel, the project manager of the reconstruction team, designed and supervised both components with a customized plan of intervention that could be executed with high efficacy. An estimate was performed, a proposal submitted, and a work authorization was signed. I judged the cost cited in the proposal as very acceptable and the project affordable, as did my insurer, Concord Group. The project was completed in a very timely and professional manner, and below the estimated cost. Josh and Noel stayed in touch with me while coordinating all phases of each component of the project. They returned calls, explained what had to be done, gave encouragement and reassurance, and answered questions.
Office and administrative staff at SERVPRO of Haverhill, such as Lori, Stephanie, and Jessalyn, were equally responsive to questions about procedures, billing, and other support needs, and handled contacts from me with affable, respectful diligence.
The crews who performed the work were highly skilled, prompt, respectful and thoughtful, hard-working, quiet, clean, and beyond conscientious.
The mitigation team tackled the first part of the project. Rob spent two days cleaning up the master bedroom, which had sustained extensive water damage as well as debris from the ceiling and insulation everywhere. He removed all debris, (from slabs of sheetrock to specks of plaster), vacuumed and cleaned the carpet, cleaned furniture and furnishings, dehumidified the entire room, and disposed of debris.
Branden and Justin of the mitigation team then demoed the interior (ceilings, strapping, walls) with no damage to intact structural elements or to furniture) and eradicated mold that had formed. Bob, Christian, Patrick, Jake, and Dylan of the reconstruction team worked together in phases to replace a hip girder truss, strapping, insulation, perforated sheathing, and all of the shingles at the gable end of the roof, 2 ceilings, and 3 walls. The interior was repainted in the master bedroom and the ceiling of the 2nd bedroom was painted after installation. By the end of the project, there were no traces of the catastrophe that had occurred prior to it.
SERVPRO contracted KC Carpets of Haverhill to replace the carpet in the master bedroom, and 2 techs installed it within a few hours one morning. They were efficient, polite, and tidy.
My daughter and I could not be more pleased with both the processes and the products delivered by SERVPRO of Haverhill, all of its staff, and cooperating entities. The project was a series of jobs each very well done. A hint of the before and after of our experience can be gathered from the attached photos. What had begun as a disaster has ended as a delight. If, God forbid, another disaster strikes our house, I would not hesitate to call SERVPRO of Haverhill again for the services it has provided us. Thank you, genuinely, SERVPRO." 

Beware at-home water damage remediation hacks!

6/8/2023 (Permalink)

Here in New England, we are fortunate to live in an area rich with history. Many historic landmarks are still standing to this day, some people reading this may even live in one of these incredible houses. It is no hidden secret that as buildings get older they require more upkeep and tend to be more susceptible to water damage and mold. These situations are not only devastating but can also be incredibly overwhelming to try and deal with on your own. The internet is full of at-home, do-it-yourself solutions, but there is a high likelihood that the homemade solutions offered up will only be a temporary fix, or may even make the situation worse! We have many trustworthy and factually accurate resources here on our blog, as well as trained professionals on call 24/7 ready to help you make it “Like it never even happened.”

Fire Damage Remediation FAQ's

5/17/2023 (Permalink)

When it comes to fire damage, we get a lot of questions. So, we asked our project managers to answer some of the most commonly asked fire damage remediation queries.

Here is what they said:

Can my clothes/photos/artwork be cleaned after a fire?

Yes. There is a network of different specialty companies that we can coordinate with to quickly remove these items from the source and clean/restore to their original state if no permanent damage has occurred.

Can I use water to clean soot off my walls?

No. A product with degreaser is needed to clean soot, but be warned, there are different types of fire which can require different methods of cleaning. When in doubt, give us a call!

Is it possible to get rid of the odor after a fire?

Yes. Each fire is unique in the scope of work that is required to remove the odor, however. Some are as simple as light cleaning and deodorizing, and others may require demo of heavy areas and encapsulating the framing before new materials to remove the odor.

What should I do after a fire but before SERVPRO comes?

