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Columns

Hiring Restoration Work: A Consumer's Guide to Making Informed Decisions

By Myldred Ingram
checklist

Photo credit: oatawa / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

February 23, 2024

When faced with the need for restoration work, whether due to fire, flood, or other forms of damage, choosing the right restoration company becomes crucial. As someone on the consumer side of things, I’m hoping the following information serves as a comprehensive guide for offering valuable insights to help make informed decisions when hiring restoration services. 

Assessing the Damage: Before hiring a restoration company, it is important to assess the extent of the damage. Take detailed notes and photographs to provide an accurate description of the affected areas. This information will help you effectively communicate with potential restoration companies and ensure they understand the scope of work required. 

Researching Restoration Companies: Conduct thorough research to identify reputable restoration companies in your area. Look for companies with a proven track record, positive customer reviews, and certifications from recognized industry organizations. It is also advisable to check if they have experience in handling similar restoration projects. 

Obtaining Multiple Quotes: To ensure a fair price for the restoration work, obtain quotes from multiple companies. Compare the breakdown of costs provided and consider factors such as the company's reputation, experience, and the quality of their work alongside the price. 

Verifying Insurance and Licensing: Before hiring a restoration company, verify their insurance coverage and licensing. This step is crucial as it protects you from liability in case of any accidents or damages that may occur during the restoration process. 

A reputable company will have no issues providing proof of insurance and licensing upon request.  

Checking References: More often than not, we’ve looked online before contacting a specific company but make sure you thoroughly read and research these “real world” comments making sure it’s not a fluff review from someone working at the company. Another way at going about this is asking the restoration company for references from previous clients. Contact these references to inquire about their experiences with the company. This will help you gauge the company's reliability and the quality of their work. 

Understanding the Restoration Process: A reliable restoration company will provide a clear outline of the restoration process, including the steps involved, the timeline, and any potential challenges. Ensure you understand the process and ask questions if anything is unclear. This will help you set realistic expectations and avoid any surprises along the way. 

Signing a Detailed Contract: Before commencing any restoration work, ensure you have a written contract in place. The contract should include a detailed description of the work to be done, the timeline, payment terms, and any warranties or guarantees provided. Review the contract carefully and seek legal advice if needed to protect your interests. 

Hiring a restoration company requires careful consideration. By assessing the damage, researching companies, obtaining multiple quotes, verifying insurance and licensing, checking references, understanding the restoration process, and signing a detailed contract, consumers can make informed decisions. Taking the time to select the right restoration company will provide peace of mind during a challenging time.

See more articles from our March 2024 issue!

KEYWORDS: communication in business company culture

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Myldred ingram authors

Myldred Ingram is the former Editor-in-Chief of Restoration and Remediation (R&R) magazine. When she’s not writing or reviewing an article she enjoys trying new restaurants in her local area and beyond. The beyond part is because she will most definitely book a plane ticket or take a road trip to another city for food. She loves meeting new people professionally, and working with industry professionals to build upon their brands by thinking of innovative tools for their platforms. Moreover, she’s  excited for the opportunity to merge her journalism, production and technical writing background for use towards R&R magazine. Myldred manages with a servant leader mentality believing that it takes many parts to help an operation run efficiently and there’s no I in team. Myldred looks forward to meeting everyone and learning more about the Restoration and Remediation industry.

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article review`

Billy Soots
February 23, 2024
I agree with most everything you said, with the exception of the getting multible bids. We do not like to get into a bidding war with another company for many reasons. The biggest is apples to apples. If you do your home work on the reviews and talking with the company in person, you should be able to make a good decision without pricing. You can always wait to do the work, till an estimate is prepared. Sometimes this is a "emergency situation" and you can't wait a couple of days for an estimate to be written. Then there are low ballers, who give a better price but put in supplementals to make up for the low estimate. The final thing is I do not charge a customer to do something that I did not do, so there is a safety net there for the owner.

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