With Christmas and New Year's Eve approaching, most people in South Arkansas expect a festive gathering with great food and company. But with it may also come a little bit of anxiety. And with good reason.
Statistically speaking, the holiday season is one of the most accident-prone periods of the year in the United States. And knowing this, many questions arise: "If there is an issue in my home, would they charge me more?" "If so, would the insurance company acknowledge this cost?", "Should I call a restoration company or wait?", and more.
Restore-It is a restoration company with over a decade of experience helping neighbors in South Arkansas. We have heard these fears before. Many homeowners even hesitate to call for professional help on holidays or weekends. As true believers in radical transparency, we are here to talk about it candidly.
In this article, you will find out how billing works in our industry during these special occasions so you can make an informed decision. Before we get into the meat and potatoes of the issue, yes, we charge an extra fee for emergency service on holidays (just like most businesses that operate on holidays). But waiting to prevent that fee will almost always cost you thousands of dollars more in the long run. Let's explore together how emergency pricing works and why the "wait and see" approach is the most expensive choice you can make.
The Truth About Holiday Billing
Let's address the elephant in the room. Do restoration companies charge more for service on Christmas, Thanksgiving, or New Year's? The answer is a clear yes, we do.
As we have mentioned before in other articles, our estimates are largely made with the help of a tool called Xactimate. This software (which is the industry standard) sets pricing guidelines used by pretty much all insurance companies. Said guidelines acknowledge higher labor costs for holidays. Here is how it adds it up to your estimate:
- Overtime Rates: Most companies pay their technicians 1.5 times or even 2 times their regular hourly rate to leave their families on a holiday and come to your home.
- Emergency Service Fees: Some companies may apply a one-time "after-hours" or "emergency response" fee to cover the logistics of mobilizing a crew when the office is closed (after working hours).
We are not hiding this. It costs more to operate on December 25th than it does on December 26th. However, it is important to note that these surcharges apply only to the labor hours worked on the holiday itself, not the equipment or materials used.
Why You Shouldn’t "Wait and See" During an Emergency
So, if the restoration company is going to charge you more on holidays, then it's best to wait a little bit to avoid that extra fee, right? Wrong! When a water incident occurs, the longer you wait, the greater the damage becomes. Rotten material, mold, weakened structures, and the list goes on. And this doesn't count how the insurance company is gonna react when they find out you didn't take immediate action. Depending on your case, they may even declare your insurance claim void, leaving you to foot the entire bill!
1. Water Absorption of Your Building Materials
Water seeks the path of least resistance. If you wait 24 hours, that water isn't just going to sit on top of your floor. It will wick up into your drywall, soak into your subfloor, and saturate your insulation.
- Immediate Response: We might be able to dry the carpet fast, saving the carpet pad and more of the building materials with specialized heaters and fans.
- Delayed Response: More of the drywall will become too saturated and will have to cutted out and replaced. The same happens to the insulation behind it. Water damage can also make the subfloor swell and buckle.
By waiting one day to save a few hundred dollars in holiday labor rates, you may double or triple the scope of the repair work required.
2. The Risk of Mold Growth
Usually, when dealing with water damage, the risk of a mold infestation is a major concern. We say “usually” because during the winter season, low temperatures prevent mold from taking hold indoors. Having said that, under the right conditions (such as when the humid spot is also close to a heat source), mold can thrive. It will feed on your building materials (like wood and drywall) and grow in as little as 24 to 48 hours.
- Immediate Response: If you call us immediately, we can extract the water and start the drying process ASAP, preventing mold growth.
- Delayed Response: The longer you wait, the greater the risk of mold indoors. The December and early January season is not particularly hot enough for mold here in Arkansas, but you can never be too cautious. If your home has a musty smell, it may be time to call for professional mold remediation.
Water damage is one thing, while mold remediation is another one. This process can greatly add to the costs of your restoration project. It involves containment, negative air pressure, and specialized cleaning. A water cleanup job can easily turn into an expensive and complex mold remediation project if you wait for too long.
3. Getting Your Insurance Claim Denied
Your insurance company works under the assumption that, as a homeowner, you take active steps to protect your home. As we mentioned before, the longer you wait, the higher the chance of your property getting more and more damaged. And the higher the costs of the repairs as well. However, depending on how long you have waited, your insurer may even deny your claim, leaving you to foot the bill in its entirety.
There are some exceptions to the case, of course; however, as a general rule, we strongly suggest that you report any incident to your insurer as soon as it happens. Even if the mitigation cannot happen immediately (for example, after a fire), at least there would be a record that you are a responsible homeowner.
Will Insurance Pay for the "Holiday Surcharge"?
So here is the question you have been wondering since the start of this article. If you call us on Christmas Day or on New Year's Eve, will your insurer deny the extra costs?
In our experience, working with insurance companies in South Arkansas over the years, the answer is yes: they will pay. The reason is that insurance policies are designed to cover "reasonable and necessary" costs to protect the property from further damage.
All insurance adjusters know the importance of dealing quickly with water damage. As such, insurance companies know that paying a slightly higher labor rate on a holiday is a smarter financial move than paying for expensive mold remediation.
Finally, if you take a look at your insurance policy (which we always recommend), you will most likely find a clause requiring you to take immediate steps to mitigate damage to your property. And reporting an incident, even during holidays, is a perfect example of good compliance.
How to Make the Decision
If you find yourself in a crisis this holiday season, ask yourself these questions:
- Is the source of the water stopped? If you can't stop the water (like a burst pipe you can't turn off), you need emergency help immediately.
- Is the water standing? If water is pooling on the floor or soaking into the walls, every hour counts. The cost of extraction is far lower than the cost of reconstruction.
- Is it a small spill or a flood? A spilled cup of eggnog is not an issue. On the other hand, a supply line break needs immediate mitigation work.
Your Decision is an Investment, Not an Expense!
This holiday season, the last thing you should worry about is choosing between your family's safety and a holiday surcharge. We hope that this transparent discussion about emergency restoration costs on holidays has put you at ease. While an extra fee for holiday labor is an industry reality, delaying your response is almost always the most expensive choice.
Insurance companies, just like us, understand that immediate mitigation is the most important factor in protecting your property. By acting quickly, you stop the damage to your building materials, reduce the risk of a mold infestation, and fulfill your duty as a responsible homeowner.
Do not let the fear of a temporary fee turn into the certainty of a massive, long-term expense. Don't wait for disaster to grow. Secure your peace of mind this holiday season.
If you are facing water damage or suspect a mold issue in your home in South Arkansas, call Restore-It for professional restoration services and mold remediation. Our team is always ready to get your home back to normal!
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