The restoration process after damage from a storm takes time and patience. It also takes a good amount of room. Workers need clear spaces that allow them to reach all corners where damage may have occurred. In order to get that space, they need to move as much out of the way as possible, preferably somewhere away from the building. This process is called a contents pack-out. It means the restoration company has packed up the contents of the home and moved them out temporarily.
A contents pack-out is a necessary part of storm cleanup for several reasons. Chief among these is the fact that clearing out the space makes all of the flooring and walls accessible for restoration. But it’s also critical to prevent more damage to your belongings. Any time you undertake restoration after flood damage or a storm in South Louisiana, you want a contents pack-out done quickly and professionally to help with the salvaging and restoration of your personal items and home.
Why Remove Belongings During Restoration?
Moving everything out of a damaged home gives the restoration company more room to work. That’s the most critical reason to do a contents pack-out. If you leave all your belongings in the home while the company is drying out carpets and searching for mold, you’ll only make the job more difficult and risk further damage.
However, there are additional reasons to do a contents pack-out. Moving damaged items out gives the company more room to work on restoring those, too. There’s no reason to keep a flood-damaged table in a flood-damaged room. Move the table to a more open location that allows for a thorough restoration.
You also have to consider belongings that appear to have no damage. Those need to go into storage to ensure that they remain in good shape. Take a house with storm damage. A table that wasn’t crushed or exposed to flood waters can still develop damage and mold if left in a soggy, flood-damaged home. If the table turns out to be unaffected, move it away to ensure it stays unaffected.
Is Content Manipulation the Same Thing?
Sometimes, a restoration company will do content manipulation instead of contents pack-out. These are not the same. Manipulation is the process of moving the belongings around so that they’re not in the way. The restoration company doesn’t move them out at all (except to other, undamaged spaces). Manipulation is appropriate if the damage to the home is limited, and there’s no risk to the contents if they stay in the home. However, you need to be sure you work with a company that makes this choice for the right reasons, not just for their own convenience or to make the process faster and cheaper for them.
Where Are the Items Stored?
The restoration company may move the contents to a secure facility. Or, the workers will use a storage pod placed on the property in a spot away from the home. This is something you can discuss with the company as its employees inspect the damage. It also depends on the number of items that the company needs to move and the availability of storage after a disaster.
Can You Request That Everything Stay in the Home Instead?
It’s always possible to request content manipulation instead of contents pack-out. However, you’re better off going with what the restoration company recommends, assuming you work with a reputable provider. Our technicians know how much room they need and what the best process is for a full restoration. They can also see how much potential there is for additional damage if contents stay in the home.
How Do Restoration Services Prepare for Contents Pack-Out?
The first stage is an inspection. The company needs to know what it’s dealing with in terms of damage and the amount of contents. The workers will then take inventory, which can include pictures. The workers have to log each item so that they have a record of what they’re moving. This inventory will also help them determine how much storage space they’ll need.
After that, it’s a matter of packing everything securely and moving it out of the house. If the contents are going to an off-site storage facility, the company should let you know the address.
How Long Before the “Packback” Phase?
Packback is the stage in which everything goes back into your restored home. This phase occurs only after the work is done. That means that there’s no standard length of time after which the company brings everything back. Your best course of action is to work with a team that gives frequent updates on how the restoration work is going.
Why Can’t You Just Move Everything Into a Storage Unit Yourself?
Do not attempt contents pack-out yourself for several reasons. One is that you might move everything out only to find that you didn’t need to do all that work. Second, a professional restoration company will be able to move items in a way that prevents further damage, ensuring that as many of your possessions as possible can be restored. Lastly, you might accidentally move a damaged item into a storage unit with undamaged items. That means you may not realize that the item has damage. If you let that item sit for weeks without restoration, the damage could become permanent.
Worse yet, if you move something with hidden moisture damage into a storage unit, the item could develop mold, along with other items stored in the same place. Remember that those spores can spread easily.Â
If you let the restoration company do the pack-out, that crew can spot damage right away. That gives the item a better chance of full restoration.
A Contents Pack-Out Leads to Better Restoration
Paul Davis Baton Rouge knows how to restore homes and protect contents after a South Louisiana flood or storm. If you’re faced with a damaged home, call us and let us evaluate what needs to be done. We can separate damaged and undamaged contents, clean and restore each item that is salvageable, and bring your home back to its pre-disaster condition.
We’re open 24/7 and can have someone at your home within just a few hours. Contact Paul Davis to work with the top South Louisiana property restoration experts.
