7 Steps to Follow After Suffering from Water Damage in Chicago
Sam Simon
January 13, 2016Whether it’s from a frozen pipe, ice dam, broken toilet, or some other calamity, water damage can happen anytime in Chicago, IL and the surrounding area. After facing a devastating
water damage
event in your Chicago home or business, there are some specific steps that property owners and managers should take to best handle the watery disaster. The first step is to stay calm and ensure your safety and that of your family or employees.
After everyone is safe, follow the next steps to ensure your property is competently and promptly returned to its pre-loss condition as soon as possible by a professional disaster restoration company such as ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons. (Some of these tips are provided by the Illinois Department of Insurance.) After all, the sooner the water damage is cleaned up, the sooner you can get back to normal and resume a regular work/life balance:
- Contact your insurance company as soon as possible. Provide as much detail as you can about the water damage to your home or business and all of the phone numbers where you can be reached.
- Get prior approval from your insurance adjuster before you contract for water damage repairs.
- Contact ServiceMaster Restoration by Simon for reputable water damage restoration. Our team has the equipment and expertise to return your valuable home or business back to its pre-loss condition as soon as In addition, we’ll maintain regular and consist communication with your insurance company representatives – a step that can lighten the burden on your shoulders.
- Make temporary repairs to protect your property. Examples of these temporary repairs include boarding up windows and covering furnishings.
- Do not throw out damaged furniture and other expensive items. Your insurance adjuster will want to see these items. If they haven’t been destroyed, retrieve the receipts for the damaged items.
- Make a list of everything you would like to bring to the attention of your insurance adjuster.
- Your insurance policy may cover your expenses while your property is being repaired or rebuilt. Inquire about restrictions on amounts and keep all of your receipts.
If your Chicago-area business or other type of facility is in need of water damage restoration, call ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons at 773-376-1110. After receiving your call we’ll immediately come to your home or business to examine the extent of the damage and start work to restore it. We’re available around-the-clock to heed your call for help in 18 Chicago neighborhoods!
Sam Simon
Sam Simon is the Co-Owner and Managing Director of ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, a certified MBE/WBE disaster restoration and specialty cleaning firm proudly serving Cook, Lake, and DuPage Counties in Illinois. With over 30 years of experience in restoration project management, field operations, and emergency response, Sam plays a vital leadership role in overseeing service execution, technician development, reconstruction, and subcontractor coordination.
He holds the IICRC’s highest technical designation as a Master Fire & Water Restorer, a distinction achieved by fewer than 1% of professionals in the restoration industry. His technical scope includes water and flood damage restoration, fire and smoke recovery, mold remediation, and post-disaster reconstruction across both residential and commercial sectors.
Sam has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to helping communities in crisis. He has participated in large-scale disaster recovery efforts across the U.S., providing boots-on-the-ground leadership during Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, and Harvey, as well as catastrophic floods, wildfires, and deep freeze events throughout Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, Texas, and beyond. His dedication to serving distressed families and businesses in the wake of national catastrophes reflects both his personal values and ServiceMaster’s mission of restoring peace of mind.
In 2019, Sam was selected for the HACIA Contractor Training Program, a competitive six-month construction management cohort offered by the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association. The program delivers intensive instruction in blueprint reading, estimating, project management, and construction law—skills that support the company’s continued growth in emergency build-back and general contracting services.
Before co-founding ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, Sam built a successful creative career under the name Sam Zabadneh, contributing to notable film and television productions including Chicago Fire (2012), Juvies (2007), and Image Union (1978). His media and videography background continues to shape ServiceMaster’s marketing strategy, digital training resources, and brand storytelling.
→ IMDb Profile
Sam is also the co-author of RESTORE: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Home As Your Most Valuable Asset—a practical guidebook for homeowners navigating the challenges of water, fire, and mold damage.
Under the direction of majority owner and President & CEO Nasutsa Mabwa, and with Sam’s operational leadership, ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons has earned numerous regional and national accolades, including:
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