Did you know that the homes of nearly 3.9 million Americans are at risk of flooding in the next century? Often, there isn’t anything you can do to prevent flooding, but you do have a say in what happens after.
After experiencing water damage in the home, you get to choose how you go about the cleanup process. Professionals can get the job done the best, but only if you decide on the right company.
Keep reading to learn what to consider when hiring water damage services.
1. Experience
When hiring water damage services, it’s important to consider the experience of the company. Reputable businesses will employ qualified technicians with years of experience.
Experts in the field know exactly what to do when water damage occurs. Rather than wasting time and money, they will start repairing the damage immediately.
Choosing an inexperienced company can lead to improper clean-up and become more costly down the line.
2. Training and Certification
It’s likely you’ll have a bad water damage restoration experience if the company you hire has an incompetent staff.
Before requesting services, ask about the team’s certifications and training. Technicians should be licensed with up-to-date documents.
Companies that have a certification from the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) are typically reputable.
3. Insurance
Repairing water damage is a complex task. If an accident happens while a cleanup crew is on your property, it’s important that they have insurance to cover the additional damages.
A licensed water damage service should have at least general liability insurance and worker’s compensation. If not, they can hold you responsible if an accident happens on your property.
Ask the company for proof of insurance documents rather than taking their word for it. Make sure the documentation is up to date and understand what is covered under their policy.
4. Online Reviews
Reading online reviews is a great way to figure out if a company offers great customer service and a good experience for clients. Note the positive to negative review ratio and skim through a variety of responses.
It’s very likely that even the best companies will have negative reviews so it’s important to see how their staff responds to them. You can also see if the negative reviews are similar to learn if the company has a reoccurring problem.
Before hiring a service, you can ask for referrals as well. Talk to their previous clients and ask questions about the experience to help you decide if they are the right fit for your needs.
5. Availability
When it comes to water damage, availability is important in a restoration company. It’s essential to choose a business that can respond immediately to your problem so that mold doesn’t develop.
Some companies offer around-the-clock service so you can reach out to them at any time. Waiting will only make the water damage worse.
Hiring Water Damage Services the Right Way
After experiencing residential flooding, it’s best to consider hiring water damage services that do more good than harm.
To ensure you are choosing a reputable business, consider experience, training, certification, and insurance. Read through online reviews to get a client’s perspective and pick a company that’s available right away.
Contact us after dealing with water damage before it gets worse.