After experiencing a disaster, such as a flood or fire, finding the right restoration company can be a daunting task, especially under such difficult circumstances. Time is of the essence, but hiring the right company is critical. How can you know if you are making the right choice? In addition to checking for reviews and ratings online, you also need to learn important information from the company itself. Here is what you should ask restoration companies before deciding who to hire:
1. Is your company licensed and bonded?
In most states, contractors and companies in the restoration industry have to be registered with the state. This ensures that you can solve any legal issues with them if it should come to that.
2. Do your technicians have the necessary certifications?
In addition to licensing, restoration technicians should be trained properly and certified by the I.I.C.R.C. (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification).
3. Is your company insured?
During the restoration process, contractors do their best to avoid causing accidental structural damage. However, if this happens, you are not responsible. The repair cost should be covered by their insurance company. Be sure that the company has both general liability and worker’s compensation insurance coverage before hiring them.
4. Are your technicians available at all times?
Reputable restoration companies should answer calls at any hour of any day. Since any disaster situation should be immediately handled, restoration companies must also be able to send technicians to inspect and contain the situation as soon as possible, usually within a couple of hours of the disaster.
5. Do you give any guarantees?
In truth, it’s difficult to guarantee something that’s almost impossible to predict. For instance – that mold will not grow in a water damaged area after that area was restored. However, the restoration company should warranty their materials and workmanship.
6. What restoration experience do you have?
Ask them how often they do projects like this to determine their level of experience. It’s also important to search for reviews and ratings of the company on the web and to ask them for a list of referrals to speak with their past clients. Ask their clients if they were satisfied with the result, how long the project took, etc.
7. How long will the restoration project take?
In most water mitigation cases, the flooded area needs to be dried within 3 to 5 days of the incident. If not, the situation will become much worse. As time is of the essence, make sure the contractor is aware of this and sets the proper time limit to the project’s completion.
Whoever you decide to hire, make sure they are properly trained professionals. Read more about why you should hire a professional to deal with an emergency in this article. For professional fire, water and mold restoration services, contact your local PuroClean office.
