Has a flood, fire, or storm damaged your home? Are you trying to figure out the next steps to get your house back to the way it was? Googling “Restoration companies near me” but aren’t sure which result is the best option?
Dealing with a disaster at your home can be incredibly emotional. Your first thoughts are that you want things to get back to normal as soon as possible, and finding a restoration company can help with that endeavor.
Taking the time to find the right restoration company is in your best interest. You want to make sure the job gets done right.
Read on to discover seven important questions you should ask before hiring a restoration company.
1. Are You Available 24/7?
Disasters generally aren’t considerate enough to occur during normal business hours. Thus, if you wake in the middle of the night to disaster or something strikes on the weekend, you need to know that restoration technicians can be at your home when you need them.
To ensure that further damage doesn’t occur, all disasters require immediate attention. The right restoration company should be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They should also be able to inspect the damage within a few hours of calling their office.
2. Are You Licensed, Bonded, and Insured?
The vast majority of states in the U.S. require restoration companies and contractors to register with them. If a legal issue arises during the restoration process, you have the ability to handle the dispute with the company.
Working with a bonded company means that they have purchased a surety bond. In essence, this is a form of insurance that protects you if the restoration company doesn’t do their job. The bond is in place to provide liability protection and compensation if something goes wrong.
In addition, the restoration company should also carry separate insurance.
They will do their best to reconstruct and restore your house after damage, but this isn’t always a guarantee. It’s also possible that one of the company’s employees could get injured while working on your home.
If they have insurance, then this will cover any property or personal damage. Should you work with a restoration company that doesn’t have insurance, you may be responsible for covering the cost of additional damage out of your own pocket.
Working with a restoration company that has a license and insurance is in your best interest, as it protects you and them.
3. Are Your Technicians Certified and Experienced?
Restoration technicians need to have an Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certificate. This ensures that they have the proper training and education to restore your home to normal after a disaster.
It’s also a good idea to ask what type of restoration the company specializes in. Some may be experts at taking care of fire damage, while others are pros at water damage and mold. You may also find a restoration company that has technicians who can do it all.
To ensure that you are working with the best when it comes to getting your house back to normal, make sure the technicians are certified and skilled in dealing with your particular issue.
4. Do You Have a Local Office?
You would think that when looking for restoration companies near me that they would be local, but that’s not always the case.
Many companies will follow disasters and make themselves appear to be from the area. These are not the companies you want working on your home. Once they have done the job, they disappear. If they don’t do a satisfactory job, you may find that you have no recourse to get your money back or to have them fix any issues.
Thus, talking to contractors and finding out if they are local is in your best interest.
5. Can You Provide Me with References and Reviews?
Asking the restoration company for references and reviews is one of the best ways to determine if they are the best company to work with.
You should be talking to recent customers, as well as other technicians in the industry.
The customers will be able to let you know if they would work with this company again and if they are satisfied with the work. Other technicians will be able to tell you if the company has a good reputation and is respected in the restoration industry.
You might also consider reading reviews online. Again, these can give you some insight into what it’s like to work with the restoration company and technicians.
6. What Will the Restoration Process Look Like?
There are restoration companies near you that will only come in and dry out your property after flood damage or do some cleaning after a fire. If this is all that you need done, then they may be the right company to work with.
However, if you need to have some reconstruction done, then knowing exactly what the restoration process will look like is helpful. It will let you know if you are responsible for hiring other contractors to work on your home or if the restoration company provides this service.
It’s also a good idea if you ask if the company offers any warranties for restoration. They should do their best to restore your property, but they are still human. They can make mistakes. A good restoration company will be aware of its shortcomings and offer warranties to make things right.
7. Do You Work With My Insurance Company?
The average cost to mitigate water damage is around $3,000, while it costs around $4,000 for fire damage. Depending on the damage, these costs can go up from there.
When it comes to common restoration fees, you probably don’t have this type of money hanging out in your bank account. Thus, you will depend on your insurance to cover the expenses. Asking if the restoration company works with your insurance company can make this process as painless as possible.
Restoration Companies Near Me
Dealing with a disaster can be incredibly challenging. If a fire or flood impacts your home, you’ll want to return things to normal as soon as possible. Searching “Restoration companies near me” can help if you know what you’re looking for.
To save yourself time and frustration, you might consider contacting Cleanup & Total Restoration. We know how challenging and emotional it can be to deal with disaster damage, and we pride ourselves on communicating with compassion.
We also have 25 years of experience dealing with fires, flooding, mold, storm damage, and more. Contact us today!
