Having a proactive partner through natural disasters will help minimize costs and potential damage. Make sure you're covered.

Early predictions for this year

It's that time of year again. Hurricane season has just begun. Whether it’s a hurricane or strong winds and rainy days you’re facing, ensuring your assets are protected proactively is essential to decreasing potential damage costs. With around 13 named storms expected during this year’s hurricane season, which started June 1st and runs through November 30th, there’s no time like the present to evaluate the disaster response services and processes that protect your properties. While early predictions are showing below-average activity in the Atlantic, the waters are still warmer than normal and with hurricanes, all it takes is one to make landfall during an active season. Strong winds should also be considered when factoring into potential damage as reports predict increased levels of vertical wind shear in the Atlantic. According to Colorado State University’s Tropical Meteorology Project, 13 named storms, six of which being hurricanes, are forecast to appear in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico during the 2026 hurricane season. CSU’s forecast, which aligns with predictions from privately held forecasters AccuWeather and DTN, also indicates that of the hurricanes expected, at least two will meet the criteria of a major hurricane, with sustained winds of at least 111 miles per hour. Having the right partner to ensure you’re prepared before disaster strikes will help minimize damage and costs afterwards.

How to pick the right property preservation provider

As storms grow in number, hit harder, and affect larger swathes of the United States, national property preservation providers like ServiceLink offer important advantages, especially for mortgage servicers whose portfolios cover multiple regions. “Hurricanes can hit anywhere from Florida up through the Eastern Seaboard and across to the Gulf Coast of Texas,” says Anthony Scotese, vice president, product operations, in ServiceLink’s field services division. “Having a property preservation partner that can aggregate the damage information and target impacted areas across geographies enables a much more efficient response.”

When searching for a partner, make sure they have these three things:

1: A wide array of services

ServiceLink provides property preservation services that are in tune with the ever-changing industry requirements surrounding the preservation of properties.

These services range from inspections through REO disposition with the highest quality of service for any season, including:
- Grass cuts
- Snow removal
- Winterization
- Investor coordination
- Code violation remediation

No matter the threat, we have you covered. “Our standard reporting covers historical concerns and areas of importance from our clients, and custom reporting is available when needed,” says Scotese. “ServiceLink is also constantly evolving our product offering to meet the varying needs of customers including servicers, asset management companies and investors. We monitor FEMA and weather indicators to watch for potential weather events and disaster declarations.”

2: Proactive borrower communication

Making sure your assets are protected before disaster strikes is imperative for a seamless process afterwards. “Proactive and comprehensive communications from the property preservation company are essential to helping servicers and their borrowers protect their assets and get the insurance quotes they need,” says Scotese. “We offer servicers the peace of mind of having one source that helps them understand the impacts of the hurricane on their portfolio from a default — and non-default — perspective. They can find out which of their borrowers were and were not impacted, determine where disaster claims need to be filed and then help their borrowers file those claims, since the broad scope and traumatic nature of hurricanes can make it difficult for them to figure out what to do. We help our clients take their own proactive approach in managing that borrower experience.”

Clear communication for both borrowers and to servicers is essential, the earlier the better. “When a disaster has been identified, ServiceLink communicates to our clients and offers services for inspections on their impacted portfolio. Servicers take this opportunity to initiate discussions with borrowers on their options in case they need assistance or an exception of any kind,” says Scotese. ServiceLink’s property preservation services also offer comprehensive utility management services that ensure utilities like sump pumps, dehumidifiers and heat maintenance are active in circumstances where they’re needed to protect and preserve the property.

3: Emergency response

Of all weather-related disasters, hurricanes have been reported to cause the most destruction. Data shows that 115 weather and climate related disasters from 2020 to 2024 recorded losses exceeding $1 billion. In terms of hurricanes, flooding can be the most costly damage your assets can face.

When repairs for roof damage, flooding, electrical and plumbing issues, etc. are needed, ServiceLink can provide bids to get the work done, and oversee and provide progress reports on the repairs. “Addressing damages quickly after discovery can help prevent them from getting worse,” Scotese says, adding that, “ServiceLink also keeps its clients informed of any circumstances obstructing access to areas, thus causing delays in work performance or the ability of homeowners to return to their property.” When emergent conditions are present, ServiceLink can perform emergency services within investor and insurer guidelines. “We maintain a 24-hour emergency contact service and on-call staff ready to address conditions that may arise after normal business hours, says Scotese. If requested, ServiceLink can dispatch vendors to perform needed repairs and rush orders to ensure issues are remediated in a timely manner. “Property preservation providers play an integral role with servicers.” Scotese concludes. “I can tell you we are ready, willing and able to assist our clients in managing disaster response at any level desired. There is absolutely no reason a servicer needs to panic when a storm hits — even in a dangerous hurricane season like this one. If they have the right partner, they can be assured of prompt, reliable support.”

More information about ServiceLink's field services solution is available here.

‍