What You Should Research Before Hiring A Water Damage Company

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While most homeowners hope to avoid flooding or water damage in their property, the reality is that it can happen at any time. Frozen pipes can burst, old roofs begin to leak, and sometimes children think it’s a good idea to make the entire bathroom into a swimming pool.

When any water disaster strikes your home, you’ll more than likely need to call a water damage company to cleanup water and make sure your home is properly dried out. But when you’ve never used one of these companies, it can be hard to tell which is the best option. 

When you need to restore your home after a flood, you want to use a trustworthy company that you know will do the job right. We’ve all heard horror stories about low quality home contractors – those who don’t finish the job or even make damages worse.

Here, we’ve put together a guide on what you should research on before hiring a water restoration company to ensure you use a reputable company. 

Make Sure the Company is Certified, Licensed and Insured

Before hiring any water restoration company, make sure the firm is certified by the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration). This organization sets the standards in the water damage industry, and any reputable company will hold this certification. When a company is IICRC certified, it means that they have completed a series of training courses and passed an exam on water damage standards. 

Once you know the company is properly certified to perform services, double check that they are also licensed and insured to operate in your area. If they’re not, you should immediately look for a company that is. Many times, all these certifications, licenses, and insurance information are clearly advertised on their websites. 

Look at Reviews and Ask for References

Like any other contractor, you should look at reviews on Google, Yelp and other online platforms before making your decision. This will give you a great idea of their customer service and whether they’re constantly making mistakes on their jobs. 

You can also ask your friends, family, or even your insurance company to refer you to a reputable company that they’ve used in the past. 

Look at Their Hours

Unless you’ve had to use a flood damage company in the past, you wouldn’t know that all the best ones provide 24-hour emergency services. Industry professionals understand that water damage needs to be addressed as soon as possible and will respond to your call any hour of the day. 

Companies that can provide an immediate 24-hour response are more likely to prevent further water damage, structural issues, or mold growth in your home. 

Look for Companies that Provide a Wide Range of Services

It’s best to use a damage restoration company that doesn’t just specialize in water damage cleanup. If there’s any other issues in your home such as mold growth or contaminated water, companies that only handle water damage may not be able to provide all the services your property needs. 

For any company that you choose, be sure that they at a minimum provide water damage restoration, drying services, mold remediation, and contaminated water cleanup. These services are most needed in flooding scenarios, and if the company you choose can’t perform them all, you’ll need to call out someone else that does – Complicating your project.

Research What Insurance Companies They Work With

If a company doesn’t work with any insurance companies or makes you handle the insurance process on your own – choose a new one. In the damage restoration industry, all companies should have relationships with insurance companies and should know how the process works inside and out. 

When a company works with insurance, it makes the entire process easier for you. Most often, the water damage company will document damages, submit all needed paperwork and estimates to your insurance company, and even directly bill your insurance.

Hiring the right water mitigation company for your needs can be stressful, especially when you want to get the process started as soon as possible. But, if you follow the tips outlines here, you should end up hiring a reputable company that can return your home to pre-damage conditions as quickly as possible.