Goal Setting for the New Year

1/20/2022 (Permalink)

Owning a small business is no easy feat. From working long hours to wearing many different hats that ensure the business is running smoothly, small business owners often find themselves with a stressful, overwhelming to-do list. It is not easy to be in charge and know that the livelihood of so many depends upon the success of your business. As such, it is important to set realistic, yet lofty business goals for each and every year.

The last year was likely filled with more downs than ups, teaching many business owners how fickle industries can be and how important it is to be dynamic in staying afloat. In 2022, many business owners will look to gain back the business that they lost in 2021 and 2020. Setting new goals for a new year can be a daunting task and sometimes leads to generalization. Writing down general goals can be a helpful way to direct your thoughts, but business owners really looking to achieve great things in 2022 must be more specific.

The goals that you set for 2022 should be precise, feasible, and communicated throughout the company. Too many small business owners make the mistake of writing down goals and failing to share them with their staff. In order to be successful in 2022, you must share your vision with your entire team. We recommend pinpointing two or three objectives and then mapping out what it will take to get there.

Some of the most common small business goals for 2022 include:

• Improve the company’s productivity
• Implement a social media plan
• Reduce business costs
• Set aside time for networking
• Re-evaluate customer service protocols
• Revamp the company’s website
• Institute an incentive program for employees

While the above goals are just examples, they serve as a way to direct your thoughts. Small business owners should hone in on a couple of goals and then create a specific strategy for achieving them. Involve as many people on the team as necessary in creating the plan to achieve the goals. Share the goals amongst the entire team and hold yourself accountable.

At SERVPRO of Altamonte Springs / Longwood, we know the past two years were difficult for everyone. We are confident that our community is for the hardships that we have overcome and we take pride in serving your community for any and all damage restoration needs. On behalf of our team, here’s to a successful 2022!

Preparing your Business for Storm Season

1/20/2022 (Permalink)

It's never too early to prepare your business for Florida's hurricane season.

While it is still “winter” in Florida, it is never too early to prepare for hurricane season. The rain and winds blow in before we know it, and homeowners possible water and storm damage if either strikes their property. But what about your business? Doesn't it need preparation too? Well, SERVPRO of Altamonte Springs/Longwood is here to help with some tips and tricks to get storm (and possibly hurricane) ready this coming spring.

Include shelter-in-place information in your EAP: Knowing when and where to take shelter during a hurricane is a crucial part of emergency preparedness. It is something that ALL of your employees should be familiar with. A basement is the best possible place to be during high winds. However, if your building does not have a basement, you should make sure all employees go to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor with no windows.

Implement an emergency notification system: Despite most likely having sirens in your area, strong hurricane winds can often occur with little to no warning; because of this, many people find themselves ill-prepared for a storm with little time to take shelter. Using an emergency notification system like Disaster Alert (iPhone) or Natural Disaster Monitor (Android), employees can be made more aware of severe weather in their area. The app can alert them of the tornado so they can seek shelter immediately.

Have a work from the home policy: Within minutes, a hurricane can destroy everything in its path. This includes property, homes, and businesses, but it can also disrupt business operations for extended periods. To ensure not all operations come to a stand-still, it is in good practice to implement a work from the home policy if it makes sense for your business. This allows employees to continue working, even if they are unable to make it to the office.

Include training in your plans: If employees are not familiar with using emergency plans, they become essentially useless. Ensure that all employees have been adequately trained on how to respond to a tornado to avoid confusion and future injury while looking for shelter.

Being prepared for a storm will keep you and your employees safe and help ensure that your livelihood is still there afterwards. If your business experiences storm damage, SERVPRO of Altamonte Springs/Longwood can get you up and running again with our trusted water removal, clean-up, and reconstruction services. Call us anytime at (407) 830-9899.

Does your Orlando, FL Business Need Board-Up Services?

1/20/2022 (Permalink)

If your business was affected by storm or fire damage that results in an opening in your building, you might need emergency board-up services. Any opening in the structure needs to be boarded appropriately to protect the building from the weather and illegal entry. Your insurance policy also requires you to be proactive in protecting your home or business after any damage has occurred. Otherwise, the insurance company could account for any further/secondary damage to the structure as negligence.

