A qualified mitigation / restoration company possesses the experience, technology and the tools to identify and resolve hidden damage well before restoration work begins. Additionally, qualified services providers have the forensic and engineering skills to identify the causation of hidden damage and document those damages in support of the policyholder. They should also meet with you and the insurance company, speak the language and present any documentation that defends the owner’s position in support of opening or reopening a claim. 
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How do I know if I have hidden damage?:
When things just don’t seem right in your house or business - maybe an odd, musty or funky new smell, a new chronic floor squeak or even discolored drywall - these may be the subtle yet real signs of hidden damage.
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Is hidden damage common?:
‍Yes. Hidden damages are very common and often discovered after previous damage was not dealt with properly. It takes a great deal of experience early-on to identify hidden damage, or the potential for it, because it may take days, weeks or months to fully manifest. 
What are the risks of hidden damage?: Of course, anything can be repaired for the right amount of money but, most hidden damages are found well after the insurance claim has been closed. And, because hidden damages tend to be water or flood related, they fester and spread, causing significant additional damages that the insurance company won’t want to pay for. 
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Note: In addition to the physical structural damages; mold, mycotoxins and bacteria related to untreated, or improperly treated, water or flood damage are serious environmental hazards. These require expensive special treatments which, after-the-fact, are not typically* covered by homeowners, business or flood insurance. Often insurance attempt to avoid payment of these claims, attributing them to poor property maintenance or even neglect.

* Before the fact, these things are called mitigation measures and they are covered by insurance.
As you may see, it's critical, right up-front, to retain a qualified damage mitigation / restoration company to perform this important layer of diligence on your behalf.
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FWR has years of experience dealing specifically with hidden damage - we’ve corrected many. And certainly, part of our initial damage assessment on any loss involves performing due diligence on the potential for hidden damages. 

FWR’s Project Designer and engineer will:

1. Identify, assess and document all structural issues;
2. Identify and document possible future issues;
3. Communicate their findings clearly and in layperson’s terms;
4. Describe best-practices for repairs and then make temporary and/or permanent repairs to preserve your property and contents.

FWR Professionals, Div. has years of experience dealing with damage caused by one, or even combinations, of these perils and we respond immediately 24/7 to close up, protect damaged areas and begin cleaning up debris, addressing water damage, drying out and performing documentation and restoration services.