Keeping it private in close-knit neighborhoods

Many Franklin families tell us their first worry, after the shock, is the neighbors. People notice an unfamiliar truck and workers in protective suits. We understand that, and we plan around it:

Our vehicles carry no biohazard signage.
Protective gear goes on inside the home or garage whenever the layout allows.
Waste leaves in closed, sealed containers.
We can arrive at a time you choose, within what our schedule allows.

None of this changes the safety steps. It just means the job doesn't announce itself.

Large homes and high-value finishes

About 63.8 percent of occupied homes in Franklin are owner-occupied, and the Census puts the median owner-occupied home value at around $705,400. Bigger homes with expensive finishes raise particular questions during an assessment. Hardwood, natural stone, custom millwork and fitted carpet all react differently to biological material.

Our aim is always to save what can be safely cleaned and to remove only what can't. Sealed hard surfaces can often be cleaned and disinfected. Porous materials that have absorbed fluids, such as carpet pad, upholstery and some unsealed wood, usually have to go. We explain each decision in the written scope, with photos, so you and your insurer can see the reasoning. Our guide on whether materials can be remediated goes into this, and contaminated furniture assessment covers furnishings and heirlooms.

Older and historic properties

Franklin has a Historic Preservation Overlay, and the city's Historic Zoning Commission reviews proposed exterior changes inside it. Our work happens inside the building and does not involve exterior alterations, but owners of historic homes often have original plaster, old-growth floors and hidden voids that need careful handling.

If a repair crosses into the exterior

If removing contaminated material ever led to exterior repair work, such as replacing a window or siding, that repair would be a contractor's job, and the contractor should check with the city about historic review first.

Offices, clinics and corporate campuses

Franklin is a business center as well as a suburb, with corporate offices, medical buildings and Williamson Medical Center. A workplace incident needs to be cleaned before employees return to that space, and facility managers usually want a clear record for their files. We coordinate with building security, work after hours when that helps, and keep the affected area sealed. See our commercial biohazard cleanup page, and the planning guide on how businesses can prepare.

Services most often requested here

What to do while you wait for us

Once police and the medical examiner have finished and released the home, there are only a few things you need to do before we arrive. None of them involve cleaning.

Helpful

Close the door to the affected room and keep children and pets out
Turn off ceiling fans in that room if you can do so without going far inside
Write down the claim number if you've called your insurer
Find a key or code we can use if you'd rather not be there

Better to avoid

Scrubbing or using bleach on carpet or wood
Throwing out furniture or rugs before talking to your insurer
Hiring a general carpet cleaner for biological material
Letting a well-meaning friend handle it alone

Our guide on what not to do before an assessment explains the reasons.

Getting to Franklin and setting a time

There's no Franklin office. We drive down I-65 from Nashville. The interstate between Brentwood and Franklin can back up badly at rush hour, so the time we give you after your call reflects actual traffic and our other jobs, not a promise made in advance. The phone line is answered around the clock, and we confirm all scheduling by phone.

Areas outside city limits are covered on our Williamson County page. Nearby, we also serve Brentwood, Thompson's Station and Spring Hill.

If the home will be sold

Families settling an estate often ask whether they have to tell buyers what happened. Tennessee law (T.C.A. § 66-5-207) says no cause of action arises against an owner or real estate licensee for failing to disclose that a property was the site of a homicide, felony or suicide. That is general information, not legal advice. Talk to an attorney or your agent about your specific situation. What we can provide is a record that the affected area was professionally cleaned.

Questions people ask

Will the neighbors know what you're there for?

We do everything we reasonably can to keep it private: unmarked vehicles, gear put on indoors where possible, and sealed waste containers. We won't discuss the job with anyone you haven't authorized.

Can you save our hardwood floors?

Sometimes. Sealed, finished hardwood that fluids didn't get through can often be cleaned. If fluids reached the seams or the subfloor, sections may have to come out. The assessment answers that.

Do you work in the historic district downtown?

Yes. Our work is inside the building. If any exterior repair became necessary afterward, your contractor would handle historic review with the city.

Can you work after business hours at a Franklin office?

Often, yes. Tell us your hours, building access rules and security contacts when you call.

How do I document this for my homeowner's insurer?

We provide photos, a written scope and an itemized invoice. Some policies may cover part of the work; coverage depends on your policy. Our insurance questions guide lists what to ask your agent.

Is Franklin far enough that it affects price?

Travel is one of several factors, alongside the size of the area and what materials are involved. All of it appears in the written scope before work starts.

Biohazard and Crime Scene Cleanup in Franklin, TN