The restoration industry employs approximately 100,000 workers in the United States. Less than 10% of these restorers have active certifications with industry-certifying bodies like the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC.). Therefore, it’s crucial for property owners to look for certain characteristics when searching for property damage restoration experts to handle their property restoration needs. Read on to learn the top characteristics!
The Top Characteristics of Property Damage Restoration Experts
By no means is this list exhaustive. However, the following are some essential characteristics to look for in exceptional property damage restoration experts.
- Industry knowledge and experience
- Certification and licensing
- Rapid response
- Communication and Customer Service
- References and Testimonials
Industry Knowledge and Experience
Like any skilled trade, experience is non-negotiable. Restoration has a low barrier of entry. Consequently, there are many inexperienced restorers working in the industry. It’s important to work with companies that have been in business for at least 10+ years. Moreover, the experience within the frontline staff is the most crucial. Peruse a company’s website and try to get a feel for the overall experience of the management team and frontline staff. Experience trumps flash.
Working with experienced property damage restoration experts will save you a lot of trouble and potential heartache from a restoration project gone awry.
Certification and Licensing
This one may seem obvious, but it’s worth discussing because most property owners don’t check for credentials when selecting a restoration contractor. Any property damage restoration expert worth their salt will have ACTIVE certifications, insurance, and business licenses. In states like Florida, you can find their business status at Sunbiz. Check for similar listings in your respective state.
You can also find IICRC-certified firms on this page on the IICRC website. Property owners also have the right to ask for a restoration company’s Certificate of Insurance (COI). Ensure it’s up-to-date and has adequate coverages (usually $1-2M+ in liability). If a contractor doesn’t willingly and gladly provide this information, it’s an immediate red flag.
Rapid Response and Availability
Rapid response is critical when it comes to property damage from events like storms, broken water pipes, and fires. You want to look for property damage restoration experts who are capable of responding to your loss within 90 minutes or less. For this reason, you should always work with local contractors. Keep an eye out online for restorers that advertise 24/7 emergency response. Most of the time, property disasters occur during the most inconvenient times. Namely, holidays, birthdays, and at 2 AM.
The impacts of a delayed response are catastrophic. The risk of secondary damage increases the longer it takes for a company to come out and begin mitigation and remediation services.
Communication and Customer Service
One of the biggest complaints we hear from property owners regarding contractors is the lack of frequent and effective communication. The efficacy of a property damage restoration expert’s communications skills is apparent from the moment they take your first phone call.
- How many times did it ring before they picked up?
- Did it go to voicemail?
- How long did it take them to return your voicemail?
- Did the technicians contact you and give you an ETA on their way to your property?
If they’re not exhibiting these basic skills from the beginning, it will only go downhill from there. Communication will make or break your property damage restoration project.
References and Testimonials
Social proof is important in any business. Checking references and testimonials is key when identifying a property damage restoration expert. If they’re local, they will have some type of word-of-mouth reputation in the community. Moreover, they should have local pages like a Google My Business, Yelp, Apple Business Connect, or Nextdoor profile. They may also be listed on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and will have a social media presence if they’re legitimate.
These are great places to look for past customer reviews and feedback. They may also have a portfolio of past work listed on their website. If you don’t see any of these indicators, keep looking.
We Are Your Local and National Property Damage Restoration Experts
Hopefully, you will never need a property damage restoration expert. However, if you do, you want to look for a company that is experienced, licensed, punctual, communicative, and vetted. At Legacy Restoration, LLC, we are your clear choice for all of your property damage restoration needs. We have offices in the Greater Tampa Area, Ft. Myers, and we serve the Southeastern, Midwestern, and Southwestern portions of the United States.
Call us 24/7 at 888-249-5867 or contact us here using our online form.