Working Together Conference & Products Show

4/21/2022 (Permalink)

What is MN Multi Housing Association (MHA)?

The Minnesota Multi Housing Association (MHA) was founded in 1967 to promote the highest standards in the development, management and maintenance of rental and owner-occupied multi housing. While members include the state's largest apartment management companies, developers, common interest communities, and providers of related products and services, the majority of our members own or manage fewer than 20 units each. Governed by our Board of Directors, all members of the Minnesota Multi Housing Association commit themselves to the ethical principles and standards of our Code of Ethics. 

Why are we involved?

As a member of MHA, we get to work directly with clients to allow them to have a greater understanding of our business. By working with them directly at these conferences, we can gain insight on their needs as clients, all the while explaining to them the multitude of services that we can offer them.

It's very important to us that we are first seen as a positive resource for our community. We want our clients to understand that you can always call us with questions and concerns, without knowing if you need our services or not. We are here to be a resource for you!

For all things water, fire, mold, and construction - give us a call today!

Is Your Office Building Prepared for Disaster?

3/25/2022 (Permalink)

Are you an owner of an office building or similar type of commercial space? Do you have fire safety and emergency preparedness meetings? Being prepared by having a well-thought-out emergency plan not only protects your property, but the people that are on your property!

Identify Fire Extinguisher Locations

In case of a fire damage situation, you will want to ensure that you have a sufficient number of fire extinguishers readily available throughout your property. By taking the time to map out and guide the people in your building to these locations, you will minimize the panic in a dangerous situation. If your employees or guests do not know where a fire extinguisher is located, it can make an already risky situation even more dangerous.

Monitor Smoke Detectors and Fire Alarms

Smoke detector and fire alarm systems should be inspected regularly to ensure that they are functioning properly. If these systems are not running properly, you will not be alarmed in the event of a fire or smoke emergency situation. Ensuring that there is a clearly marked exit plan is essential for your building in the event that a smoke detector and fire alarm go off.

Host Safety Trainings

A vital step for fire safety preparedness is safety training for all people involved. By including a fire safety training course in your workplace, you will help the occupants know exactly what they should do if an emergency such as a gas leak, a fire, severe weather event, or flooding occurs. Having a plan in place will reduce panic and disorganization when time is of the essence.

Make Emergency Exits Obvious

Be sure to clearly identify which doors can be used in the event of an emergency situation. Illuminated exit signs can help direct occupants out of the building in case of an emergency. Tape maps of the nearest exit around the walls of the building to help expedite the evacuation process.

SERVPRO of Shakopee Savage Prior Lake is here to help 24/7 365 days a year should disaster ever strike your property! Call us at 952-403-1050 to dispatch a crew or get more information on how we can help make it, "Like it never even happened."

Commercial Fire Restoration

1/9/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake is available 24 hours a day to restore your property and get you back to business.

As a property owner, it is vital to take immediate action after a commercial fire has occurred. Not only is this important for reducing further damage on your property, but it is essential in getting your business back to pre-fire condition. Delaying fire damage mitigation not only allows soot and smoke damage to get worse by settling into the nooks and crannies of your property, but often times water damage also happens if water is used to extinguish the fire. If your property is not attended to quickly, you will not be able to salvage as many items and structures, resulting in more time and money spent to re-open your business.

We are Fire Damage Restoration Professionals!

Fire damage is an overwhelming process. Our highly-trained technicians are here to help you out from the moment the fire is put out until the final piece of your property is back to normal. How do we perform fire damage restoration? Check out our services below!

Board Ups

Immediately after a fire is extinguished, we can come to board up vulnerable areas of your building including windows, walls, and even the roof. By sealing these openings, we will help prevent further structural damage from weather, debris, and vandalism.

Fire Damage Assessment

Our estimators have the capabilities to inspect the building in great detail. We document the amount of damage that can be saved or repaired by keeping a detailed list of all of the building's contents. After deftly and safely completing the inspection, we can recommend the best course of action to complete the fire restoration.

Water Removal

It's weird to think that you'd have to deal with water damage during a fire event, but a commercial-grade sprinkler system can unleash up to 40 gallons of water each minute once it detects a fire. By removing water and drying areas efficiently and quickly after inspection, we can aid in preventing mold and mildew growth.

Soot and Smoke Removal

Carcinogens found in soot and smoke can lead to cancer and other health problems if not cleaned up properly. Our professionals can clean walls, floors, ceilings, and any other parts of your building's structure. With our restore versus replace mentality, we are often able to clean personal items that have damaged by soot damage and smoke damage.

Through Fire and Smoke, We're "Here to Help!"

