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The Steps of Mold Remediation

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The Steps of Mold Remediation

Prompt mold remediation near Phoenix can spare you and your family a multitude of health hazards as well as consistent discomfort inside your house. Cleaning mold may be a more difficult task than you had imagined, however, so it helps to find a qualified team of professionals to work with. Watch this video for a look at the steps of mold remediation.

If you suspect that you have mold growing in your home, call a professional and have it removed as soon as possible in order to avoid aggravating respiratory conditions like allergies and asthma. Since a mold problem typically indicates the presence of moisture, first find out where the moisture is coming from. Fix any leaks you come across before having the mold removed so that it does not return. Be sure to work with a professional mold remediation service, and get your estimates in writing before they begin the procedure.

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Desde la Perspectiva de la Restauracion

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Desde la Perspectiva de la Restauracion

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News You Can Use – Tax season: The most wonderful time of the year (for hackers!)

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News You Can Use – Tax season: The most wonderful time of the year (for hackers!)

Keep your tax refund out of the hands of fraudsters

MAR 07, 2017 |BY PATRICIA L. HARMAN, PROPERTYCASUALTY360.COM

It’s tax time, and for hackers, it’s their favorite time of the year.

With the amount of personal and financial information traveling through cyberspace, there are plenty of opportunities for them to steal personally identifiable information (PII), tax refunds and other personal details about taxpayers.

Poor safety practices

According to CyberScout, a data security and identity theft protection firm, most tax payers still aren’t worried about tax fraud, despite warnings from the government and other entities. In its second annual Tax Season Risk Report, poor safety practices and a lack of concern for their data security are leaving consumers extremely vulnerable to hackers.

In 2015, over 700,000 taxpayer accounts were compromised, and since then the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has implemented a number of changes to mitigate tax fraud and identity theft for taxpayers. The efforts seem to be paying off, as the number of identity theft affidavits filed with the IRS dropped 50 percent in the first nine months of 2016.

Catching fraudulent returns

In addition, the number of fraudulent returns identified before they were processed also confirms the new efforts are working, as 50 percent fewer fraudulent returns made it through the IRS tax processing system. By September 2016, 787,000 fraudulent returns totaling more than $4 billion had been caught by the process. Catching these fraudulent returns also means fewer fraudulent refunds paid by financial institutions. In 2015, banks paid $829 million in fraudulent refunds, but that number dropped to $239 in 2016.

“We’ve reached an extreme level of cyber crime where identity theft has become the third certainty in life. In tax season it is crucial that everyone remain vigilant and on high alert to avoid tax-related identity theft or phishing schemes,” said Adam Levin, founder and chairman of CyberScout.

Keep company info safe

According to Beazley, which provides data breach response insurance, hackers are using a variety of methods to impersonate executives and gain access to companies’ W-2 tax information, and the attacks are expected to increase throughout tax season.

Here are several ways to keep company information safe and suggestions to keep your tax refund out of the hands of fraudsters.

1. Trust, but verify

Just like other types of CEO fraud that spoof an executive’s email address and even his or her writing style, fraudsters can employ these same strategies to access employee information or even request a funds transfer according to Beazley. Anyone who receives such a request from an executive, vendor, bank or other institution should verify the request by phone or some other means besides email.

2. What’s on the web?

A company’s website can provide a fair amount of information about executives, including email addresses and other critical details. It’s wise to keep contact information for employees in the finance department off of the website, particularly lower level employees or those responsible for wire transfers, since it makes it harder for thieves to target them for fraudulent schemes.

3. Monitor W-2 requests

Sadly, hackers are making more requests for employee tax information, so beware of any unusual or what Beazley terms “out of band” requests for W-2s. Rarely do CEOs, CFOs or other executives request this type of information from a junior employee.

“Hackers are on the grab right now for W-2s, social security numbers and other personal information in order to perpetrate tax fraud,” said Katherine Keefe, global head of BBR Services in a press release.

4. I need this immediately!

It’s not unusual for a scammer to request that information be sent as quickly as possible. By making the request seem urgent, the fraudster hopes that an employee will respond without considering whether or not the request is genuine because of the threat of a reprimand or some other consequence if the response is delayed in any way.

Companies should have a proper protocol for such requests to protect employees, the information and the company itself from these types of scams.

5. Beware of social media posts

Most people know not to post their travel plans or vacations on social media, but the risks can spill over into the corporate setting. Executives who post their plans can make it easier for scammers to reach out and request employee information or wire transfers while the executive is unavailable to confirm the request.

“These prevention steps are not difficult to implement, but they do require awareness and vigilance at all levels of an organization,” added Keefe.

6. Passwords matter

Tax payers also need to take some specific steps to protect their information. Using strong passwords for your wireless network, computer and various logins will go a long way to make it harder for hackers to access your information.

