Assured PackOut

5/21/2018 (Permalink)

Assured PackOut Express is an easy-to-use iPad app that makes listing contents not only fast but also accurate. Larger claims can be done just as quickly and efficiently as smaller claims, and contents lists can even be previewed with the client onsite using the app.  

The Assured PackOut Express iPad app also includes a fast, but very thorough, photo management system. While taking photos with an iPad's built in camera, photos are automatically saved with the item description, notes, barcode, room location and packout technician. Photos can easily be retrieved to verify item condition and reduce replacement fraud. 

Because iPads are used to list, reports can be ready much faster than using pen and paper. A Total Loss Report can be provided in Excel format, including information such as make, model and year, to better help calculate settlements. A Presentation Report can also be provided that shows a clients items are property recorded and looked after. By using electronic copies of these reports, both time and paper are saved. 

This professional approach gives clients confidence in their claim being settled. With this straightforward inventory management, we can locate and retrieve items for clients fast, and give updates on the cleaning status, which can be a relief at a time of great stress and worry. SERVPRO of Virginia Beach knows this service will help keep clients satisfied. 

For more information on this state of the art contents management program, contact SERVPRO of Virginia Beach, 757-716-8785

What's New at SERVPRO of Virginia Beach ?

10/26/2017 (Permalink)

Roto Brush

Clean air ducts are the foundation for good indoor air quality. As homeowners and business owners, you want to be able to breathe clean indoor air for your families, your guests, employees and customers. Over several years, air ducts can become contaminated with mold, fungi and bacteria, as well as dust. Running your HVAC system is only filtering whatever is in your dirty ducts throughout your home or facility. Proper cleaning with professional air duct cleaning machines and systems is the BEST way to improve indoor air quality.

At SERVPRO of Virginia Beach, our mission is to be the premier property damage restoration contractor in Hampton Roads. To do so, we are continuously training our staff and updating our procedures to stay current (and the BEST!) within our industry. 

We are VERY excited to introduce this new air duct cleaning technology to our inventory;

The Brushbeast by Rotobrush. 

It's four powerful vacuum motors, paired with it's 450 RPM 120/220V brush motor, will make short work of even the most difficult air duct cleaning job, while still remaining safe to use with any type of air duct system, including flex ducts.

This new equipment will help make our duct cleaning procedures more fast and efficient.. And your dirty ducts, Like they never even happened. 

Contact our office 757-431-1400 for Residential and Commercial Duct Cleaning Prices AND Specials! 

Getting Ready for the Upcoming Heat

5/24/2017 (Permalink)

    As summer approaches, it is time to consider safety precautions for extreme heat in the coming months. Heat affects all people, but especially the young, elderly, sick, and overweight. Urban area residents also have a greater chance of being affected than those who live in rural areas due to the heat island effect.

   According to the EPA, "the can can heat dry, exposed urban surfaces, such as roofs and pavement, to temperatures 50-90°F hotter than the air, while shaded or moist surfaces -- often in more rural surroundings -- remain close to air temperatures." These surface island heat islands are more likely after sunset "due to the slow release of heat from urban infrastructure."

  Whether you are in an urban or rural area, there are several things you can do to prepare for and prevent extreme heat from affecting you. If possible, stay indoors in air conditioning. Be sure to check on your pets who may be outdoors or bring them inside. Stay hydrated and limit alcohol and caffeine intake.

  If you must go outside, wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing, and be sure to apply sunscreen often. Pay attention to signs of heat exhaustion, which are heavy sweating; weakness; cold, pale, and clammy skin; nausea or vomiting; and fainting, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, which is life-threating. Signs of heat stroke are a high body temperature (103°+), rapid and strong pulse, and possible unconsciousness. If you think someone has heat stroke, call 911 immediately and move the person somewhere cool. Reduce body temperature with cool, wet cloths or a bath. Do not give a person with heat stroke fluids, and treat the situation as s serious medical emergency (CDC).

   If you live in a humid climate, be aware of the heat index. The heat index factors in the humidity, which can make the temperature feel 15° hotter.

  Extreme heat is a serious danger. For more information on preparation and prevention, visit ready.gov or cdc.gov.

Extreme Heat Safety Tips to Prepare You Home

• Install window air conditioners snugly; insulate if necessary.
• Check air-conditioning ducts for proper insulation
• Install temporary window reflectors (for use between windows and drapes), such as aluminum foil-covered cardboard, to reflect heat back outside.
• Weather-strip doors and sills to keep cool air in.
• Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings, or louvers. (Outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the heat that enters a home by up to 80%).
• Keep storm windows up all year.

