Over the last few weeks we have been dealing with the after-effects of a, shall we say, water "over-flow" problem in our home. It turned out to be a lot more damage than was initially expected: ruined hard wood floors, wet sheetrock and insulation in three walls, carpet, wet insulation under the house ... you get the idea. 

To be honest, this type of thing would typically send me over the edge as we have enough going on in our daily lives. However, our insurance agent set the tone from the very beginning, responding calmly and promptly to my calls and providing guidance as to how the claim would process. His regular follow-up calls continue to let me know he is available at any time if I have questions or need his assistance. Thank you, Corey Kaster, of Insurance Masters Northwest -- you are appreciated!

It has not only been Corey that has made this process work. I have had restoration service professionals, insurance adjusters, contractors, flooring reps, painters, and more in and out of my home. As I wrote to Corey, "every person I have had contact with has been professional, friendly and very, very helpful. If you have to deal with a problem like this, the attitudes of those you deal with make a tremendous difference in getting through it in one piece. I'm laughing -- wryly, but I'm laughing, and that says a lot."

The second part to this experience has been related to the benefit of networking. When this problem arose, I reached out to those I network with on a regular basis and asked for recommendations ... and was truly rewarded. I know that the names provided to me by colleagues and friends are ones I can trust; often times they were accompanied by stories of the great job that was performed for the person making the referral. I also received some very useful tips and suggestions on things to be aware of, which were especially appreciated as living in a construction zone is new to me.

It's amazing what a little bit of water can do!