subject: Getting The Best Of Water Damage Services Company [print this page] The water damage services industry has grown by leaps and bounds in the last few years. Earlier, everything was very ad-hoc and hence depended a lot on the people who performed the disaster recovery services and their judgments of the damage. With standards evolving, a lot has changed and basic guidelines are in place to deal with a disaster. However, that does not undermine the advantages of having a good water damage company or agency. A good company can make the experience less frustrating. It is important to choose the agency carefully. So, let us take a look at some of the factors that differentiates a good agency from a not so good one.
Reputation and Referrals
In any service industry, having trained staff and using state of the art technology are the prerequisites to providing high quality of services. However, it is difficult to judge a company by these metrics as we can't go about inspecting their back end. Hence, referrals can help in such a situation by establishing the trust required to choose a company. Someone we know who has been in a water damage situation before and has been helped by an agency can throw light about the best way to deal with the situation and which agency to hire for the job.
Certifications Requirement
Agencies that are certified by EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and follow the standards of EPA when conducting mold remediation and performing other services can provide better service to their customers. Customers also have an opportunity to validate the work done by the agency. Certifications from independent bodies like IICRC can also help increase our trust in the agency.
A good water damage company should be willing to certify the property after mold remediation is done so that the certificate can be used when selling off that property. This will ensure that the facility will not lose its value because of the incident. Also, the people who work or live in the facility will have mental peace and satisfaction that the facility is safe for living or working.
Agency Prerequisites
Apart from having a 24 hour helpline, the agency should be willing to provide water damage services all through the year. They should be willing to and have the capability to help out in the process of filing for claims with your insurance company. Liability insurance of the company is also important. If there was an incorrect remediation, your agency's insurer should be able to compensate you for the damages. It might be a good idea to do a check with the agency about their past record.
Regular Inspection, a Must
It is also advisable to hire an agency that can inspect the facility a couple of times a year for potential damage. Also, after a service has been done, they should be willing to inspect the facility after a few months to re-confirm that there are no residues and the facility is safe.
Selecting the right agency is very critical as you will be spending a lot of time and money and entrusting your property to them for remediation. The experience of a water damage incident is a frustrating one. But, it can be a lot less stressful if one has to deal with caring and committed professionals.