                               Source: ready.gov

Training, Training, and more Training!

5/26/2016 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Virginia Beach has been busy this spring increasing our skills and knowledge. We have had more employees take additional IICRC certification classes in Fire & Smoke Restoration Technician (FSRT), Commercial Drying Specialist (CDS), and Applied Structural Drying (ASD). Some have also been certified in HIPAA, Hazwoper, Subrogation and Forklift/AWP training.  We are excited to put this knowledge to use and make your damage "Like it never even happened."

3 Ethics Classes were a SUCCESS!

5/26/2016 (Permalink)

Thank you to all the agents that came to one of our 3 FREE classes offered in April 2016!

We love seeing you all and are glad that we can provide classes that help you meet your Virginia Insurance Education requirements.

We are planning more classes later this year, and look forward to seeing you again.

2016 Hurricane Season to be Most Active since 2012

5/23/2016 (Permalink)

2016 Hurricane Forecast

2016 Hurricane Season to be Most Active Since 2012  

The 2016 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be the most active since 2012, according to a forecast released Friday by The Weather Company, an IBM Business.

A total of 14 named storms, eight hurricanes and three major hurricanes are forecast during the coming season.

This is greater than the 30-year historical average of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes for the Atlantic basin. A major hurricane is one that is Category 3 or stronger on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

The Weather Company's forecast also calls for a slightly higher number of named storms and hurricanes than an outlook issued earlier in April by Colorado State University (CSU) that is headed by Dr. Phil Klotzbach. That forecast said the Atlantic was expected to see 13 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.

 An important note about both outlooks is that the seasonal forecast numbers do include Hurricane Alex, a rare January hurricane that struck the Azores a few months back. Though the official hurricane season spans the months from June through November, occasionally we can see storms form outside those months. 

  Goodbye El Nino.. Hello La Nina 

 The strong El Niño we saw this winter continues to fade away and may transition to its counterpart La Niña by this fall. Of course, if this handoff from El Niño to La Niña conditions occurs, it could happen during the middle of the 2016 hurricane season.

Klotzbach said that the transition from El Niño to neutral or La Niña conditions during the 2016 hurricane season makes this particular hurricane outlook very uncertain.

 The transition could cause the early part of the hurricane season to be less active while the second half of the season may more active, according to The Weather Company's outlook.  

 757-431-1400 | www.SERVPROofvirginiabeach.com

Wireless Emergency Alerts

10/17/2014 (Permalink)

 Wireless Emergency Alerts 

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are emergency messages sent by authorized government-alerting authorities through your mobile carrier. Government partners include local and state public agencies, FEMA, the FCC, the Department of Homeland Security, and the National Weather Service.  

Alerts received at the right time can help keep you safe during an emergency. With WEA, alerts can be sent to your mobile device when you may be in harm's way, without need to download an app or subscribe to a service. WEA may be used to share;  

A WEA will look like a text message, and typically show the type and time of the alert, any action you should take, and the agency issuing the alert. The message will be no more than 90 characters.  

Visit www.ctia.org/wea to learn more about Wireless Emergency Alerts, including how to determine if your mobile device is WEA-capable.  

Assured PackOut

10/17/2014 (Permalink)

 Assured PackOut Express is an easy-to-use iPad app that makes listing contents not only fast but also accurate. Larger claims can be done just as quickly and efficiently as smaller claims, and contents lists can even be previewed with the client onsite using the app.  

The Assured PackOut Express iPad app also includes a fast, but very thorough, photo management system. While taking photos with an iPad's built in camera, photos are automatically saved with the item description, notes, barcode, room location and packout technician. Photos can easily be retrieved to verify item condition and reduce replacement fraud. 

Because iPads are used to list, reports can be ready much faster than using pen and paper. A Total Loss Report can be provided in Excel format, including information such as make, model and year, to better help calculate settlements. A Presentation Report can also be provided that shows a clients items are property recorded and looked after. By using electronic copies of these reports, both time and paper are saved. 

This professional approach gives clients confidence in their claim being settled. With this straightforward inventory management, we can locate and retrieve items for clients fast, and give updates on the cleaning status, which can be a relief at a time of great stress and worry. SERVPRO of Virginia Beach knows this service will help keep clients satisfied. 

For more information on this state of the art contents management program, contact SERVPRO of Virginia Beach, (757) 431-1400. 

How cold is it?

4/29/2013 (Permalink)

It's so cold Eskimos are closing their windows!

It's so cold hitchhikers are holding up pictures of their thumbs!

