Home About Writers Categories Recent Issues Subscribe Contact File Transfer





Chris Mazzacco
Chris Mazzocco is the Director of Sales & Marketing at Steam Way Restorations, Inc. Steam Way has serviced SEK since 1982 offering both residential and commercial carpet & upholstery cleaning as well as air duct cleaning. As an IICRC certified firm Steam Way provides 24-hour emergency service for water damage mitigation, fire & smoke cleaning, and mold remediation. You can contact Chris at 620-330-2819 or chris@steamway.net
Cleaning & Restoration
2013-06-25 09:24:44
Finding a great restoration company?
A-This is not a question from readers but actually a question we posed last month in our discussion of homeowner rights to work with contractors they feel comfortable with. The general guidelines you would follow in finding a contractor of any trade applies to a restoration company as well. Most will advise you to use local, established, and trusted companies. Within the restoration industry there are sometimes issues after a major weather event where many restoration contractors will flock to an affected area. I’m not going to say all out of area contractors who follow storms are poor contractors. Many of these companies are skilled and experienced and can fill a short term need. But if for some reason there are issues down the road remember these folks are usually long gone, filling a short term need for someone else potentially in another region of the country. A company who has been entrenched in a community for a long period of time can usually be trusted to stand behind their work. A trustworthy company will also have endless references, and testimonials for your review. Whether local or not, a big thing a homeowner should look for in a restoration company is their training and experience. The IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning Restoration Certification) is the accepted governing body of the restoration industry.* A company who is an IICRC Certified Firm gives customers the peace of mind that the company has adopted the guidelines set forth in the IICRC, and will use methods that have been proven as the safest and most effective way of restoring property. With a single certification however some companies may call themselves a certified firm. Make sure they are certified in the particular skill you need. A company boasting they are a certified firm may be certified in carpet cleaning and offer water damage services as well without being certified in that skill. The above makes a company good, but notice we said “great” contractor in the title? A person’s home is not only their greatest financial asset but also their most cherished possession. When we think of the endless hours we have spent in our home and how much we value the possessions inside, ‘good’ does not cut it. Whenever you need repairs to your castle, you should demand a great contractor do it. What makes a company great are it’s people! A great restoration company is educated and skilled in dealing with the emotions of a victim. A great restoration company should begin to put you at ease when they enter your home or business. They should be looking to take care of your needs and make you feel comfortable before they ever look at dollars and cents. As a homeowner in an emergency situation your stress level should decrease upon signing a work authorization with a company, not increase. They will also treat your property as if it were their own. And finally a great restoration company has your interest first. Restoration contractors work closely with insurance companies and their adjusters, but the homeowner’s needs and rights should always be placed first. *Since the acronym IICRC is a mouthful, the powers that be decided recently to use the name Clean Trust with the general public. It may be possible to see one or the other or even both logos associated with a company but all represent the same governing body.
 
The Q & A Times Journal accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs.Materials will not be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Thank you.
 
Wildcard SSL Certificates