Important Questions to Ask When Calling a Disaster Restoration Company

The aftermath of a disaster, such as a weather-related event or a fire, can be devastating. Your safest bet is to call a disaster restoration company in Cedar Rapids at the earliest to minimize damage and help you get back on your feet.

But a quick Google search shows a dozen or so remediation companies near you, so which one should you pick? Which business will offer the most professional service? Who is the absolute best at their job?

Start by asking the right questions to learn about a company’s disaster restoration capabilities before shortlisting them. To help you out, we’ve narrowed down a list of important questions to ask disaster restoration companies before hiring them. Once you are equipped with the answer, you should be able to choose the best one to begin disaster restoration services in Cedar Rapids.

1. What is Your Experience?

This is an important question to ask. You want to make sure the company is in complete control of the situation. For instance, there is a big difference between remediation services for a flood and cleaning up after mold build-up, and it’s critical to find a company that can deliver the type of service you need. When it comes to restoration services, practice makes perfect and nothing beats several years of experience.

Moreover, if the company has a good track record and experience, they have likely seen all types of disaster situations and have the expertise needed to work on your case.

Are the Technicians Performing the Work Trained?

Any technician who performs restoration work on your house should be fully trained to do the job. Depending on the scope of the job, services rendered by an untrained and inexperienced technician may contribute to further damage.

Make sure you ask the company to send trained technicians who are knowledgeable in every type of disaster restoration situation. They will know what tools and techniques to use for giving you the best results.

What Equipment and Supplies Will You Bring?

This is a very generic question that covers a vast number of core issues. Expect the answer to be longer than usual, so you’ll have to be patient over the phone. With that said, don’t hesitate to ask the service provider to guide you through the process because you are just about to hand over your house to them for a repair.

A highly reputed disaster restoration business will have access to advanced equipment for different situations.  Expect the technicians to bring in air scrubbers, dehumidifiers, and commercial air movers to dry out the moisture and remove pungent smells from the area.

In the case of a fire disaster, they may also use an ultra-low volume fogger to deodorize the room. If the area was flooded by water from burst pipes or the firefighters’ hoses, the disaster restoration team may also use a water pump to remove the water from the area. Commercial vacuums will be used to remove soot and smoke from surfaces.

Other tools you should expect to hear about include:

• Measurement and analysis tools (such as moisture meter and detector)
• LGR dehumidifiers
• Dump containers
• Box fans
• Coatings, sealers, soot removal tools, and others
• Personal protective equipment (gloves, masks, goggles, and, in some cases, hazmat suits)

Disaster restoration businesses in Cedar Rapids should be fully equipped to handle water, mold, and fire damage.

What Would Your Past Clients Say About Your Work?

Most disaster restoration companies are built on referrals and the business should not hesitate to provide you with references. We understand that asking for such information might be the furthest thing from your mind since you want to get your home back to how it used to be. However, referrals will help you validate the experiences and expertise of the business.

You can also look up online reviews from platforms such as Trustpilot, Better Business Bureau, Google Reviews, and others (although you should take them with a grain of salt).

What Insurances Do You Have?

You want to make sure the disaster restoration company is properly insured. They should have an insurance policy in case someone on their team gets injured due to the work they do – this is the last thing you want to worry about.

How Long Will the Project Take?

The answer to this question will depend on the extent of the damage.  Expect the company to ask you a few questions about the source of damage (fire, water, and mold), how long your house has been in this condition, how many areas of the house have been affected by the damage, and others.

In some cases, the timeline quoted on the phone may change after the disaster restoration company has fully evaluated your house for damage. In general, you should expect a timeline anywhere from a few days to as much as 6 months or more.

The Bottom Line

Knowing that you’ll soon have to hire a disaster restoration specialist in Cedar Rapids can be a little scary – unless this isn’t your first rodeo. You may not know whether the problem is minor or major, or better yet, how much it will cost you. A professional disaster remediation company will do everything to put your mind at ease and resolve any issues they find.

Make sure to document the situation often and ask disaster specialists to troubleshoot accurately to arrive at the best solution.

And above all, don’t hesitate to ask questions. Even if you find yourself tongue-tied when asking the question or describing problems with the house, you should be comfortable with their representative on the phone.

If you need disaster restoration services, 911 Restoration of Cedar Rapids can help.