Feel Confident About Your Cleanup and Mitigation Company

2/28/2020 (Permalink)

This kitchen suffered water damage in Ogden, UT.

After your home has been damaged by water, fire, mold, or another disaster, some of the most important people you'll work with are those from a cleanup and mitigation company. Unfortunately, there are a lot of restoration professionals who claim to do great work but don't really have the equipment, expertise, or IICRC training to provide satisfactory results.

How can you recognize reputable technicians from less-than-savory companies?

Ask the Right Questions

One of the first steps you should take is to ask questions about each company and its technicians. The right questions can lead to informative answers:

• Does the restoration company have licensing, certifications, and insurance?
• Will the company give you a copy of their licenses, insurance, and bond paperwork
• How are estimates made? (Avoid any company providing estimates over the phone?)
• How long has the company been in your area?
• Are they local or nationwide?
• Will the restoration company work with your insurance provider?
  

It may be tempting to choose the first technician to offer you a fast, low estimate, but you'll find that this often leads to sloppy work and extra costs down the road.

Talk to Your Insurance Provider

Following any disaster, you should call your insurance provider as soon as possible. When you make this phone call, ask for recommendations regarding disaster cleanup and restoration companies. This insurance company is also interested in getting good results while keeping costs low. You're almost sure to get a recommendation for a restoration provider with the proper mitigation certificate and licensing.

Learn About Licensing and Credentials

Another vital step is understanding industry standards and credentials. The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, or IICRC, is a non-profit organization that sets the standards for inspection, cleaning, and restoration companies. The organization also provides certifications, so individual professionals and entire companies can become certified to show they are compliant with those standards.

The best results for your home restoration come from working with a Ogden, UT, company that has proper IICRC compliance, trained professionals, and the tools to do the job. Take time to research the company, get answers to vital questions, talk to your insurance provider, and understand credentials and compliance.