Learning Property Preservation and Home Repair in the Last Great Recession
During the Great Recession in Houston when foreclosure rates were very high — from 2009 through 2011 – we became a subcontractor for a major Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae Field Services Contractor and ended up completing initial cleans on some 2,000 properties throughout Houston. During this time, we began complementing our cleaning services with a full range of residential repair and installation services including carpet, other flooring, painting, drywall repairs, cabinet repairs and replacement, plumbing, HVAC, and more. We worked with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae brokers and independent real estate agents throughout Houston to complete repairs and help get foreclosed properties back on the market as soon as possible.
It was during this time that we perfected our approach toward performing small repairs and large whole-house rehabs and renovations. We now provide all manner of construction services for a variety of remodeling purposes.
Building Expertise During the iBuying Trend
Freedom Maids’ owner, Maury Hammond, has completed well over 400 renovation projects for iBuyers Redfin and Opendoor in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio since 2020. These iBuyers are large, national real estate companies that employ technology in an attempt at making the home purchasing process easier, more efficient, and less costly for residential buyers and sellers. While their success has been mixed — Redfin, along with Zillow, exited the iBuying business some time ago due to their inability to thrive in down markets — Opendoor still classifies as an iBuyer, though the company has reduced its staff 40% since November 2022, basically in parallel with the overall downturn of the real estate market in the past 12-18 months.
Experts in Repairing All Manners of Hoarding-Related Interior and Exterior Damage
During its development into a highly-rated hoarding solutions provider, Freedom Maids has further refined its expertise in repairs and renovations, and specifically water damage repairs and mold remediation, due to the complex nature of how long-term hoarding can adversely affect all the systems and surfaces in a typical home.
Water Damage
In many long-term hoarding situations, typical leak problems develop as they can in any home, but due to lots of complicating factors may not be addressed in as timely a manner as they should. This can lead to damage to lower cabinet bases under a kitchen sink, for example, or drywall and tile damage due to leaking water valves behind the wall in a shower or bath.
Repairing water damage takes time, patience, and expertise.The damage material must be removed, the area dried out completely with fans and dehumidifiers employed to reduce the water level, and then the source of the problem fixed. Only then can the area be built back in a safe and professional manner.
Electrical Problems
As hoarding situations persist, more and more belongings, trash, and other materials build up in each room of the home. This progression naturally leads to those living in the home having less access to all the electrical outlets, gradually forcing them to use fewer and fewer available outlets. As a certain outlet becomes used more and more to power lamps, cell charging units, and other appliances it can get overloaded and sometimes damage can occur to an individual outlet or on one or many actual electrical outlets. In extreme cases, circuit breakers can trigger multiple times leading to them permanently failing and causing greater and greater damage. These situations can lead to unsafe and hazardous conditions.
As part of our Hoarding Solutions standard service, once belongings an clutter have been removed and reorganized, we have our licensed electricians perform an overall safety check of the entire electrical system and provide a list of repairs to restore basic functionality to the whole electrical system in the home.
Mold Remediation
Mold remediation is the process of removing mold from a building or home. Mold can grow in damp and humid environments, and can pose health risks to homeowners if left unchecked. Here are the steps we take to remediate mold:
- Identify the problem: The first step in mold remediation is to identify the source of the mold growth. This can often be done by visually inspecting the affected area and looking for signs of water damage or moisture.
- Contain the mold: Once the source of the mold growth has been identified, it’s important to contain the mold to prevent it from spreading to other areas of the home. This can be done by using plastic sheeting to seal off the affected area.
- Remove the mold: The next step is to physically remove the mold. This can be done using a variety of methods, such as scrubbing with a solution of bleach and water or using a commercial mold remover. It’s important to wear protective clothing and a respirator during this process to avoid exposure to mold spores.
- Dry the area: After the mold has been removed, it’s important to dry the area thoroughly to prevent further mold growth. This can be done using fans or dehumidifiers.
- Repair any damage: If mold growth was caused by water damage, it’s important to repair any leaks or water damage to prevent future mold growth.
- Prevent future mold growth: Finally, it’s important to take steps to prevent future mold growth. This can be done by controlling humidity levels in the home, repairing leaks promptly, and ensuring proper ventilation in areas such as bathrooms and kitchens.
It’s important to note that mold remediation can be a complex and potentially hazardous process. Homeowners who are unsure of how to safely and effectively remove mold should consider hiring a professional mold remediation company.
Whole Home Renovations
We have worked with a whole host of stakeholders from real estate professionals, investors, commercial property managers, individual homeowners and more to properly renovate properties for maximum value. Reach out today for more information!