Security experts have a number of recommendations to keep in mind when selecting passwords:

  • Avoid words that are easy to guess — e.g., “password,” birthdate, social security number, or nonsense words that use adjacent letters on your keyboard.
  • Don’t use the same password for multiple websites.
  • Use a combination of letters and special characters.
  • Longer passwords (12-15 characters) provide more security.
  • Don’t leave passwords out in plain sight on your computer for easy access.
7. Guard your information

Don’t validate your information for anyone who contacts you by email or on the telephone. The IRS still contacts tax payers by snail mail. If someone you don’t know calls or emails you for tax information, be very wary and don’t provide any information.

8. Use direct deposit

Having your tax refund deposited directly into your bank account or sent to a mailbox that locks will prevent thieves from stealing your refund checks. The IRS says more than 70 million tax payers will receive a refund this year, but only a third of those recipients have a locked mailbox.

9. File early

Filing taxes earlier in the tax season makes it harder for fraudsters to file on your behalf and access your tax refund. CyberScout says that nearly 43 percent had filed by February, but 57 percent of us were still procrastinating.

10. If you’re a victim…

Tax payers who suspect that someone has stolen their identity for employment purposes or to file a fraudulent tax return should complete form 14039 and mail or fax it to the appropriate IRS office with the requested forms of identification.

The IRS has also launched the “Taxes.Security.Together” campaign to educate businesses and tax payers on how to keep their information safe during the 2017 tax season.

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What Is Mold

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What Is Mold

Black mold is distinct from other molds because it tends to be dark black. Black mold, is also known as Stachybotrys chartarum or Stachybotrys atra, and can be found indoors growing on a variety of surfaces, especially things with a high cellulose content like wood, fiberboard, paper, lint and dust. Black mold can also be a greenish or grayish black. It has a distinctive odor that’s musty and mildew-like.

Mold is a type of fungus that grows in filaments and reproduces by forming mold spores that can’t be seen by the eye. Mold can grow and thrive in any season, indoors or outdoors, in damp, warm and humid environments, and it spreads like fire. Mold itself flourishes in warm, moist environments, but mold spores can actually survive in harsh, dry environments. The spores float around in indoor and outdoor air. When the spores land on a moist surface, the mold can then start to grow.

Black mold is most likely to appear in areas of the home that are warm, humid and damp. In addition to showers, basements and crawlspaces that may have leaks, or some other sources of moisture, are commonly susceptible to the growth of toxic black mold.

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The Clean Up Process

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The Clean Up Process

Restoration Process

The water restoration process is an important one. Using the right procedures and materials can help people save belongings and even prevent their homes from being condemned. Water restoration companies specialize in modifying the effects of water, but the success for water damage restoration depends on the severity of the damage and the amount of water that caused the damage. Water restoration companies may hire outside experts to assess a property and determine a water restoration and water removal plan. These companies typically use high-tech equipment and well-documented procedures to control water damage. Water in basement areas may only require a short cleanup process, but water in other areas of a property will require extensive measures.

Health Hazards

It is important to get a water damage restoration companies as soon as possible after water damage happens. Moisture promotes the growth of mold and other organisms, increasing the risk for serious health problems. Mold exposure may aggravate allergy and asthma symptoms, especially in children and people with compromised immune systems. Exposure may also increase the risk for respiratory diseases and other medical problems. Cleaning up instantly can help alleviate the health effects of water damage on everyone in a home or commercial space.

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Mold Remediation And What To Do

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Mold Remediation And What To Do

Prompt mold remediation can spare you and your family a multitude of health hazards as well as consistent discomfort inside your house. Cleaning mold may be a more difficult task than you had imagined, however, so it helps to find a qualified team of professionals to work with. Watch this video for a look at the steps of mold remediation.

If you suspect that you have mold growing in your home, call a professional and have it removed as soon as possible in order to avoid aggravating respiratory conditions like allergies and asthma. Since a mold problem typically indicates the presence of moisture, first find out where the moisture is coming from. Fix any leaks you come across before having the mold removed so that it does not return. Be sure to work with a professional mold remediation service, and get your estimates in writing before they begin the procedure.

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I’ve had a fire. What do I do now?

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I’ve had a fire. What do I do now?

Call your insurance agent right away. If you cannot reach your agent, most insurance companies have a toll-free number that can be called 24 hours a day. If you get a recording, make a note of the day and time that you left a message. When you speak to an agent, write down the claim number and the name of the adjuster given to your claim. Ask for a copy of your insurance policy, even if you think you have one, because policies change from year-to- year.

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Tips For Filing A Claim

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Tips For Filing A Claim

The growing threat of fires makes familiarizing yourself with how to file fire insurance claims more important than ever. Losing your home and personal belongings to a fire is already a devastating experience. The last thing you want is your homeowners’ insurance company giving you a hard time regarding your claim. Here are some tips to follow when dealing with your homeowners’ insurance company regarding fire insurance claims.

