It’s horrible when a violent crime or suicide occurs because it often means the loss of life. Families must put on a brave face as they prepare for funerals, meet with police, and make other decisions about their loved ones.
One aspect few people understand is the police are not the ones that clean up crime scenes following a crime. It’s the responsibility of the property owner. Thankfully, there are certified specialists that take this burden off the family.
Few understand the crime scene cleanup cost and what goes into cleaning a crime scene. This guide explains what happens during a crime scene cleanup and the costs associated with it.
Checking Out the Crime Scene
The first step in assessing the cost of crime scene cleanup is to visit the scene and determine the severity of the situation. Many people believe blood is a surface problem, but it soaks into floorboards, furniture, and more.
Cleaners must assess the problem and determine if the area can be cleaned or if the floor and carpeting needs to be removed and replaced. Blood and other fluids easily enter floorboard grooves and make it impossible to clean.
The average cost of crime scene cleanup depends on the size of the area impacted by the fluids and the cleanup method. It’s not just blood they’re dealing with either. If a body has been sitting for days or longer, then there are decomposition fluids to consider.
The fluids are a biohazard and must be removed accordingly. Therefore, it’s important to hire a certified crime scene cleaning service because they have the expertise to follow all state and federal laws.
What Is Included in the Crime Scene Cleanup Cost?
The cost of a crime scene cleanup can be as little as $2,500 or as much as $25,000 depending on what needs to be done including bioremediation. Many people don’t understand what is bioremediation.
Bioremediation is the use of microorganisms to break down materials in homes, soil, and crime scenes. Before bioremediation, cleaners used harsh chemicals such as bleach and ammonia, which had a negative impact on the environment.
With bioremediation, enzymes break down bodily fluids safely and effectively. This is one aspect of the crime scene cost.
The cleaning cost must cover the time of the cleaning technicians, protective equipment, cleaning equipment, removal, and destruction of materials. Many times, items taken from crime scenes must be incinerated according to state and federal mandates.
If the crime scene is extensive either because of multiple victims, time of decay, blood splatter, etc., then it drives up the cost of cleanup. A small scene may only take a single technician and a few hours, but large scenes can take several technicians, significant item removal, and cleaning.
Crime scene cleaners are not your typical cleaners. They are certified in the handling and disposal of fluids not only in crime scenes but in hospital rooms as well. This is not something a standard cleaning company can handle or would want to handle.
Who Pays for the Crime Scene Cleanup?
If the responsibility falls to the property owner, then are they the people that pay for it? The good news is most homeowner’s insurance policies cover the cost of the cleanup. If the insurance doesn’t cover it, then it falls to the property owner.
With the cost of the cleanup often high, some people choose to clean up the area themselves, but it isn’t recommended. It’s possible you will not find all the bodily fluids or remove all the materials correctly.
You also must follow the law in removing the materials.
You also don’t have the tools or cleaning supplies to handle a crime scene cleanup. Aside from the logistics, the fortitude needed to do such work is rare. If the victim was a friend or family member, then it can be traumatic to take care of the crime scene.
While we understand the want or need to save money, the physical and psychological problems that you could incur during the cleanup are not worth it. Even if the insurance company doesn’t cover the cost, many crime scene cleaning companies offer payment plans and other arrangements.
They understand it’s a difficult situation and no one wanted it to happen.
Empathy and Ethics of Crime Scene Cleanup
It takes a special type of person to be a crime scene cleaner. Many are retired police officers or paramedics who have seen the aftermath of violent crime scenes before.
With that being said, it’s still a difficult situation. Many times, a crime scene cleaner won’t begin if the owner is on the property. If necessary, the crime scene company may have a counselor to help talk to family members while the crime technical take care of the scene.
Costs After the Cleanup
The cost of the crime scene cleaner only covers the cleaning of the crime scene. It may require carpet and flooring to be removed or sections of the wall removed. Once the cleaning is done, there is also the cost of repairing the damage.
Once again, insurance should cover the cost. If not, then it is up to the property owner to fix the issues. The good news is if you choose to do the repairs yourself, there will be no leftover fluids in the area. Crime scene cleaners are thorough and use special chemicals to detect and remove the blood and bodily fluids.
If the victim of the crime scene was a family or friend, then you may want to seek a counselor to help with the experience. Most health insurance companies cover the cost.
The Cost is Worth It
The crime scene cleanup cost may seem steep, but given the situation and what is involved, it is more than fair. If your property is the site of a violent or bloody crime scene, then don’t do it yourself. Hire professionals so you can take care of the family needs.
If you want to learn more about crime scene cleaning, then please explore our site.
