Water, fire, mold, and smoke damage can be devastating. Many times, the damage is far more extensive than a homeowner first thinks. From the attic to the basement, a qualified remediation company can tackle any problem while also addressing the issue’s root cause.
When you search for a “remediation company near me,” you’ll get pages of listings from companies wanting your business. Making a choice can be overwhelming, especially because you want your home restored thoroughly and quickly. That makes it vital to choose a remediation company that offers reliable services and superior results.
When a disaster strikes your home, here’s how to identify and select a remediation company you can trust.
What Services Does a Remediation Company Provide?
Let’s start by talking about what a remediation company should provide. Some only perform water or fire damage restoration. Others, like Central Florida Restoration Solutions, handle multiple types of damage, including:
It’s often the case after a disaster that a home needs more than one type of remediation service. For instance, fire damage is usually accompanied by water damage as a result of the fire being extinguished. And water damage typically includes mold issues. No matter which remediation services you need, it’s essential to get the work done as quickly as possible to avoid further damage.
The remediation process typically involves:
- Complete water removal
- Moisture monitoring
- Cleaning and sanitizing
- A final drying process
- Pre-restoration repairs such as to floors, ceilings, and drywall
The trusted and experienced remediation teams at CFRS provide efficient services you can rely on. We also offer emergency planning services for homeowners who want to put a remediation plan into place before disaster strikes. We’re happy to answer any and all questions you might have about the remediation process.
Here are the top six factors to consider when hiring a remediation company for your home:
1. How Experienced Is the Company?
Experience should be top of mind when hiring a remediation company. You want to make sure the company can provide you with quality craftsmanship. Most people only deal with a remediation company once or twice in their life, so it’s not easy knowing what to expect. At CFRS, we work hard to make the process as easy as possible.
- We quickly but thoroughly inspect your home.
- We fully explain precisely how we’ll perform the remediation work.
- We arrange a service plan that works with your schedule.
- We discuss whether you need additional mitigation or restoration work.
- We help you handle insurance claims, including identifying the source and extent of the damage.
Once the remediation project is complete, you and your family can once again enjoy your home and get back to life as usual.
2. Service Area
Central Florida is in our name for a reason! Hiring a local remediation company ensures:
- Quick arrival to assess your home’s damage.
- Familiarity with local contractors.
- You get referred to a reputable public adjuster, if necessary.
CFRS has nine locations through Central Florida ready to serve you whenever you need remediation services:
- Deltona East
- Deltona West
- Sanford Northwest
- Sanford East
- Winter Springs East
- Altamonte Springs East
- Casselberry East
- Orlando South
- Orlando Southeast
In other words, you’ll always find a remediation company close to you!
3. Responds Immediately When Disaster Strikes
Availability can mean the difference between limited and widespread damage at your home. Because most damage only compounds and gets more complicated the longer it’s unaddressed, it’s vital to choose a remediation company that can be at your home shortly after you call. Ask the provider:
- If they offer emergency services.
- How quickly they can start the remediation process.
- If they’re available 24 hours a day.
As any homeowner knows, disaster can strike any time of the day or night. You need a remediation company that can arrive at your property quickly and that offers round-the-clock support to resolve any concerns or questions you have.
4. Emergency Services
If there’s water, fire, smoke, or mold damage in your house, you need help, and you need it fast—no matter what time of the day or night! CFRS provides 24/7 emergency remediation services that help:
- Prevent further water damage.
- Get mold removed before it spreads.
- Address fire and smoke damage.
5. Confirm the Company’s Capabilities
As you research remediation companies, you should focus on those that are properly licensed and insured in Florida. Consider the expertise of the company’s technicians. Ask:
- How long the company has been in business.
- What level of training and experience its remediation team has. Do they receive ongoing training?
- If the company is certified through one or more reputable certification programs.
CFRS has over 25 years of experience providing remediation services to nearly 1,000 customers. We have 18 industry certifications that demonstrate our team’s extensive training and are a clear indication of our commitment to quality and integrity.
We offer a complete, accurate assessment of your home’s damage and provide you with a reliable estimate of costs. We’re also fully licensed and insured and have all the required credentials to perform remediation services. That means if anything goes wrong during the remediation process, you’re protected from any responsibility or liability.
