South Woodside Hailey

If you experience property damage from water, fire or mold there are two questions that are sure to go through your mind:

What do I do? & Who should I call for help?  Both questions have just one right answer.

 Contact a certified restoration firm for professional advice and evaluation immediately.  Many property owners make the regretted error of hiring a regular general contractor, or a friend needing work, which ends up turning misfortune into unnecessary misery.

Property damage restoration is a complex process that may involve specialized services, equipment and several other subcontractors.  Certified restoration firms are different in that they typically provide all these services under one roof.

1. Estimating damages in a format compatible with the insurance carrier’s requirements.
2. Evaluating repair vs. replacement costs.
3. Packing, transportation, and storing household items, storage of repaired items until needed.

There are several criteria to consider when selecting a restoration firm to be your partner in the journey of restoring your property back to its safe & attractive condition it was in before the disaster.  Some factors you need to consider are:  

Education - does this firm have the training and credentials in the area that I need help in?

Experience - can this firm illustrate past job success through references and length of time in business?

Reputation - what do others and references say about their experience with this firm?

Insurance - does this firm carry proper liability and workers compensation coverage’s?

Equipment - does this firm have the specialized equipment needed for the job to insure a quality job is done right the first time?

 Property restoration improperly done can lead to compounding problems later.  In water damage cases mold and or rot can result from a structure being incompletely or improperly dried.  On fire & smoke damage lingering odors or secondary damages can be left behind if actions aren’t taken far enough or in the right sequence.   Improper mold remediation can result in re-occurrence and cross contamination of areas not previously affected.  The property owner is often left “ holding the bag” after the claim has been closed when these un-addressed issues surface.

 Contrary to insurance folk lore, the carrier wants to see the property restored back to a pre-loss condition completely, hassle free, & as quick as possible.  Interruption expenses such as loss of use, additional living expenses and loss of income increase the overall claim costs the longer restoration takes.  Reputable restoration firms understand the insurance carrier’s needs, have the industry specific training, and are preferred by the carrier for these reasons.   The insurance carrier is represented by an adjuster who’s role is to review the damages, estimate the costs for repair and ultimately recommend the settlement payment amount.   Next it takes a professional restoration firm to provide the services that convert the monetary settlement into a restored property back in full use.  Standard practice is for the restorer to contract directly with the property owners and be responsible to them for the work. 

 Two widely recognized industry trade associations that you can turn to in finding and evaluating a restoration firm in your area are IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning & Restoration Certification) and RIA (Restoration Industry Association).   Member firms of these associations adhere to required ethical and educational standards.   Visit them on the web for more information on this and other related topics.