Whether your property’s been damaged by a flood or fire or you simply need your roof repaired after a hail storm, hiring the right restoration company is key. To find a reputable business, you need to do more than search for online ratings and reviews – you need to find out specific information about the company itself.
Here are seven questions to ask before hiring a contractor:
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 you may have with them.
Do your technicians have the necessary certifications?
In addition to licensing, restoration technicians should be trained properly and certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (I.I.C.R.C.).
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 business has both general liability and worker’s compensation insurance coverage before hiring them.
Are your technicians available at all times?
Reputable restoration companies should answer calls at any hour of any day. Since the resulting damage from a disaster should be immediately handled, restoration companies must also be able to send technicians to inspect and assess the problem as soon as possible, usually within a couple of hours of the incident's occurrence.
Do you give any guarantees?
In truth, it’s difficult to guarantee something that’s almost impossible to predict. For instance, mold shouldn’t grow in a water damaged area after that area has been restored. However, the restoration company should warranty their materials and workmanship.
What restoration experience do you have?
Ask them how often they do projects related to yours to determine their level of experience. It’s also important to search for reviews and ratings of the company online and to ask them for a list of referrals to speak with, made up of past clients. Ask their previous customers if they were satisfied with the results, how long the project took to complete, etc.
How long will it take to complete the restoration project?
In most water mitigation cases, the flooded area needs to be dried within three to five 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 for the project’s completion.
Whichever company you decide to hire, make sure they employ properly trained professionals.