When your home or business suffers catastrophic damage in a major disaster, you might be shocked and disoriented. It can be hard to imagine that your life can get back to normal. However, normal is almost always possible, and the first step in achieving normal again is hiring the right restoration contractor.
Since you’ve likely never had to do this before, this decision might seem overwhelming to you, especially once you know that there are likely disreputable companies out there who will take your money and not repair your home or business. Here are some tips to help you find the right restoration company for you.
Ask Your Insurance Company for Recommendations
You should call your insurance company before you hire a restoration contractor, so asking them for recommendations is a good start. The odds are that they won’t give you an actual recommendation, but they will supply you with a list of restoration companies in the area that they have worked with and that they have found to serve their customers well.
This list is a great place to start. Not only will you find a contractor you will likely be able to trust, but you’ll find one that you know works with your insurance company. Your insurance carrier might also tell you if you need to follow any special process in choosing a restoration company, such as getting multiple quotes before making your selection.
Ask Friends and Family for Recommendations
To narrow down the list from your insurance company, ask your friends and family if they have worked with any restoration companies in the past. You probably know if they had a major home disaster, but sometimes people have a relatively minor problem that the contractor resolves so quickly and effectively that they forget all about it until asked.
If you get any recommendations, highlight them on your list, but don’t make a decision yet.
Research Skills and Experience
Take your list and research the potential contractors. First, you will want to check some general background information. Call and ask if their company is licensed in your area and ask if their staff has any notable certifications. Special training in the type of restoration you need could make all the difference in the results you get.
Ask if they are insured. Get specific information about their insurance coverage, including workers’ compensation. Don’t take their word that they are covered. Call their insurance company or companies to determine whether they have the coverage they claim.
Look at reviews online of the restoration companies you are considering. Don’t just look at the number of stars: actually read the reviews and keep your eyes out for any repeated issues that come up. If multiple people mention a concerning problem, scratch that candidate off your list.
Make Sure They Will Handle the Whole Job
Not all restoration contractors are skilled in performing the full restoration process. You want to know if you’re going to need to hire more than one contractor to get all the work done, so ask what work this restoration company does, and if there are any parts of the project that they can’t handle.
National Reach and Local Presence
Another aspect to look at is the size of their business. A restoration company with national reach is desirable because they have access to resources beyond the local market, which might be tight after a major emergency. When necessary, a national contractor can pull resources in from outside the local market, including labor. This will help them keep costs down and reliably finish your restoration job even in bad circumstances.
A local presence is also important. You want someone with a real local office and local workers. Some national chains will use their national reputation to attract leads, then either truck in for major disasters or basically sell leads to local companies that you don’t have a chance to vet before hiring.
Ask the Right Questions
Finally, take the time to ask questions of any potential restoration company you’re vetting. These can reveal some important details about their work that you need to know before hiring them.
Do you handle residential or commercial restoration?
Make sure your restoration company can handle your type of job. Some are specialized restorers who will only do certain types of work, either residential or certain types of commercial. Others are prepared to handle multiple types of jobs.
Do you offer a guarantee?
Guarantees give you a failsafe in case something goes wrong with the restoration project. If contractors do offer guarantees, make sure you understand their terms and conditions up front. You don’t want to think the guarantee protects you when it actually doesn’t.
Can I call references?
Disaster restoration can make a huge difference in a person’s life. It can take people who are suffering the same type of fear and uncertainty that you feel now and make them feel secure and comfortable again. That type of impact makes people happy to speak on behalf of a company. If a contractor doesn’t have previous customers who are prepared to speak on their behalf, then they’re not the people you want to hire.
Will you hire subcontractors?
Hiring subcontractors is not inherently bad – it’s often necessary to complete complex restoration jobs. However, you need to know when the company might hire subcontractors, and how they will vet these people to ensure you get quality service from the subcontractor they hire.
Is the estimate free?
You want to know whether you will have to pay for an estimate. Paying for an estimate shouldn’t be a deal-breaker. After all, a free estimate isn’t free – the company just rolls the cost of the estimate into your restoration bill. Paying for an estimate is also more likely to result in a reliable estimate, because the contractor will take the time to thoroughly evaluate the job.
Looking for a Restoration Contractor in the greater Seattle & Spokane Metro Area?
If you have experienced a major disaster that damaged your home or business, choose Just Right Cleaning & Construction. We encourage you to compare us to other contractors in the area, and you will see that we stand head and shoulders above the competition.
Please contact us today at 509-765-4138, and you will see why people in the greater Seattle & Spokane Metro Area have been choosing JRCC Damage Restoration Experts since 1954.