Not every situation requires the most extensive board-up that the U.S Fire Administration has in their board-up procedure manual, such as after a fire where the entire home is destroyed and is considered a complete loss. While each emergency board up is different, SERVPRO of Altamonte Springs/Longwood is here to help.  

Let's take a look at how to properly board up a structure after the damage has caused an opening in the building.

Determining How Much Protection is Needed

1. Openings in the basement, first floor doors, windows, and any entry point accessible from a porch, fire escape, or other potential climbing points require additional security measures. Openings should be barricaded with plywood, 2x4s, bolts, and nails.
2. Openings at least 10′ from ground level, which is not accessible from a porch, fire escape, roof, or other climbing points, can be secured with nails in each brace and every 12″ around the perimeter. The plywood should be fitted for these openings so that it rests snugly against the exterior frame, butting up to the siding on wood frame buildings and up to the brickwork on brick buildings. It may be necessary to remove the staff bead so that this fit can be flush and tight.

Board-Up

1. Cut plywood to fit over the window and door openings, flush with the outside of the molding.
   Note: For buildings with a metal door and window frames, the alternative is to cut the plywood and 2x4s to fit the door frame inside buffed up against the band molding.
2. Cut the 2x4s to fit the horizontal dimension of the plywood. You will need two 2×4 exterior and two interior braces for each window and three sets for each door.
   Note: For buildings with metal doors and window frames, the 2x4s for the outside will be cut to the plywood dimensions, fitting inside the door frame, against the band molding. The 2x4s will be cut to the outside dimension of the door or window frame for the inside.
3. Next, pre-drill 3/8th inch holes in the plywood and the braces.
4. The holes will be placed approximately 1/3 of the brace's length from each outside edge of the door and window jam.
5. The two window braces will be placed 1/3 of the distance from the top and the bottom of the window.
6. The three-door braces will be placed; one in the center of the doorway and one half the center's distance to the top and the bottom of the doorway.
7. Place the plywood over the exterior opening and nail it to the frame.
   Note: For metal frames, place the plywood and braces inside the frame against the band molding.
8. Place the 2×4 braces over the interior and exterior of the door or window.
9. Place the large washer over the carriage bolt and place the bolt through the holes.
10. Place the washer and nut inside and tighten securely. Torque the nut so that it slightly compresses the interior 2×4.

Did you know SERVPRO of Altamonte Springs/Longwood provides emergency board-up services? Let us mark a big task off of your to-do list when preparing for a storm. We understand the anxiety when it comes to managing a business during storm watches and warnings. We are here to help. Call us anytime at (407) 830-9899.

Cleaning Your Business for the New Year

1/19/2022 (Permalink)

Follow these tips and for a deep clean, call SERVPRO of Altamonte Springs/Longwood.

The turn of a new year inspires us to clean out the clutter. Homes, garage, and shed are usually purged of those old unneeded items as we make room for new things like outdoor equipment and begin pulling out the things we haven't used most of the past year. But what about your office? Often work is seen as something separate and can often become stagnant. 

This new year, SERVPRO of Altamonte Springs/Longwood wants to remind you that having a clean and organized office space is just as important. Getting rid of those piles of old papers, creating a new system to stay organized, and removing the clutter can help make your business and workload more efficient and easier to handle.

Tips to Help Get You Started

1. Gather and redistribute

Gather up every item that isn't where it belongs and put it where it does.

2. Clear off your desk

Remove everything, clean it thoroughly, and put back only those essential items for daily use.

3. Organize your desktop

Now that you've streamlined your desktop, it's a good idea to organize it. Use desktop organizers or containers to organize the items on your desk. Use trays for papers, boxes for smaller items.

4. Organize your drawers

Put items used together in the same drawer space, stamps with envelopes, sticky pads with notepads, etc. Use drawer organizers for small items – paper clips, tacks, etc. Use a separate drawer for personal items.

5. Proximity

Position the equipment and supplies that you use most within reach. Things that you rarely use can be stored or put away.

6. Sort mail

Don't just stick mail in a pile to be sorted or rifle through and take out the pieces you need right now and toss the junk before it begins to pile up. Sort it as soon as you get it – To act, To read, To file, To delegate or handoff.

