In the US, there are frequently hurricane storms so you can find a lot of restoration companies offering water damage restoration services. Due to the demand, many unlicensed contractors have started to offer their services. The following are 6 factors to consider when you are choosing a restoration company.
- Choose a Local Restoration Company
The priority is to look for a local restoration company that is nearest to your house. If they are near, they will not hesitate to come when you give them a call. This allows the restoration professionals to start the water extraction procedure within a few hours and finish the job on the same day. Hiring a local restoration company is important to have the water in the house removed and air-dried within 3 days to avoid mold infestation.
- Check the Contractor Licensure
You need to check the IICRC licensure of the contractor. Proper licensure means that the contractor has maintained a clean record in the restoration services. Only contractors that have met a set of industry standards will be issued a license. You can perform a search on the status of the license of a contractor at your state license search site. Besides, you need to make sure that the contractor is up to date with the general liability, worker’s compensation, and contractor’s pollution liability.
- Ask for References
Before hiring, you should ask for references from previous customers so that you can check out their work. They may show you some photos of the restoration work. From the photos, you can see how the restoration professional does his work. The previous customers can tell you how he helped them in the restoration work and why they would recommend him to others.
- Check the Availability
You may want to hire a restoration company that can continue to work on restoring your house until it is finished at night or midnight. For example, your house has been flooded for several days and you want the water to be removed as fast as possible to save your house from mold problems afterwards. In this case, you need to look for a restoration company with 24-hour availability.
- Compliant with Insurance Company
The restoration company should be ready to work with the insurance company. Restoration companies that are experienced in working with insurance companies will be able to help you negotiate the claim. The restoration professional can accurately determine the source of the flood such as pipe burst or faulty appliance which matters a lot to the adjuster when he is evaluating the situation and determine how much compensation should be paid out to you.
- Use Advanced Equipment for the Restoration Project
The restoration company should have at least one or two trucks. The trucks are usually equipped with mounted water pumps. The more mounted water pump trucks, the faster the water will be pumped out. The restoration professional must be familiar with using the equipment, for example knowing how to set up the water pump and get the motor turned on to start pumping the water. They should also have at least one dehumidifier to dry the place. Hiring a licensed restoration company can get the work done faster than an amateur. Amateurs may only bring in vacuum and mop for the water damage cleanup.