Your home or business has been damaged by water due plumbing failures, leaks, or a fire. This water damage restoration consumer guide is meant to help anyone that is suffering a water damage emergency understand the best steps to take as a consumer.
Restoration companies are known as the first responders to significant damage for any home or commercial building during a fire or water damage event.
Residential and commercial water restoration companies should be the first call you make any time a home or commercial building suffers from floods, fires, sewage backup, or water damage events.
The restoration companies take over the clean up, drying, and restoring of damage. Their first responsibilty is to make sure everything is sage. After make sure everything is safe, restoration companies begin to mitigate the damage and restore things to a preloss condition. Restoration companies help restore the property back to a livable condition.
Tbe job of any of the local restoration companies listed on this site or anywhere else is to clean up the mess and protect the home or commercial building from further damage or mold growth. Restoration companies should not repair your home unless they have the right licenses to do home improves in your state or local area.
You can have one company do both the restoration work and the restoration reconstruction work, but it should be on two separate bills/contracts. It’s also OK to have one company to do the restoration work and another company put everything back together. It’s your choice as a consumer and you shouldn’t let anyone tell you differently for any reason. You are in the driver seat when it comes to picking who does what on your property.
The Step by Step Process (Water Damage)
- During or immediately after any water damage event, place a call to your insurance agent or customer support, if you have questions about coverage. If you know have coverage, skip to step 2.
- Contact the best local water restoration companies by checking online reviews and calling their direct number or (866) 563-6665 for immediate help. You insurance carrier or local insurance agent may also know people they can suggest, but don’t forget you’re the boss. The restoration company works for you. Same with the restoration reconstruction company.
- Ask the restoration company and your insurance company about what you should do and review your responsibilities under your insurance policy. This will help you prevent more damage, lets everyone know you’re ready to help, and cover your bases.
- When the local water restoration company arrives, walk them through the damage, and let them to a complete look around. Start documenting (if you haven’t already) damage with photos and videos. You want to have pictures to back up your claims. Make sure that the local water restoration company is an IICRC certified firm. You also want to make sure at least one tech on site is a certified or very seasoned water damage specialist.
- Your insurance adjuster, claim representative, or restoration company may recommend how and what is to be cleaned in the home, but it is your choice. Don’t let people talk you into doing less or more work than you need to do.
- After the restoration company takes a scope of the situation, they should be able to provide a contract for their services. You should also be given the choice between paying personally or through your insurance. Restoration companies tend to provide much different pricing for both options. Nearly all work done through insurance is done through Xactimate Pricing, so all restoration companies and insurance companies should give you pretty similar bills. With personal payments, restoration companies tend to get paid immediately, so you usually get a little discount for paying by personal payment.
- Make sure to properly read the contracts for any work to be done before you give anyone permission to start their work. You don’t want to have any surprises. Read through to make sure that all services are listed and there are no surprise fees. You must sign the contract before the restoration company begins the work. If you’re paying through insurance, the restoration company may just ask you to sign the assignment of benefits sheet, which allows them to bill your insurance company directly through xactimate pricing. Either way, you have to sign a contract before work is done.
More about insurance claims for water damage
If it a claim that is being covered by your insurance. they will cover the cost of the work being done by the restoration company, but you may have to pay the deductible out of pocket. This helps cover some cost for the restoration company and allows them to wait a little longer for their insurance payment.
However, you must know that you are ultimately responsible for making sure that restoration companies get paid. If you insurance company is not covering the work for any reason, you are responsbile for payment.
Make Sure The Restoration Company Documents The Damage
You want to make sure that the water damage restoration company is properly documenting the drying process and job completion. Ask the restoration company for the copy of anything going to the insurance company. Let them know you want to see drying logs and photos during the different steps of the job.
In the weeks following the water damage check the areas where the work was done to make sure there is no mositure or signs of mold growth. Your local hardware stores should have moisture meters and other detection devices. Those moisture detection devices are also available in different online marketplaces.
REMEMBER:
You are in charge of your propery and you are not obligated to hire the restoration company your insurance company suggests. Hire the company with the best local reputation. The work needs to be done and it needs to be done right to prevent futher damage.
The restoration company is resonsible for the services that they provide. Do not go through your insurance company for anything other than payment. You do want to make sure you know what is being done and what you have coverage for.
About tthe IICRC
The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) is a non-profit orga- nization with certification programs and standards
for the restoration industry. An IICRC certified
firm must demonstrate proof of insurance, main- tain a written customer complaint policy with follow-up on complaints and provide education and
training, leading to certification, for technicians.
For more information, go to: https://iicrc.org/
Here is a great blog by 2nd Chance Water restoration on steps to take immediately after water damage!