• Take lots of photos from different angles.
• Determine what items you need in case you can't live in the home.
• Order refills of all medications located in a room with visible soot damage. Bottles may not be airtight & it's advised nothing exposed to soot be ingested.
• Call your insurance company.

How does SERVPRO clean fire damage?

We have access to a complete line of SERVPRO cleaning products that are tailored for any situation that we may encounter. The type of fire, material or fabric will determine which product we will need to complete the job.

Still have questions? Need our help getting your home or business back to normal after a fire? Give us a call! We are happy to help!

Press Release - SERVPRO Franchisees Sign Sponsorship Deal with New England Patriots, Gillette Stadium

3/29/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Franchisees Sign Sponsorship Deal with New England Patriots, Gillette Stadium  

SERVPRO also named the “Official Cleanup and Restoration Company” of Patriots, Stadium 

Boston, Massachusetts, March 29, 2023—New England SERVPRO franchisees are proud to announce SERVPRO has partnered with the New England Patriots to be named the “Official Cleanup and Restoration Sponsor of Gillette Stadium.” A total of 40 individually owned and operated SERVPRO franchises in New England joined to participate in this sponsorship.  

SERVPRO branding will be featured on Gillette Stadium’s new digital videoboard, which is being constructed in the north end of the stadium. The video board, scheduled for completion prior to the 2023 NFL regular season, will be the largest outdoor digital video board in the country and will feature the famous SERVPRO orange logo during events held at Gillette Stadium each year. 

SERVPRO will also present two article series on Patriots.com: Offseason PROfiles introducing new Patriots players, and PRO Predictions which will provide expert predictions for each game during the season.  “Much like it is our honor to bring you the restoration industry’s finest and best, we are eager to help keep Patriots fans up-to-date on their favorite team all year long.” said Jesse Mathewson, director of marketing & business development with SERVPRO. 

“As a national brand and forty locally owned franchises, SERVPRO strives to support our communities and neighbors,” Mathewson said. “We can’t think of any better way to show our New England pride than by joining forces with the Patriots and Gillette Stadium. Our SERVPRO teams can’t wait to see the brand’s colors on this ground-breaking videoboard! Go Patriots!” 

About SERVPRO® 

For more than 50 years, SERVPRO has been a trusted leader in fire and water cleanup and restoration services, construction, mold mitigation, biohazard and pathogen remediation. SERVPRO’s professional services network of more than 2,000 individually owned and operated franchises spans the United States and Canada, responding to property damage emergencies large and small – from million-square-foot commercial facilities to individual homes. When disaster strikes, homeowners, business owners and major insurance companies alike rely on SERVPRO to make it “Like it never even happened.”

Teeing Off for the Cause(s)

9/23/2022 (Permalink)

Some of our favorite moments from this year's golf tournaments.

Summer has always been one of our busiest seasons here at SERVPRO. Between the increase of seasonal losses, like fire damage and community events we regularly volunteer with, there is never a dull day!

The most common of these community events are charity golf tournaments. This year alone we have sponsored and/or participated in over six tournaments. The Haverhill Firefighters Relief Association tournament kicked off the season at the Bradford Country Club, followed closely by the YMCA of the North Shore’s tournament at Turner Hill Golf Club in Ipswich.

Next up our Key Account Manager Nury Cardoza hit the green to play in the North Shore Chamber of Commerce’s annual tournament at the Ipswich Country Club. A little rain didn’t stop her and other fellow chamber members from having a great day on the course!

 August brought us back to the Bradford Country Club for the Haverhill Police Relief Association tournament to support our brave men and women in blue. We then found ourselves at the Merrimack Valley Golf Club, where the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center held their first annual tournament to raise funds to assist in their mission to give back and support the Veterans within our community.

Finally, we rounded out the year at the Rowley Country Club for the Ascension Memorial Church’s Remembrance Cup. The tournament also benefitted The Open Door in their mission to help fight food insecurity within our community.

It's always great to give back and support so many local organizations that help make our community a better place. We can’t wait to tee off again next year for more worthy causes!