Contact SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake at 952-403-1050 today if you're in need of fire damage, water damage, smoke damage, and soot removal. Our top-notch disaster recovery team is here to help Shakopee, Savage, Prior Lake, Chaska, Chanhassen, Victoria, New Prague, Belle Plaine, Jordan, Carver, Elko New Market, Cologne, and the greater Twin Cities area after disaster strikes.

Condominium Crisis: Hoarding and Abandonment

12/15/2021 (Permalink)

Using SERVPRO’s time-tested and industry-approved steps, along with our proprietary cleaning products and methods, we are "Here to Help!"

In places where you'd least expect it, you might be surprised to find instances of hoarding. This specific condominium had to deal with a tenant that not only abandoned their condo, but left the mess for our SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake technicians to handle.

What is Hoarding?

No, hoarding is not the same as your grandma collecting knick-knacks in an organized, intentional, and targeted fashion. Don't be freaked out if she can't get enough of collecting fancy china!

People with hoarding have persistent difficulty getting rid of or parting with possessions due to a perceived need to save them. In these instances, attempting to part with these possessions causes great distress and lead to decisions to save them.

The prevalence of hoarding seems small at 2.6%, but can cause massive issues. Hoarding can cause issues within relationships, social and work activities, and other important areas of functioning.

How does hoarding affect a home?

Although hoarding can range from very mild to severe cases, it can create cramped living situations, narrow pathways, and make areas like kitchen countertops and stoves virtually unusable. 

Depending on the items that are collected (trash, magazines, mail, books, rotten food) it can cause significant stress on the integrity of a home.

• Heavy items can cause stress on the foundation of the home. Floorboards and rooms that are overstuffed with items can cause warping in walls and flooring.
• Rotten food can soil surrounding materials leaving stains, rotting natural wood, and discoloring paint on walls. 

SERVPRO saves the day!

Cleaning is at the heart of the restoration work that we do, regardless of what disaster may have damaged your home. Our certified technicians have mastered multiple layers of recovery tactics to clean a damaged property such as:

• Wiping Surfaces
• Cleaning Carpets and Material
• Deodorization
• Biohazard Cleanup

To combat unfathomable situations such as COVID-19, we created a defensive pathogen cleaning program that goes far beyond standard janitorial cleaning practices. We use our patented 3 C's to bring a higher standard of clean to the places we gather. For more information, visit this link on our website.

As the #1 choice in cleanup and restoration based on a recent Commercial Attitude 7 Usage Tracking study, call SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake at 952-403-1050 with any of your cleaning needs today!

A General Contractor You Can Trust

12/14/2021 (Permalink)

We have the reconstruction capabilities to get your property back to its preloss condition.

How do you go about finding and securing a contractor after your property suffers from water damage, fire damage, smoke/soot damage, or has had issues with mold?

You might call up a few friends or coworkers, talk with your family, or scour the internet to nail down some potential candidates. When you find your "lucky three" you'll have to ask them to visit your property, create a bid, and review all of the potential prices and outcomes. After considering, weighing your options, and reviewing the scope of work, you may still feel apprehensive.

By now, weeks have passed and you're getting sick of sitting on a disheveled property. 

When you call SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake, we will handle the scheduling, bidding, material purchasing, organizing of scheduling - all within an agreed upon timeframe. We have both residential and commercial construction capabilities for any size job. 

For a general list of our services, click here.

Why should you trust SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake for your construction needs?

Trust is not given, it is earned. Throughout the past year, our Reconstruction Division has drastically improved processes both on our end of the company and with our customers.

We have respect and care for our client's property.

We respect our customers' time.

We are honest and transparent.

We listen to our customers and respond to feedback.

We are reachable.

As a general contractor near you, we understand that we are in a relationship business. We hold our relationships with our customers at the highest priority, always striving to be a resource whether or not you have suffered a disaster.

When the unthinkable happens, use your sense and call SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake at 952-403-1050 today. We are here for you from start to finish.

Do You Have a Plan?

12/2/2021 (Permalink)

When you need professional cleaning or emergency restoration services, we have the training and resources to get your property back to business fast!

Did you know: Residues, including burning plastics or the soot from furnace disorders) form long chains of ionized smoke particles that assemnle in corners of walls or at junctions of walls and ceilings are called smoke webs.

Setting a Plan for Your Business

Know the importance of protecting your people. Your employees are one of your most critical assets within your business. The following tips can help them from being injured when a fire occurs.

