Returning a home to its pre-disaster condition after an unexpected catastrophe strikes is a pricey task. Restoration services are often a necessity after water damage or fire and smoke damage occur. In fact, the average cost of removing standing water is $2870. In the same vein, water damage restoration costs homeowners roughly $2584. Fire and smoke damage takes the heaviest financial toll, with repairs averaging $10,567.

Given the high costs of restoration services, homeowners will want to utilize the services of a professional and reputable restoration company. A quality restoration service will take steps to rebuild the damaged parts of your home. Burst pipes and the resulting flooding are addressed by water damage restoration professionals, who will thoroughly dry the property and fix the faulty plumbing. Restoration services also clean up the heavy soot and smoke that result from house fires, leaving your property habitable and safe.

How does a homeowner choose a credible restoration company? Several key indicators can lead a homeowner to the right restoration service.

Hire Local

Local restoration companies can arrive onsite to assess the damage to the home. Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification’s locator can connect a homeowner to local restoration services. The Cleaning and Restoration Association also provides a member list of local, professional restorers.

Check Credentials

Choose a contractor who is licensed and insured. A licensed restoration company has met a set of required credentials in order to perform the specified service. Proper licensure also indicates the company does not have unresolved complaints.

Hire an insured restoration professional. Insurance protects both the technicians working onsite as well as the property owner.  Any injuries to the homeowner or workers that result from the restoration process are covered by general liability insurance. Damage to the property itself that occurs as a consequence to the restoration work performed is also covered under the company’s insurance.

A certified restoration professional demonstrates that the company has received extensive training. Certifications from renowned industry associations, like the Restoration Industry Association, are a clear indication of commitment to quality.

Know Availability

Restoration services are also known as emergency response teams. When water suddenly infiltrates a home and leads to flooding, you’ll want the services of a water damage restoration company who can arrive at the property quickly.

A reliable restoration company has 24-hour service, every day of the year. Water damage and fire damage are unpredictable and can cause upheaval to a property within minutes. Keep the contact information on hand of a restoration service with 24-hour availability.

Plus, the restoration team should offer 24/7 telephone support to resolve concerns or answer any questions while the property undergoes the restoration process.

Refer to References

Firsthand references, like those from friends, neighbors and family, offer the best insight into a restoration service’s professionalism. Third party references, such as online review sites and social media, offer plenty of helpful information from past customers.

Ask friends or colleagues about whether or not the restoration services were reasonably priced or if the service provider arrived quickly in the midst of the emergency. You can also glean information about whether or not the restoration company worked out all the important details regarding the damage with the homeowner’s insurance.

Social media, like Facebook, can lead a homeowner to reputable, local restoration services and give a ballpark figure of what a property owner can expect to pay for services based on the zip code.

Yelp, Angie’s List and Merchant Circle are reliable review sites that offer ratings from previous customers. The reviews can offer specifics on the quality of service provided and any warnings homeowners should be aware of.

Works with Insurance

A reputable restoration company has the experience, knowledge and willingness to work with the homeowner’s insurance. The contractor will negotiate the details of the claim with the insurance provider. Examples of matters that are discussed between the insurance company and restoration company include identifying the source of the damage (such as a burst pipe or flooding) and the extent of damage to the home. A skilled restoration service ensures that the insurance claim covers every area of damage to the property, no matter how small.

Meets Industry Standards

The restoration field has a set of industry standards that all qualified restoration companies will abide by. The two chief industry standards are the ANSI/IICRC Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration and the ANSI/IICRC Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation. Depending on the specific type of damage to the home, additional standards may apply.

Before the sudden need arises to contact a restoration service, be familiar with reliable restoration companies in your area. When you need any type of disaster restoration services, knowing a disaster restoration company beforehand can help you start the restoration process a lot quicker.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.