Earth Day 2022

6/14/2022 (Permalink)

Top: Haverhill, MA Cleanup Volunteers Bottom: Danvers, MA Cleanup Volunteers

When people think of SERVPRO, odds are they think of green. At SERVPRO of Stoneham/Wakefield, we like it that way. But many people don’t know how deep our loyalty to green truly goes. Look beyond our trucks and branding, and you’ll find a series of eco-friendly cleaning products and a deep commitment to the environment. 

With our love of the environment, celebrating Earth Day is a no brainer! That’s why, on Saturday, April 23rd, our two sister franchises, SERVPRO of Haverhill/Newburyport and SERVPRO of Danvers/Ipswich, each held Earth Day cleanups in their service areas. 

Our first cleanup took place at Riverside Park and Athletic Fields in Haverhill. Team Haverhill was made up of SERVPRO Haverhill employees and their families, members of the Haverhill High School Varsity Wrestling team, members of the Consentino Middle School National Junior Honor Society, as well as kind-hearted members of the community.

Meanwhile, our SERVPRO Danvers team was cleaning Tapley Park and Fields. This team consisted of more of our employees and their families and friends, Danvers Little League team members, and some pretty awesome members of the community who heard about the event and wanted to take part as well.

Overall, Earth Day 2022 was a massive success, and we cannot wait to do it all again next year! A big thank you once again to all of our amazing volunteers. If you missed it, make sure you like and follow us on Facebook! We post about any upcoming events we’re going to be a part of, and expert tips on what to do if you ever experience a loss, like water damage.

Can Your Business Trust the Farmer’s Almanac?

4/29/2022 (Permalink)

As a business owner, you know the importance of trust and authority when it comes to connecting with your customers and nurturing meaningful professional relationships. 

So, with regards to timeless publications, like the Farmers’ Almanac or Old Farmer’s Almanac, should you pay any attention to either relative to decisions about your commercial property?

The short answer is yes, especially when it comes to sound seasonal advice and weather predictions. 

But first, what’s the difference between the two? 

Published in 1792, the Old Farmer’s Almanac is published out of Lewiston, Maine, while the Farmers’ Almanac began in 1818 in Dublin, NH, with a reported shared accuracy rating between 80-85 percent.  

While our SERVPRO team appreciates timeless New England traditions like either version of these almanacs, we also are committed to providing our customers with the cutting-edge tools they need to stay ahead of storm events. 

That’s why we’re so pleased to present our Emergency Readiness Profile, which is a free resource that allows access in a single space to all of your commercial property’s critical contact information and shut off locations.

By all means, keep a copy of the Farmers’ Almanac or Old Farmer’s Almanac handy, but supplement your version with SERVPRO’s solution in order to stay ahead of storm damage and avoid the need for storm remediation. 

Contact us to learn more about how to put the Emergency Readiness Profile to work for your commercial property!

Pop Quiz: How Often Should You Replace Your Home’s Fire Extinguisher?

4/29/2022 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO we spend a lot of time teaching our customers about the importance of fire safety. Not only do we want you and your family to stay safe and steer clear of fire hazards, we also know you want to avoid the expense associated with professional fire restoration. 

In addition to knowing your escape route in the event of a fire, and being able to identify and minimize the fire hazards on your property, can you answer basic but important questions like how often you should replace your fire extinguisher? 

It’s not a trick question, though the answer might surprise you. Most household fire extinguishers should be replaced every 12 years, regardless of their condition; rechargeable varieties should be recharged in half that time, so every six years. 

Can’t remember when you first purchased your fire extinguisher? No worries! 

Simply check the expiration date on the body of the cylinder; sometimes it’s stamped closer to the extinguisher’s neck. If, for whatever reason, you cannot locate the date, it might be best to play it safe and purchase a new one that does have the date listed on it. 

In the event that your fire extinguisher failed to put out a fire and you find yourself in need of professional fire restoration service, contact your team at SERVPRO of Stoneham / Wakefield.