• Create a Fire Plan: Ensure that you're employees know what steps to take when a fire occurs. The fire step is to immediately call 911. By conducting yearly fire drills, your employees will be aware of your workplace fire safety protocol.
• Evacuation Plan: In large commercial buildings, it is essential to post a fire evacuation plans around the workplace. Remember those maps you saw in elementary school with the blueprint of the school and a star for what exit to take? That's what we're talking about. Do not include elevators within your plan as they may not be available for use during a fire. Always make a plan for the stairs!
• Fire Aid: In case of injury during a fire, your employees should be aware of the location for the first-aid kit. By keeping these near locations where possible hazards can occur such as in the kitchen or near maintenance rooms, your employees will be able to quickly respond in a disaster. 

If your property suffers from fire damage, water damage, or storm damage, give us a call!

Minimize Business Interruption

11/24/2021 (Permalink)

Whether the damage occurs in a small business building or a big box store, we have the training, experience, and equipment to handle the situation.

When fire damage, water damage, or mold damage causes issues at your commercial property, it has a negative effect on everyone. In some instances, buildings will have to close, disrupting customers, employees, and tenants.

We understand urgency.

Even the smallest instance of fire or water must be addressed quickly in order to limit secondary damage. When a small issue becomes a big issue, disruptions magnify. That's why when you call SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake for your commercial needs, we are "Here to help" 24/7 365 days a year.

From our office team to our technicians, our certified professionals understand the urgency in responding to your facility following a disaster. Our lightning fast response times allow us to mitigate damage faster so that further issues don't occur down the road. Whether we are performing mitigation to structure and contents, providing cleanup and restoration services, or utilizing our vast construction services, our SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake team will work diligently to minimize disruptions and get your business up and running again. 

We make it "Like it never even happened."

If you have any questions, please reach out to our office at 952-403-1050. We're here to service Shakopee, Savage, Prior Lake, Scott County and the greater Twin Cities area as a whole. 

IREM Minnesota's Men's Career Clothing Drive

11/20/2021 (Permalink)

Here is Aimee, Director of Client Services, at the beginning of their adventure/

Aimee and Tierney spent most of their day yesterday zipping around the Twin Cities gathering clothing for IREM Minnesota's Men's Career Clothing Drive. These articles of clothing are benefitting Ready for Success and the Sabathani Community Center! IREM is an international force of 20,000 individuals united to advance the profession of real estate management. IREM Minnesota has been an active organization within our communities and we feel very thankful to have the opportunity to be a part of it.

Ready for Success

Ready for Success serves women and men with lower incomes by providing professional clothing and accessories needed to secure employment with confidence. For more information about Ready for Success, follow this link: https://www.ppl-inc.org/readyforsuccess 

Sabathani Community Center

The Sabathani Community Center is a grassroots effort that provides a place where residents can gather in a welcoming environment, fellowship, building community, conduct business, and receive programs and services that move people forward. For more information about the Sabathani Community Center, follow this link: https://sabathani.org/

Director of Client Services: Aimee Morris

11/3/2021 (Permalink)

Our Director of Client Services - Aimee Morris

Our Newest Beacon of Light: Aimee Morris

Earlier this year we were very lucky to welcome Aimee Morris to our Commercial Account division. Aimee was exactly what we needed! With over 15 years experience in the restoration industry, Aimee's all-around knowledge of the industry has been a great asset for us.

We swear Aimee has eyes on every angle of the company. She manages all aspects of commercial accounts so you can be guaranteed that you, as a client, will have seamless communication throughout your whole project. She works with your scheduling, provides rapid updates, and ensure that our team members stay on track so that projects are finished in an efficient manner.

Aimee enjoys grabbing coffee with current and prospective clients. She always has a shimmering shining smile and really wants to get to know what your needs are as a customer. Whether it takes a phone call, email, or connection through LinkedIn, Aimee is always open for communication. As a company, we strive to hold a genuine valuable relationship with the people that we work with. It is important that you know that if you have any questions regarding your project that you reach out to us or Aimee immediately, that way we can keep your project on track. 

You can depend on Aimee and our technicians to get the job done right and get it done quickly. Our highly trained technicians use top-of-the-line equipment to make your business shine bright again. Give us a call at 952-403-1050 today and let us make it "Like it never even happened."

Fire Preparedness Tips for Businesses

4/26/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake is dedicated to responding immediately to your Shakopee fire damage emergency.

6 Fire Preparedness Tips

Unfortunately, a fire can occur at any point in time. Although preventative measures can be taken, businesses will never be able to truly protect themselves against one. There are fire preparation strategies to prevent accidental fires and curb fire damage.

1. Equipment

Ensuring that the right equipment in accessible is the first line of defense for when the unthinkable happens. It is crucial to regularly inspect sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, and alarms.

