Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Flood Damage Restoration Company In Dallas

Water damage caused by storms or plumbing issues can wreak havoc on your Dallas home. Your property, belongings, and even your family’s health are at risk when floodwater saturates your home. Choosing a professional water restoration company for Flood Damage Restoration Dallas, TX, to oversee the drying process is critical to your family’s quick recovery. When your home is flooded, it’s easy to let important details slip your mind. You may be tempted to simply find the first company online and get the water mess out of your home. Don’t give in to that temptation. By asking these seven important questions, you can help ensure you hire a reputable restoration company that has the experience and knowledge to get your home dried out correctly the first time.

1. Are You Available for Immediate, 24/7 Response?

Water damage waits for no homeowner. Minutes count when floodwater starts entering your home. Materials used to build your home absorb water quickly. The longer your home is exposed to standing water, the more damage may become permanent. Water will infiltrate much farther into your home than you realize in a matter of minutes. Just thirty minutes after water damage occurs, water can spread beyond the initial area and start traveling into walls and under floors. After a day or two, mold and bacteria will start to develop. You need a company that is available day or night to respond to your water damage emergency.

Inquire about their response time. Do they really provide 24/7 service? Can you speak to a live person at any hour, or will you get stuck talking to an answering machine? When you call, will they be able to give you a specific time they will arrive? A reliable restoration company will have technicians standing by so they can dispatch help at a moment’s notice.

2. Are Your Technicians IICRC Certified?

Flood damage restoration isn’t a side job for weekend handymen. When you hire a professional water restoration company, you expect them to be trained in how to restore your home to pre-loss condition. Floodwater can be murky and contaminated by whatever touched it. Mold, bacteria, and unhealthy humidity can grow in your home long after water extraction occurs if the work and repairs are not performed properly.

Water can linger behind walls and underneath floors, leading to wood rot and poor indoor air quality if your home is not dried out correctly. Make sure the technicians who will be in your home have been certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). Certifications like Water Damage Restoration Technician (WRT) or Applied Structural Drying (ASD) show the company has up-to-date training on how to perform restoration safely and correctly.

3. Are You Licensed and Fully Insured?

When flooding occurs in your home, there are certain risks involved for the restoration technicians. You shouldn’t have to worry about financial responsibility if an injury or property damage occurs during water extraction. If a technician is injured while working on your property or breaks something while not paying attention, who is liable? You should be able to rest easy knowing your family and property are protected.

Verify that they are licensed to do business in Texas and ask to see proof of General Liability Insurance and Workers’ Compensation. Any reputable restoration company won’t mind providing you with the necessary documentation and should require the same documentation from their subcontractors or staff as well. This protects you if an accident were to occur while they are in your home.

4. Do You Have Specific Experience with Flood Damage Restoration Dallas?

While many restoration companies service the greater Dallas area, it can help to choose a team with experience providing Flood Damage Restoration Dallas, TX. From unpredictable storms to high humidity, Texas can present some unique challenges to properly drying a home. You want your restoration company to be familiar with common damage caused by local weather and construction practices.

Do they have experience with homes or buildings like yours? Do they have working relationships with local contractors, suppliers, and insurance companies? Any company that spends time in one region should become familiar with unique damages and building styles. Local companies with extensive experience are more likely to know how to handle your damage correctly the first time.

5. What Equipment and Technology Do You Use?

You might assume restoration companies use high-tech equipment to remove water. However, some crews show up with little more than mops and fans. Water follows gravity, but it can also travel far beyond what the eye can see. It can get trapped behind baseboards, inside walls, and underneath flooring. If left unnoticed, these areas will harbor higher moisture readings that could lead to problems down the road.

Don’t be afraid to ask what equipment they use on a daily basis. Professional restoration companies should utilize moisture detection equipment such as moisture meters and infrared drying cameras to locate hidden water. They should also have industrial wet vacs and extractors to help remove bulk water, high-volume dehumidifiers to dry your home properly, and air scrubbers to purify the air. If a company uses outdated equipment, they may not find hidden water and cause future problems.

6. Do You Help with the Insurance Claims Process?

Filing an insurance claim for water damage can be a headache. The process requires a lot of documentation, photos, and communication with your insurance adjuster. Just when you think you’ve finished with the claim, your insurance company requests more information. More often than not, this information can come in the form of “before” photos, written moisture readings, and detailed lists of damaged property.

Make sure the flood damage restoration company you choose has experience dealing with insurance companies, especially for flood damage restoration. Reputable companies know what information adjusters are looking for and use industry-standard software to create estimates. Having someone on your side who understands the technical aspects of your claim will help simplify the process.

7. Can You Provide References or Customer Reviews?

Ideally, you want proof that they do what they say they’ll do. You can get a feel for what to expect by hearing it straight from one of their past customers. Everybody reads those amazing ads, but how can you be sure they aren’t full of it?

Ask the company for references on recent jobs they have performed. You can also look for reviews on the company from third-party websites. If they have multiple happy customers that mention how they were respectful of your home, offered fair pricing, kept you informed, and finished on time, you’ve probably found a great company!

When water invades your Dallas home, choosing the correct restoration company can mean the difference between a safe and successful recovery or a potential headache down the road. By asking these seven questions before hiring a water restoration company, you can rest assured that your home is in good hands. Make sure they are certified, properly insured, use up-to-date equipment, and have experience with flood damage restoration.

When you want the job done right, experience matters. That’s why Best Option Restoration has served residents in the Dallas area with dependable and professional restoration services for years. They can restore your property and put your mind at ease so you can focus on what really matters.