Ask for an advance against your ultimate fire insurance claim.

If you were forced to vacate due to the dangerous conditions, you may not have grabbed essentials like toiletries or clothes. Some of these things may have even been completely lost in the fire. Don’t panic. Call your insurance company and ask that someone bring a check to wherever you’re staying. That way you can purchase necessities without having to wait for your ultimate insurance coverage.

Take care of your needs, but don’t go overboard. Be practical with what you buy because the insurance company will reject to reimburse you for frivolous things. Remember, this advance will be deducted from the total amount you receive from the insurance company, so don’t hurt yourself by going overboard.

Make a list of everything you’ve lost and don’t throw anything away.

You’ll want to make a list of everything you lost in the fire, which can take some time and thinking from everyone in your household. You want to be sure to start making this list as soon as possible so that you’re able to remember to include everything lost by the time you file your fire insurance claim. Be sure not to throw anything away. It’ll be easier to prove that you really lost the items on your list if you hold on to them for the insurance adjuster to see the damage.

File your claim right away and press the insurance company to act.

Insurance policies require policyholders to file their fire insurance claims as soon as possible, so call your homeowners’ insurance agent immediately to get the process started. The insurance company will require you to submit a “proof of loss claim,” which is where you list all of the items you lost, including their value. The following is a list of information to include in your claim:

  • Date of loss
  • Type of loss/damage
  • Location of damage
  • Any related injuries
  • Others involved
  • Condition of the home
  • Description of damaged contents
  • Any necessary temporary repairs
  • A police report

Dealing with the insurance company is a very convoluted process involving countless calls, emails, letters, and documents. Be sure to keep track of all of the documents and communication, including post office receipts of mailing. Take notes, including the date and time, of every phone conversation and face to face meeting. Putting everything in a binder or file organizer will allow you to organize the different types of correspondence, invoices, bills, permits, contracts for repairs, and insurance forms into their own separate section. Remember to always keep original documents of everything. If your insurance company wants proof of a document, make them a copy but keep the original. The more organized you are, the better prepared you’ll be should your insurance company start playing the “he said, she said” game with you.

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Can We Stay In Our Home During Fire Restoration?

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Can We Stay In Our Home During Fire Restoration?

It’s heartbreaking to see our home being gutted by a fire. It’s a traumatic experience that we wouldn’t wish on anyone, especially if the whole thing burns down and nothing is left of it.

Some homeowners, however, are fortunate enough to end up with a home that is only partially razed. That means they have the opportunity to restore their homes to the way they were before the fire. All they have to do is call a reputable fire damage restoration company, and it will just be a matter of time before their homes are back to their former glory.

The question, however, is if they can stay or live there during the entire fire restoration process.

Whether you can stay in your home during fire restoration depends heavily on the extent of the fire damage. If the fire only damaged, say, the kitchen, then maybe you can stay there while restoration work is going on. However, if the damage is extensive and affects many areas of your home, it would be best not to get in the way of the fire restoration technicians doing their job.

Then again, we must keep in mind that a house fire does more than burn things down. Long after the flames have been put out, your partially burned home will still have sustained smoke damage, which makes your house unsafe.

Even when the fire-damaged only one room in your home, the smoke damage will still affect the entire house. Soot and that burnt smell will still be all over the place, and breathing it for hours on end can cause several health problems.

The respiratory issues alone should make you think twice about staying in a house with smoke damage. Just shortly after breathing in soot, you are likely to experience sinus and breathing problems. Headaches are also a common consequence of constantly inhaling that smoky smell. Your skin and eyes may also become irritated by prolonged exposure to smoke damage.

Worst of all, there’s the very real danger of asbestos exposure. For all you know, your home is contaminated with the mineral, especially when it’s a little on the older side. Without a doubt, the fire would have dispersed the very fine asbestos fibers all over your home. If they get into your lungs, you will become at risk for mesothelioma, which is a type of cancer that has no cure.

Being attached to your home and staying there while it’s still being restored after a fire is understandable. You might also be averse to spending money on temporary living quarters for your family like a hotel room or an apartment, and that’s fine. The risks of staying in a house with smoke damage, however, far outweigh the benefits. So just have a little more patience and let the fire restoration technicians do their job. You can rest assured that by the time they’re done, you’ll be staying in a home that is good as new, and very safe, to boot.

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What type of restoration jobs do you most often complete?

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What type of restoration jobs do you most often complete?

Many contractors will tell you they can do the work to get your home restored from fire or water damage, but some don’t actually have the experience, tools and skills to actually do it. The technology and tools needed are different than those for general construction. You want to hire a AZ Fire Water a business who specializes in this type of work – not someone who only does it once in a while.