2. Waste Disposal

If your business has products that are flammable or involve any hazardous materials including oils to aerosol, it is important to understand protocol for the disposal of these items. 

3. Storage

In addition to knowing how to dispose of hazardous materials properly, they need to be stored in the correct environment. It is imperative that they be kept within a dry, secure location that has excellent ventilation. 

4. Cleanliness

Who doesn't love a tidied building? Along with the aesthetic appeal of a clean building, reducing clutter will help minimize the spread of a fire and will keep the pathway to emergency exits clear. It is important that that safety of your employees is at the top of the list.

5. Plan

Every single property, whether it is a home or business, should have an emergency and evacuation plan. A fire preparation plan should include a hierarchy of people in charge in order to ensure that the plan goes smoothly. These should be people who are able to lead a crowd as well as stay calm in stressful situations. 

6. Communicate

Many properties have a plan in place but unfortunately do not communicate it to their employees. It is vital to conduct equipment demonstrations to ensure everyone knows how to use fire extinguishers and other tools.

Fire preparation can minimize risk and ensure the situation is handled in the best possible way. Even if a fire does break out there are fire and smoke damage professionals at SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake that can help restore your business back to its preloss condition.

Mold Prevention Tips for a Commercial Property

4/5/2021 (Permalink)

Our technicians are certified in Antimicrobial Remediation by the IICRC and collectively have 30 years experience in inspecting and restoring homes.

When you discover a patch of small mold in your commercial property it may not seem like a big deal. However, if moisture presents itself in another area with spores, the opportunity for the mold to spread will occur rapidly. Here are some simple tips to prevent mold in your commercial property.

Mold Problems are a no-go

Deal with all leaks quickly. The source of the leak is not important; whether the leak stems from the roof, plumbing, or wind blown in the front doors, you need to deal with it immediately. Moisture is the perfect catalyst for mold growth.

Lots of moisture in the air? It may be beneficial to run a commercial dehumidifier. The goal is to keep your humidity around 40% to help prevent mold growth in the future.

Maintain superb ventilation! Keep your HVAC system in good working order by changing filters and cleaning your vents and ducts regularly. SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake has commercial services such as these to help you maintain your property. 

Call SERVPRO to deal with any flooding immediately. If standing water is not extracted properly by a professional, it may lead to secondary issues such as seeping into cracks, causing damage to furniture, and exhibit a breeding ground for mold.

What to do when you discover mold

SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake is certified in mold remediation by the IICRC.

All of our technicians have been certified and are knowledgeable when it comes to restoring your property after mold damage. We use advanced technology such as thermal cameras and moisture meters to ensure we are diagnosing the problem correctly.

We service the entire Scott County and Carver County areas and are ready to help you 24 hours a day, seven days a week!

If you see signs of mold, call us today at 952-403-1050!

Commercial Property: Filing an Insurance Claim

3/1/2021 (Permalink)

Our team is on call 24/7 to assist you with emergency services.

As if a fire disaster at your commercial property isn't enough, you have to deal with insurance and a whole bunch of other headaches. A main priority for you should be to get your insurance involved with a fire claim. When it comes to restoring your property to preloss conditions, your insurance company may help you determine how to move forward.

Taking the First Look

After calling emergency services (if necessary), you should call your insurance company immediately afterwards and spell out your situation. Ensure that you have your policy ready and be sure to tell them whether or not you are completely evacuated or if the fire somehow effected your living situation. Your insurance can guide you through the claims process, but so can we! We have office staff who can be informative resources for you regarding your insurance claim. Hopefully your insurance agent recommends SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake. 

Bulk Up and Hunker Down

Your next steps after a fire damage event should be to secure your property. To ensure that your building doesn't get damaged further from the elements and helps restrict looters, here are some tips on how to protect your property:

• Post signage or caution tape around the property
• Board up or cover any blown out windows
• Padlock any available entrances
• Tarp your roof
• Install a security fence

Get Organized

Most often the insurance company as well as the claims adjuster will require a ton of documentation. You will want to take loads of photos of the fire damage and property. If there are specific items that have been damage, be sure to gather the value of the contents. You will also more than likely need to provide proof of income. 

A fire claim can be tricky business, don't be afraid to call SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake at 952-403-1050 with any questions or concerns you might have.

Positive Employee COVID-19 Test? Look no further.

2/1/2021 (Permalink)

You can trust SERVPRO Franchise Professionals to bring a higher standard of clean to the places we gather.

Employees who exhibit symptoms at work or become sick during the day should be separated from other employees, customers, and visitors immediately. After being sent home, they should proceed to the local testing location and quarantine until no longer necessary. By following the CDC's recommended steps, sick employees should do what they can to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Here's what you need to do!

