Finding water damage in your home is a frustrating experience, especially if the damage involves standing water.  Water damage and flooding can happen at any time as it can be caused by weather conditions like natural floods and heavy rains or problems within your home such as leaks, overflows, pipe bursts, and sewage backups.

It can be overwhelming to find a sagging ceiling or flooding in your basement, and you may be unsure of what to do next.  All cases of water damage require an immediate response because the water will continue to spread through porous building materials and furnishings and increase the risk of damage to the home’s structure, electrical system, and plumbing system.  Areas affected by water damage and flooding may also experience mold growth within 24-48 hours.

When water damage occurs, you will need to get in touch with your insurance provider first and document the damage.  After alerting your insurance company, your next call should be to a water damage contractor.  These professionals will remove the water from your home as well as dry and restore the affected areas and materials to return your property to its pre-disaster condition.

It is important to find a trusted water damage company that provides quality restoration services.  Poor quality water damage restoration puts your home at risk for further damage or mold growth which will cost more of your time and money to repair.  In this guide, we discuss how to react to water damage in your home and what to look for to find a reputable water damage restoration contractor.

Call Your Insurance Provider

The first thing you should do when you discover water damage or flooding in your home is call your insurance provider.  Homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies may cover some or all of the restoration costs depending on the source of the damage.  Water damage caused by water from inside the home that is the result of a covered peril is likely to be covered while water damage caused by outside water like rain and flooding will not.  You need to purchase separate flood insurance to cover this type of water damage.

Regardless of whether or not your insurance will cover all or some of the damage, you should still call them first.  They will determine if the damage can be covered by your policy and start your claim in cases in which you do have coverage.  You can increase the chance of your claim being approved by taking the following steps:

• Document the damage: Document as much of the damage as possible when you discover water damage in your home. Take time-stamped videos and photos to thoroughly capture the damage to your home and belongings.
• Compile a list: Create a list that includes all of your damaged items that will be submitted with your claim.
• Keep receipts: If you have paid for emergency repairs and restoration in the immediate aftermath, save your receipts so that you may be reimbursed with your claim.
• Contact your insurance agent: You can make the call to your insurance agent after documenting the damage. They will probably send an inspector to survey the damage and determine what will be covered.

After inspecting the damage to your home and determining what will be covered, they may recommend a water restoration company to restore the damage.  Insurance agencies have preferred vendors, but you are not obligated to use the restoration company they recommend.  You should be able to choose a water damage contractor yourself and still have the costs covered by your insurance.

What to Expect from Water Damage Restoration Contractor

Water damage restoration companies handle the complete restoration and repair after water damage has occurred.  The goal of water damage restoration is to remove the water, dry the affected areas and materials, and restore the damage to return the property to its original condition.  You can expect water restoration companies to take care of the following:

• Complete water removal, including the removal of standing flood water using advanced water extraction equipment
• Mold detection and remediation if the water damage has caused mold growth
• Sewage cleanup, including removal of permanently damaged materials and disinfection and cleaning to restore safe conditions
• Removal of contaminated and permanently damaged belongings and materials
• Drying or removal of carpeting and wood flooring depending on the extent of the damage
• Drying and restoration of personal belongings and important documents
• Reconstruction and repairs for damaged drywall, roofing, flooring, and other structural elements

What to Look for in a Water Damage Restoration Contractor

Water damage can be extensive when it occurs and may involve structural damage and mold growth that needs to be addressed.  This makes it important to find a reputable water damage restoration contractor that can provide high-quality restoration services.  A trusted water damage company will provide complete restoration of your property and leave no lingering issues that could become costly problems later.

Credentials

One of the easiest ways to tell if a water restoration contractor is legit is to check their credentials.  A reputable water damage restoration provider should have the following industry standard credentials:

• IICRC Certification: This type of certification is standard in the disaster restoration industry shows that a business is knowledgeable when it comes to concepts, terminology, and procedures of the restoration industry.
• EPA Lead-Safe Certification: Contractors with this certification adhere to lead-safe work practices and use certified, EPA-approved renovators.
• Bonding: A company that is bonded gives you financial coverage if the company causes additional property loss or damage while working.
• Contractors Pollution Liability (CPL) Insurance: CPL insurance protects against costs for property damage, bodily injury, cleanup, and defense from pollution caused by the contractor.

Responsiveness

Water damage is an emergency because the water will continue spreading and causing damage until the restoration begins.  It is important to work with a water damage contractor that is responsive to your call as a quick response will limit the damage and save you time and money.  A reputable restoration contractor should be available 24/7 to take emergency calls.

Transparency

A restoration contractor should be transparent with you about the entire process, including the steps of the process, timeframes, and cost.  They should also be open to communication and be able to answer your questions with a level of honesty and expertise.  A reputable contractor is also ready to show you their license, certifications, and proof of insurance upon your request.

Get a Written Quote from Multiple Contractors

Most water damage contractors provide free estimates for their services.  To make sure you get a fair price, ask for an estimate from multiple contractors.  A reputable water damage restoration company will thoroughly inspect the damage to your home and provide a detailed estimate based on their inspection.  By asking more than one company for an estimate, you can ensure competitive pricing.

It is important to avoid being overcharged and you should also be wary of low estimates as the work you get at that price may not be quality work.  The following are the national averages for cost for the types of repairs you can expect from the water damage restoration process:

• Drywall replacement: $240 per square foot
• Bathroom plumbing repairs: $250
• Flooring replacement for linoleum or vinyl: $1,000 per square foot
• Door replacement: $500
• Window replacement: Up to $1,500
• Roof water damage: $750

Lead Generation Services from RestorationMaster

Dealing with flooding and water damage in your home is not easy.  You need to take immediate action when this occurs to get in touch with your insurance provider and call a reputable water damage restoration company.  By following the tips outlined above, you will be sure to hire a trusted water damage contractor that will work diligently to get your property restored.  Taking the time to hire the right contractor will not only result in higher quality services, but also peace of mind as you deal with the aftermath of the disaster.

If you need emergency water damage restoration services, call RestorationMaster at (888) 915-7197 to find a restoration contractor in your area. 

One of the biggest challenges for restoration contractors is consistently generating quality leads that turn into profitable jobs.  At RestorationMaster, we can help contractors get more water damage leads with our lead generation services.  We generate quality restoration leads through our highly optimized, geo-based website that go directly to restoration contractors.  Contractors that work with us get exclusive leads in their service area so they do not have to compete with other contractors for the same leads.

Water damage contractors can call RestorationMaster at (888) 846-1992 for more about our lead generation services.