It's so cold Richard Simmons is wearing pants!

All joking aside, it's cold out there. In fact, it's so cold out there that we here at SERVPRO of Virginia Beach thought the timing was good to remind you about the damage freezing temperatures can cause to your home or business if you aren't prepared.

Tips for Winter Property Safety:

Keep cabinet doors open during consistent cold temperatures. This allows warm air to circulate around pipes.

Keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets, especially if the pipes run through unheated or uninsulated areas of your home or business.

Consider shutting off outdoor faucets. Find the shut-off valve and turn it to "off."

If you do turn off outdoor faucets, be sure to open the faucet to help ensure it drains completely and the inner valve in shut off.

Ensure gutters are clean and secure. Leaves and debris accumulate, causing a damming effect on gutters, which can lead to roof problems and water damage.

Provide the proper maintenance of your furnace, this can reduce the risk of puff backs.

SERVPRO of Virginia Beach
757-431-1400

It's best to call us directly.

Why use SERVPRO of Virginia Beach

4/29/2013 (Permalink)

There is never a good time for storm waters to flood
your property or fire to smoke out your home or business.
Disasters seem to strike at the worst possible moment.

Timely and efficient mitigation is the key to reducing costs and
minimizing business interuption. The sooner restoration and cleanup begins,
the sooner you and your customers can resume your everyday lives.

That is why it is important to choose a team with the capabilities
to help make any size disaster.. Like it never even happened.

The Benefits of Using SERVPRO of Virginia Beach

Class "A" Licensed Contractor

24 Hour Competitive Bids

Drug Free Workplace with Criminal Background Checks

IICRC Certified Firm & IICRC Certified Team

Onsite Climate Controlled Storage Facilites

Large Loss/Storm Team Member

Free estimates/advice

3 day dry down average

And those are just a few reasons! For more information on our services

and why we are the best cleanup and restoration team in Hampton Roads,

visit our website at www.servproofvirginiabeach.com or call our office

to speak to one of our staff members. We're Ready for Whatever Happens.
SERVPRO is Named No. 1 in Cleanup & Restoration

On Wednesday, February 13th, Marketwire.com annoucned
that the SERVPRO Franchise system earned the No. 1
spot in the cleanup and restoration industry for the
10th consecutive year in Entreprenuer Magazine Franchise 500!

Read the article below!

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/servpror-earns-top-spot-in-industry-category-on-entrepreneur-franchise-500-list-1756617.htm

Remember, it is always best to call our office directly!
757-431-1400

Your smart phone may be smarter than you think

4/29/2013 (Permalink)

*A beacon in the darkness*
Unless you find yourself starring alongside Vin Diesel as one of a group of marooned space travelers struggling for survival on a sun-scorched world that has become Pitch Black, your wireless device could be the most important tool you have in a disaster -- and not just because of that handy flashlight app you downloaded.

*Seek the sun*
Purchase additional batteries and car-charger adapters for wireless devices; make sure to keep the batteries fully charged. Keep phones, laptops, PDAs, batteries, chargers and other equipment in a dry, accessible location. It is a good idea to keep them in a waterproof bag. Consider purchasing a solar-powered charger.

*Know who to call*
Maintain a list of emergency phone numbers - police, fire and rescue agencies; power companies; insurance providers; family, friends and co-workers. Distribute wireless phone numbers to family members and friends and forward your home phone to your wireless number if you will be away from your home or have to evacuate.

*Try texting*
Send brief text messages rather than voice calls - often text messages get through when wireless networks are overwhelmed during a crisis. Finally, limit non-emergency calls to conserve battery power and free-up wireless networks for vital communications.

Identify a contact who lives out-of-state to notify that you are safe. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members. Be sure every member of your family knows vital land-line phone numbers as well as cell lines.

Consider adding coins or a prepaid phone card to your emergency kit. If your cell phone has an
"ICE" (In Case of Emergency) contact function, program your contact today. If you are in an
accident, emergency personnel will often check your ICE listings in order to get a hold of
someone you know. Make sure to inform your ICE contact that you have selected
them as an emergency contact.

During a crisis or emergency, timely information is needed in order to make smart decisions.
Be Informed ( http://www.ready.gov/be-informed ) about many types of emergencies and
disasters that may occur.

And should you find yourself facing a disaster such as a water damage or fire, SERVPRO of Virginia Beach is here and ready to help make it Like it Never Even Happened. Just call us directly at 757-431-1400 - you may even want to program it into your smart phone!

757-431-1400
It's always best to call us directly