An employer should not need sick employees to provide a COVID-19 test results or healthcare provider's note to validate their illness. Many healthcare provider offices may not be able to provide such documentation in a timely manner, especially during a pandemic. 

It is essential that you follow CDC guidelines to ensure that any chance to spread COVID-19 is eliminated. 

Where does SERVPRO come in?

Contact a SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake expert technician for a Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned cleaning. We have developed expertise from cleaning up some of the most challenging biohazards imaginable, including confirmed COVID-19 locations. With this newly designed cleaning protocol, we are able of cleaning anything from a small office to an entire commercial building. 

After consulting a technician, you will work together to come up with the best plan for your property. Our EPA-Approved hospital-grade cleaning solutions will always adhere to the standards that are set by the CDC. Then, after our crew of professionals come in and clean up the infected areas, you will receive an official shield saying that your property was cleaned with our defensive pathogen cleaning program.

Schedule a COVID-19 cleaning with your local SERVPRO provider today at 952-403-1050.

Common Sources of Water Damage in a Commercial Building

1/4/2021 (Permalink)

In an average year, we successfully restore and repair close to 1,000,000 square feet of commercial property.

Owning and running a commercial building in Chaska/Chanhassen means that you've got a lot on your plate. 

How to Diminish Water Damage Issues

Drainage

The most highly trafficked areas in businesses are the bathrooms and kitchens. The drains from the sinks and the toilets are doing extra work meaning you should do whatever you can to keep them from flooding and the flow moving. Maintenance should perform regular checks on them and you could consider conducting a camera-scope inspection every once in awhile. To avoid a clogged toilet, buy thin toilet paper, post signage about what can go within the toilet, and provide plenty of labelled waste receptacles. 

Pipes

Ensure that you are knowledgeable on the types of pipes that your commercial property has. If they are older, often made of copper, galvanized iron, or polybutylene, they are prone to damage and do not usually last long. It might be worth your while to consider replacing your pipes to help prevent future disasters. Even if they aren't older pipes, it is still important to check for corrosion or leaks more often than not. It is also pertinent to ensure that your pipes are properly insulated to avoid freezing pipes during the winter.

Fire Sprinklers

Sometimes the fire sprinklers in a commercial property can be triggered by something as simple as a warm light nearby or burnt food in the microwave. In order to prepare for an event such as a random sprinkler going off, you should have a water damage restoration company picked out like SERVPRO and register for the Emergency Ready Plan.

There's a lot to keep track of in a commercial building. Adding a regular maintenance routine and an Emergency Ready Plan with SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake could save you time and money.

Call 952-403-1050 today with anything, even a simple question.

Restoring Your Shakopee, Savage, and Prior Lake Property After a Water Damage Event

12/9/2020 (Permalink)

Commercial Water Damage Events Present Unique Challenges

Flooding and water damage events surrounding Shakopee, Savage, and Prior Lake commercial properties are often complex with numerous issues that require a knowledgeable and flexible response. Whether we’re dealing with a relatively small water cleanup scenario or a large scale event, we work quickly to assess each unique situation and isolate the damaged area. In many instances, normal operations can continue in a temporary space while we restore your facility.

Restoring Commercial Properties Presents Unique Challenges

Our professionals are trained to be mindful of legal and environmental concerns and strive to fully restore the damaged area while working within your budgetary constraints. We understand that every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when an emergency situation arises in your business, give us a call and we’ll be there fast with the help you need.

About SERVPRO of Shakopee / Savage / Prior Lake

SERVPRO of Shakopee / Savage / Prior Lake specializes in the cleanup and restoration of commercial and residential property after a water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Meet Our Crew

Call 952-403-1050 at any time, any day with any inquiries on commercial and residential restoration. 

Plan for the Best Prepare for the Worst

12/15/2017 (Permalink)

It’s always nice when a business is running smoothly but what happens when you come in one day to open and you find a leaking sink that’s been running all night. Would you know what to do in that situation? Do you know where your water shut off valves are? Luckily we here at SERVPRO of Scott County/Chaska have a solution for you. We can do an Emergency Response Profile for your business.

               Benefits of the ERP:

For starters the ERP is free service we offer, we’ll come out and do a walkthrough tour with you on crucial items needed in the event of an emergency

It identifies the chain of command for decisions regarding authorization to work along with contact info for emergency services

We help you identify and photograph important locations throughout your business such as the shut-off valves for your gas and water, along with things like locations of fire extinguishers etc

So be proactive today and be ready in case of any emergency that may arise and give us here at SERVPRO of Scott County/Chaska a call (952)-403-1050 and we can set up an appointment to do an ERP for your business right away.