7. Assign discard dates

You don't need to keep every piece of paper indefinitely. Mark on files or documents when they can be tossed or shredded. 

Note: Legal or financial documents must be kept for a specified length of time. Make sure you know what those requirements are.

8. Filter your emails

Some emails are essential to read; others are just not that important. When you use the filter system to label different types of emails, you know their priority and reply first.

9. Consider going digital

How much of the paperwork that you have could be scanned and saved? You may be able to eliminate some of the files and folders you've used in the past by scanning and uploading them to your computer. Make sure you are doing regular back-ups.

10. Straighten your desk

Do a quick straighten at the end of the day, so you have a clean start the next day.

Now that you've decluttered and organized your space, you may notice the dirt and dust left behind where you've moved your desk from, or the path you take to talk to and from your office might look a bit dirtier than others. Let SERVPRO of Altamonte Springs/Longwood take it from here, cleaning the carpets and furniture in your office and business to make it all look fresh and new again.

Ceiling and wall cleaning should also be part of the cleaning maintenance of your home or business. If you're thinking about adding a fresh coat of paint to your office to help freshen it up after you've reorganized, you should also clean walls before painting so that the primer and paint can adhere properly. Whether you are preparing to paint or just looking for professional cleaning, SERVPRO of Altamonte Springs/Longwood can help. Schedule your cleaning today by calling (407) 830-9899.

Commercial Mold Removal

1/12/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Altamonte Springs/Longwood received a call to check an old restaurant purchased to give it a new life. This result led to an extensive mold remediation job. Upon entering this abandoned space, it became clear immediately this was a mold removal job for the experts! So we went to work! With mold covering the walls, the bar area, baseboards, and crown "mold"ing (pun intended), our crew had to suit up with PPE, including respirators and Tyvek suits, to ensure protection! 

Mold remediation is a tedious job for a home. Still, when it is a commercial property like a restaurant, containment set up, so contaminated unaffected areas aren't with mold exposure are disposed of. When the demo was complete, industrial hygienists came to ensure that the commercial property was good to go! Mold remediation in a commercial property is a tedious yet rewarding job when we get to see a building brought back to life! When mold is identified at your commercial building, give us a call at (407) 830-9899. We are available 24/7 and can respond immediately.

Commercial Fire Damage Repair

1/12/2022 (Permalink)

Commercial fire damage repair is something you never think you'll need for your business, but the unfortunate reality is some companies will experience fire damage. Fires can occur by an electrical shortage from overloading an extension cord to a lightning strike. As the flames extinguish, you may begin to worry about what steps to take to resume business. The best advice is to have a plan.

The Damage Caused by a Fire

When you experience commercial fire damage, you may reflect on the mess left in the charred ruins of the property. However, the damage you need to contend with will go beyond the ashes. To repair the property, seek the help of a professional team like SERVPRO of Altamonte Springs/Longwood. Water extraction will occur after the firefighters' efforts. The smoke damage may cause a problem that the burnt materials from the fire. While a fire may be contained in one area of the building, smoke can fill most of the areas, and it can cause significant damage and odors. Our trained Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Technicians (FSRT) can resolve these issues. When smoke and water damage are dealt with appropriately, the structure will not show any aftereffects. "Like it never even happened."

A fire loss within your enterprise, whether a retail store, rental apartment building, professional office, or a warehouse, can cost you customer goodwill and loss of profitability. We can generate a corporate program called the Contents Claim Inventory Service (CCIS). This report will categorize all affected materials, furniture and equipment, stock, electronics, and documents. SERVPRO of Altamonte Springs/Longwood will suggest what's salvageable, non-salvageable, or questionable. The final decision rests with you and your insurance company as to how we proceed. SERVPRO of Altamonte Springs/Longwood is a preferred commercial fire damage restoration company to more than 300 insurance companies, federal and municipal entities, and property management companies. We willingly coordinate efforts with your insurance adjuster to efficiently and economically restore your business in the best manner possible.

When to Make the Call

After dealing with commercial fire damage repair, you may ask yourself when you need to make the call to a professional for assistance. The time to contact SERVPRO of Altamonte Springs/Longwood as soon as the fire is out. Our business is to get you back in business! Rely on us 24/7 for an immediate response.