8 Questions To Ask Before You Hire A Water Damage Restoration Company

If your home or business has experienced water damage, time is of the essence. Hiring the right restoration company to help address your issues and prevent further damage can help you save time, money, and headache. 

Unfortunately, not all water damage restoration companies are built the same. When it comes to hiring the right company that will take care of your property with care, you need to come prepared before you sign the dotted line. If you are wondering how to find the best restoration team to help you alleviate your water damage problems, here are eight questions you should ask in your first call or face-to-face meeting:

1. “Do you have experience in water damage restoration?”

If you are concerned about potential water damage at your property, this may be one of the most important questions you can ask. By ensuring that your potential water damage restoration team is experienced working with a variety of water damage issues, you can trust that they will know how to handle any issue that may be present with your home or business.

2. “Are your restoration technicians trained?”

Not only should your potential water damage restoration team be experienced with working with properties facing moisture issues, but they should also be trained. By asking to see the training credentials of any restoration team, you can take comfort knowing that those coming to treat your property have been educated in how to treat water damage in a way that remedies any damage while ensuring long-term solutions.

3. “Do you use leading cleaning and restoration supplies that are safe and effective?”

Water damage restoration tools and solutions have been modernized to help restore your property to its pre-damaged state as well as possible. Make sure that you benefit from the latest in cleaning and restoration supplies by asking any water damage team to show you the products that they use. This will help you ensure that you know what a particular company is using, as well as the results you should expect from their services.

4. “Do you offer emergency services 24/7?”

With water damage, the unexpected can strike at any moment. This means that you need a water damage restoration team that is ready to respond to any issues at a moment’s notice. Ask your potential company if they are ready to answer your call should a water issue arise in the middle of the night. Most companies are trained and ready to offer emergency services every day of the week to treat most water damage problems.

5. “Do you work well with insurance companies?”

Most water damage will end up involving your insurance company. When you hire a company to come in and do disaster restoration, you need to make sure that they are ready to work with most insurance companies. 

Ask them their process for handling claims and payments, and if there are any issues that they have experienced in the past working with insurance companies. You may even submit your insurance carrier in order to see if they work with your insurance in particular.

6. “Is your team bonded and insured?”

Not only should you ask about how they handle insurance, but you should ask if they themselves are insured for their work. Most states require that water restoration companies be bonded and registered, helping ensure that any legal issues that arise are handled properly and with care. Should a member of the restoration team be injured on the job, or if an issue arises due to poor work, you can rest easy knowing that your project has been insured against any potential problems.

Most states throughout the U.S. require restoration companies and contractors to register with them. Therefore, if a legal matter arises during the property restoration process, the client has the means to handle the dispute with the company.

7. “Can you show me your references?”

Sometimes a restoration team’s word isn’t quite enough. To get a real feel of the satisfaction of other water damage clients, make sure to ask for a list of references. This can give you an idea of how a team’s past work has held up. If they are slow to offer references, this may be a sign that they may not be the best choice.

8. “How do you determine your project timeline?”

It is essential for you to ask your potential contractor their usual scheduling and timelines for any water restoration projects. Many companies will offer you a rough estimate of the time that they believe the process will last depending on the issues at hand. This can help you better plan for a particular restoration project’s duration and budget.

 

Trust South Bend’s Premier Water & Fire Restoration Service

Ensuring that you work with the best company can help you move forward confidently following a water damage issue. Any amount of water damage can lead to long-term damage that is costly and long-lasting.

If you are afraid that you may have fallen victim to water damage, contact the team at First Response Disaster Restoration Specialists today. Our team of restoration experts are Better Business Bureau-accredited and skilled to help you handle a variety of water damage issues. We are proud to offer South Bend customers with a variety of emergency restoration services — including water damage restoration to odor control, carpet cleaning and upholstery and fabric recovery.

We are proud to have been recognized as South Bend’s Regional Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year – and we are committed to serving the South Bend community with excellence no matter the water damage issues.

Contact our team today to learn more about water damage and other restoration services for homes in South Bend and the surrounding region.