Why Prequalify a Property Damage Restoration Company in Media, PA?

6/3/2021 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: SERVPRO of Media explains the value of prequalifying a damage restoration company before a water, fire, smoke, or storm damage disaster disrupts life.

SERVPRO of Media, PA, recommends that homeowners prequalify a damage restoration company before disaster strikes. The following questions will help homeowners, property owners, property management companies, facility managers, business owners, municipalities, institutions, and corporations prequalify the property damage restoration company that can best meet the needs and challenges each situation presents.

A property damage disaster is disruptive and very stressful, often impeding the homeowner’s ability to think and act quickly and accurately. Identifying, calling, and prequalifying property damage restoration companies at 2:00 am in the morning when the home or business is on fire or being flooded during severe weather is not an ideal situation. When disaster strikes, knowing the one call to make and making it may be the only step the traumatized homeowner is able to take. With just one call, a team of damage restoration experts is on the scene within an hour to inspect and assess the damage and begin the cleanup and restoration process. The homeowner saves time and money and avoids unnecessary stress. The solution is in process and on the way before the customer ends the call.

What to Look For in a Property Damage Restoration Company

1. Company Profile

• Is the company locally owned and operated?
• How long has the company been in business?
• Are employees hired locally?
• Is the company invested in the community?
• What is the stated mission of the company?
• What are the company’s core values?
• Is the corporate identity friendly, family-oriented, and sympathetic to the client’s felt needs at the time of the disaster?
• Is the company licensed, bonded, and insured?

2. Customer Service

• Does the company offer consulting services, including helping homeowners and businesses formulate a disaster readiness response plan?
• Is the company available 24/7, anytime night or day?
• Does a real person answer the phone?
• Is the company’s web presence professional, user-friendly, informative, and engaging?
• What is the estimated response time once the initial contact is made?
• Can the company handle the insurance claim and work with the insurance company from beginning to end?
• What working relationships does the local company have with area insurance companies and their agents?
• Will the staff utilize Xactimate or other residential estimating solutions?
• Will the homeowner or business owner receive a detailed estimate before any work begins?

3. Social Proof

• What is the company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating?
• What are customers saying about the company on social media?
• Is there a “satisfaction guaranteed” policy?

4. Comprehensive Service Menu

• Does the company handle water, fire, smoke, storm, and flood damage disasters?
• Will the company handle disasters of any size?
• Is the company qualified to handle all facets of mold mitigation and remediation?
• What cleaning services does the company offer?
• What commercial services are offered?
• Are commercial cleaning services available for businesses, daycares, schools, office complexes, factories, and other facilities?
• Are cleaning services for COVID-19 available?
• Is the company able to scale for a large-loss disaster such as a hurricane, tornado, flood, or fire?

5. Emergency Building Construction and Temporary Protective Services

Is the company able to provide emergency building and temporary protective services? Examples include:

• Emergency roof tarping after wind and storm damage
• Board up of windows and doors after damage from severe weather
• Temporary security fencing
• Move-out and pack-out services
• Temporary warehouse space for homes and businesses

6. Repairs and Minor Building Services

Continuity of services from the initial cleanup to the completion of the restoration project is vital for cost savings, efficiency, and consistency of quality. Disruption of services unnecessarily extends the project’s length, increases overall costs, and frustrates clients and businesses who are eager to return home or get back to work creating products, providing services, and generating revenue. Disruptions in the revenue cycle hurt the business owner, employees, vendors, and customers.

Inquire about the following repairs and minor building services:

• Drywall removal and installation
• Hardwood floor repair
• Tile floor repair
• Painting
• Carpet repair and installation
• Other miscellaneous building services and reconstruction

Before prequalifying any damage restoration company, understand the capabilities of the restoration company. Can the damage restoration company handle the entire restoration process from initial damage mitigation to rebuilding the affected areas? If the fulfillment of the entire scope of work from start to finish is the expectation, then make sure the damage restoration company can meet the challenge.

7. Quality of Services

• Does the company have the latest equipment?
• Is the company using the most advanced technologies for moisture detection and air quality treatment?
• Are the cleaning and restoration techniques up to date with industry standards?
• Are the cleaning solutions EPA-approved and safe for humans, pets, and the environment?
• Are technicians trained and certified by the IICRC?

8. Safety on the Job

• Do technicians receive ongoing training for the proper use of the latest safety equipment?
• Does the company encourage and enforce the highest safety standards, including the use of PPE and other measures to protect service providers, occupants, pets, and visitors?
• Is safety an obvious core value of the company?

9. Other Important Questions to Ask in the Pre-Qualification Process

• Does the company have a commercial disaster response division, and how many years has it been operational?
• Can the restoration company mobilize a large-loss disaster response in hours rather than days?
• Is the disaster response team able and willing to pre-stage for an anticipated natural disaster such as a hurricane, tropical storm, or wildfire? This information is critical for a large corporate client with factories, distribution centers, and suppliers huddled around a major metropolitan area that is vulnerable to hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, heavy snowstorms, or other disruptive events.

Prequalifying a damage restoration company that can seamlessly scale from one office complex to ten office complexes is crucial if the property management company is to meet its contractual obligations to serve its customers in a timely and efficient manner. Only a handful of companies can muster such a response. SERVPRO is equipped to meet this challenge for any property management company in any large or medium-sized city in the United States.

For more information about the Media, PA, damage restoration company, contact the office by phone at (610) 566-5720 or by email at office@SERVPROmedia.com.