How To Choose Fire Restoration Contractor

Published on November 8th, 2022

If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of dealing with a disaster at your home such as a fire or flood, it can be stressful and challenging to find a reputable company to work with that provides qualify work.

High charges, delays in work, and finding the right company to do the right restoration on your property is vital for you as a property owner.

How then, can you find the right restoration company for your property?

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Only Hire Licensed Professional Contractors

You may have to do a little research, but finding and hiring qualified professionals is the first step in restoring your home after a fire. Look for companies that are experienced in restoration work; this means they've been in business for at least five years and have worked with similar types of fires.

Hiring a professional contractor with proper licensing and insurance is the best way to ensure that your home and property are in good hands.

When hiring a professional fire restoration contractor, you should ask them questions about their licensing, bonding, and insurance coverage.

The National Fire Protection Association recommends that you verify the contractor's license information with your state's Division of Building Standards & Codes or other regulatory body. 

Ask to see their credentials or certifications and check reviews from previous clients. A good contractor will also ensure that you receive all required permits before starting work on your home.

If the company does not have a current license for your area, it is a red flag that something may be amiss with their business practices. Checking for these things will help you get the best services possible in accordance with industry standards. In the long run, this is the best thing you can do for your family in the event of damage from fire and water.

Choose a Company That Will Work With the Insurance Company.

To ensure that you get the most money possible from your insurance company, it's essential to hire a restoration contractor that knows how to work with them.

If you are going to submit an insurance claim for the damage to your property, you can ask if your contractor can submit a claim on your behalf and help you get paid by your insurer will make the process much easier for you.

The insurance claim will generally cover the labor costs, restoration work, and other parts of the restoration process if you work with a reputable restoration company. 

Other emergency services and restoration services might be covered under your claim as part of the entire project. It's bets to check with your insurance company for this valuable knowledge.

This is when you'll want to ask about their work history and experience in the industry. Asking for references is also a good idea—and don't just take what they tell you at face value! Make sure to check out these references yourself by checking online forums like Angie's list for past customer reviews. 

Talk with former clients or friends who have already used fire damage restoration services from this company in order to get an idea of how satisfied they were with both outcome quality results along with overall customer service throughout the process for water restoration services or fire restoration services.

You can also check with your local better business bureau to double-check the contractor's credentials and hear if there are any complaints from past customers.

Ask How Long the Process Will Take

When you're ready to begin the process of cleaning up your property, it's important to understand how long it will take. This can be a daunting task, as each type of fire damage requires different types of contractors and processes.

• Smoke damage: It may seem like the smoke odor would clear out on its own over time—but this isn't always true because there are many types of smoke odor that need specialized treatment before removing them from your property. While some odors can disappear naturally with time and air circulation, others require professional attention, so they don't linger longer than necessary! This particular restoration project could take a few weeks. 

• Fire restoration: Depending on the level of damage your home has endured during a fire and the methods emergency response teams use to quench a fire, it could take several weeks to several months for a local contractor to make the needed repairs after a thorough inspection of your home. 

Every damage restoration company works at their own pace, and every situation is unique. Water damage restoration and fire damage restoration can take time. It is, after all, a disaster. Make sure your contractor includes a timeline for repairs so you can make plans for temporary housing, etc.

If you are hiring a contractor, it is important that you know they will be there for you when you need them. You want to find someone who has enough experience and license to do the job right the first time. 

If they are not licensed or insured or don't have third-party reviews, this may indicate that they might not have taken the necessary steps to become a legitimate contractor. 

Additionally, if they don't have experience in restoration work, then it's possible that they won't be able to handle all aspects of your situation correctly or effectively. Extensive training is needed to produce quality work and it might cost more.

It's always better to get a good estimate up front than wait until after the job has started (or worse yet - after it's finished). 

For more information about the fire restoration process, how to deal with your insurance provider, and how to look for quality work, please check out our blog!