Make Safe Services: What Insurance Covers

Make-safe is the initial emergency response that stabilises your property and prevents further damage. It is not the full restoration — it is the critical first phase that stops the situation from getting worse. Depending on the type of incident, make-safe can include:

• Water damage make-safe: Emergency water extraction, deployment of commercial-grade dehumidifiers and air movers, antimicrobial treatment to prevent mould growth, furniture elevation, and initial moisture mapping of affected areas.
• Fire damage make-safe: Emergency board-up of broken windows and damaged openings, temporary weather protection, securing the property against unauthorised access, and initial ventilation to clear smoke and soot.
• Storm damage make-safe: Emergency tarping of damaged roofs, board-up of broken windows, removal of immediate hazards (hanging branches, loose debris), and temporary weatherproofing to prevent ongoing water ingress.
• Biohazard make-safe: Containment of contaminated areas, PPE protocols, initial decontamination, and securing the area to prevent exposure.

In every case, make-safe includes comprehensive photographic documentation, written assessment of the damage, and a detailed record of all works performed. This documentation is essential for your insurance claim.

Under Section 56 of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth), policyholders have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to prevent or minimise loss after an insured event. This is commonly known as the "duty to mitigate." In practice, this means:

• If a pipe bursts, you should turn off the water mains and arrange extraction — not leave the water running while you wait for your insurer to respond.
• If a storm damages your roof, you should arrange emergency tarping — not allow rain to continue entering the property for days while a claim is assessed.
• If fire damages a window or wall, you should arrange boarding — not leave the property open to the weather and potential intruders.

Failure to mitigate can result in your insurer reducing your claim payout or declining coverage for secondary damage. The key phrase is "reasonable steps" — you are not expected to perform the work yourself, but you are expected to arrange professional make-safe in a timely manner.

This is precisely why Disaster Recovery exists. We bill you directly so work begins immediately without waiting for insurer approval. Your duty to mitigate is fulfilled the moment you lodge your claim and your contractor begins make-safe works.

Under most Australian home and contents insurance policies, make-safe works that are reasonable, necessary, and related to an insured event are claimable expenses. This typically includes:

• Emergency extraction and drying: Water removal and deployment of drying equipment to prevent mould and structural damage.
• Board-up and tarping: Temporary protection of the property after storm, fire, or break-in damage.
• Hazard removal: Clearing immediate dangers like fallen trees, broken glass, or contaminated materials.
• Temporary accommodation: If the property is uninhabitable, many policies cover reasonable accommodation costs.

However, insurers may dispute make-safe costs that they consider excessive or unnecessary. This is where professional documentation becomes critical — thorough before-and-after photographs, moisture readings, and written scope of works demonstrate that every action taken was reasonable and necessary. Your NRPG contractor provides this full claims documentation to support your reimbursement.

Through Disaster Recovery, the make-safe process follows a structured, documented procedure:

• Step 1 — Lodge your claim: Submit your damage details and photos at disasterrecovery.com.au/claim. The platform operates 24/7.
• Step 2 — Contractor matching: You are matched with an IICRC certified contractor in your area. Work begins immediately without waiting for insurer approval because we bill you directly.
• Step 3 — Emergency make-safe: Your contractor performs all necessary stabilisation works, documents everything, and deploys equipment as required.
• Step 4 — Formal contract: After make-safe is complete, your NRPG contractor provides a formal contract with clear terms and conditions for the full restoration scope.

The initial commitment is $2,750 ($550 platform fee plus $2,200 contractor credit for make-safe works). Full claims documentation is provided to support your insurance reimbursement. Payment plans are available through Equipped Commercial Finance to help manage costs while awaiting your insurance outcome.