What to Expect from Your Water Damage Restoration Company

11/6/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Central Austin Professionals are available 24 hours/7 days a week and will respond quickly to a restoration emergency.

When your home has suffered from water damage, it can be a tense and stressful experience. If the damage is severe, you'll need to hire a water damage restoration company to make repairs and restore your Austin home or business. Understanding what to expect from a water damage restoration company can help make the process less overwhelming.

What Is the Job of a Water Damage Restoration Company?

Restoration companies are some of the first responders when a home has been damaged by fire or floods, excessive water damage, or other major catastrophes. The ultimate job of a restoration company is to clean up the damage, remove it from the property and to preserve and protect the home so that it and the contents within it don't suffer from further damage.

Some restoration companies also will be able to repair your home or business to bring it back to its original condition. When hiring a water damage restoration company, you'll want to ensure you have a clear understanding and what they will and will not do at your property.

Your Insurance & the Restoration Company

After your property has suffered a major event and subsequent damage, you'll want to contact your insurance agent. Be sure to review your responsibilities with your insurance agent, and what is required by your insurance policy for cleaning up the home to prevent any additional damage. You'll want to discuss any questions you may have with your insurance agent.

Your agent may make referrals of restoration companies within the area. You can also contact a water restoration company on your own. 

When choosing a water damage restoration company, be sure they have all the proper certifications, are fully licensed and have at least a few years of experience in the water damage restoration industry. Make sure you're working with a company you can trust; your property is in their hands after all. One of the benefits of working with SERVPRO is the national reputation our company has built and continues to uphold. SERVPRO franchises and employees are all upheld to strict training guidelines.

The Process Once the Water Damage Restoration Company Arrives

Here's how you should proceed once the water damage restoration company arrives. 

Do a walkthrough of the property with the Restoration Company representative, and point out and discuss all the areas that need to be cleaned. The restoration company may be able to identify issues that you're not aware of, so you should also allow them to thoroughly examine the issues.

The company's representative will be evaluating what will be needed in terms of time, work and equipment to clean and restore your home. You should expect that they'll provide you with an estimate for those services. 

Though insurance companies will cover most of the work done by damage restoration companies, there can be instances where not all cleaning and restoration services will be covered. You'll want to make sure you understand from your insurance company what will and won't be covered.

When they provide you with a contract, as with any contract you should read over it thoroughly and ensure that you understand the services listed and what will be done on your property. Be sure to request that you receive documentation showing the drying process and completion.

Once the work has been completed, be sure to keep a close eye on the areas where the restoration work was done, as you'll want to make sure no moisture or dampness from the water damage remain in your home.

If you experience any issues with the Restoration company, remember that you'll need to take those up with the restoration company directly, and your insurance company won't get it involved.

Though hopefully you've chosen a reputable company to handle your restoration, remember that you'll always want to ensure that the work was done correctly.

Some Things to Look Out for When Choosing a Restoration Company

Reputable restoration companies will be IICRC certified. IICRC stands for the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. It's a non-profit organization that offers certification programs and standards for the restoration industry.

In order to be IICRC certified, the restoration company must have proof of insurance, maintain a written customer complaint policy with follow-up on complaints, and provide the technicians with education and training to become certified.

Companies may also be members of the Restoration Industry Association (RIA). The RIA is a trade association for cleaning and restoration professionals. In addition to education and training, the trade association offers technical support and several certifications for technicians.

Here's a quick review of how to proceed when water damage strikes your home or business:
1. Be sure to choose a restoration company with an excellent reputation that have been around for at least a few years.
2. Check that your restoration company is IICRC Certified
3. Read the contract carefully and be sure to keep your own copy
4. If a problem occurs, make sure you contact your restoration company right away
5. Check with your insurance company on what is expected of you following a major loss.
6. For any insurance coverage questions, be sure you get answers in writing from your insurance company claims adjuster.
7. Remember that it's important to act fast to prevent further damage from water or flooding. This is to prevent things like mold from growing. Delays can end up costing you much more in the end in terms of recovery, salvage and reconstruction.
8. Make sure repairs to your home are done promptly after the clean up service occurs.

We understand how devastating a damage event can be. When you need to ensure your property is in good hands, be sure to contact our SERVPRO team. We don't just clean up and remove the damage, we specialize in restoring your property to its original condition and making it "Like it never even happened."