Over the course of the past quarter-century, we’ve established vital working relationships with local home inspectors, roofers, contractors, and insurance agents and adjusters. At what’s often a stressful and frustrating time, we trust them to treat you and your home with the same respect CFRS does. Our friendly and compassionate team members help alleviate your worries and make the remediation process as painless and stress-free as possible.
Finally, you want a remediation company that uses the latest and most advanced equipment and techniques to perform whatever services are called for in your home. Modern technologies and processes are designed to speed up the home restoration process, mitigate mold growth, and ensures your personal property is properly cared for. A typical remediation process uses equipment such as air scrubbers, air movers, dehumidifiers, and extraction machines. These industrial-strength tools are capable of a much higher level of remediation than DIY equipment you pick up at a big box store.
6. Positive Reviews
Of course, any time you can get firsthand references from family, friends, and neighbors, it’s a good thing. Third-party references such as social media and online review sites like Angie’s List, Merchant Circle, and Yelp also offer plenty of helpful information from past customers. Traits to look for include:
- Whether the services were reasonably priced.
- If the remediation team arrived quickly for an emergency.
- Whether the company helped the homeowner deal with insurance matters.
Pay careful attention to reviews that talk about the quality of service the company provided and whether the remediation company made themselves available for follow-up calls and questions.
Reputable local references can be a life and bank account saver! After storms, flooding, or other widespread disasters, homeowners can find themselves bombarded with solicitations from unreliable, non-local remediation service providers. Vetting local companies that have great reviews and references from your neighbors and community are more likely to be ones you can depend on.
A final word about reviews. They can be extremely helpful but be prudent when reading them. If the person leaving the review hasn’t reviewed other companies, or if it’s a particularly negative review when most other reviews are good or excellent, it could be a post from a competitor. Keep in mind, even the most highly-rated companies have a few customers who weren’t fully satisfied. Look to see if the company responded in a polite way and offered to make things right. That tells you a lot about their values and professionalism.
How to Prevent Further Damages Down The Road
Water, fire, smoke, and mold damage can be the starting points for many serious problems that affect your home, ruin personal property, and pose serious health risks to you and your family. To restore your home and protect your health, a professional remediation company must be capable of professionally managing the project. They should be knowledgeable, trained, and certified in multiple disciplines, including:
- Stopping the spread of bacteria.
- Preventing mold growth.
- Averting secondary damage.
- Preserving your home and its contents as much as possible.
An experienced remediation company also must be able to communicate with you, other home restoration contractors, and insurance company representatives clearly and honestly. Many less-experienced remediators compound problems because they don’t understand the correct steps and precautions to take nor how critical the passing of time is.
No matter what type of damage your home suffers, one of the biggest concerns is mold growth. Indoors, it can grow on everything, including building materials, paper, leather, upholstery, and more. The sooner you start the remediation process, the more successful you’ll be in preventing mold growth.
Let’s Recap
Here’s a brief review of how to find the best remediation company in your area:
- Is the company local and active in the community?
- Do they offer more than one type of remediation service?
- Does it employ technicians who hold advanced certifications to perform remediation services?
- How many years has the company been in business? How long has it been performing remediation services?
- Is it properly licensed, bonded, and insured as required by the State of Florida?
- Does the company follow accepted industry standards for remediation solutions?
- Does it use advanced tools and technologies capable of locating damage not visible to the naked eye?
- Do they provide 24/7 emergency services?
- Has the company received positive reviews on its website and social media accounts?
- Are they willing to share references from past customers?
Few homeowners can imagine how complex the remediation process can be. When it happens to them, they’re often worried about the loss of valuable personal possession as well as whether they’ll be able to return to their home. At CFRS, we understand your concerns. Fortunately, we also understand how to quickly provide the services you need after a disaster.
Our full-scale remediation services including cleaning, sanitizing, mold removal, fire and smoke remediation, and more. We’re there for you every step of the way, and you can trust our pros to make your home like new again. You’ll soon discover our compassionate, detail-oriented team members are happy to answer your questions, calm your anxiety, and give you a clear plan for fast, reliable remediation services to help get your life back to normal.
Your home is most likely your biggest investment. The quality of its indoor environment has a direct impact on your quality of life. We hope you’re never struck by a home disaster, but if you are, CFRS is ready 24 hours a day to respond to your emergency and provide top-notch, reliable remediation services. Contact us online today to learn more, or call us at 407-988-6101.
