How Do I Choose A Restoration Contractor?

If you have ever experienced property damage due to a flood, fire or other natural disaster, you can understand how stressful and confusing this can be. It is essential that you hire a qualified restoration contractor who has the ability to provide answers to any questions you have regarding the restoration process. You need to be able to rest assured that the project manager will have an open line of communication to guide you through the restoration process, ensuring that your project gets completed on time, runs smoothly and to your satisfaction.

You value your home and cherish the memories you had inside, so it's important to find a restoration contractor who is certified, as they are required to meet strict standards, dictated by insurance companies to restore your home to it's pre-loss condition. So, before choosing a restoration contractor to perform work on your damaged home, research your options and carefully consider these tips.

Make Sure They're Not A General Contractor

For some Connecticut homeowners, it's hard to tell the difference between restoration and general contractors. Here it is, plain and simple: typically, general contractors work on new construction, while restoration contractors work with the insurance industry and policyholders. General contractors don’t have the proper equipment, experience and certified training required to perform restoration, nor do they understand the proper methods for reconstruction and repairs under these unique conditions. If you would like to learn more about the difference between the two types of contractors, check out our post, "What's The Difference: Restoration Vs. General Contractors."

Don’t Hire Contractor’s With No Experience Working With Insurance Companies

Assuming that you’re the insurance policy holder, it is your responsibility to disclose any loss or damage to the insurance company. You must also provide the necessary documentation required to process the claim. Following this, you will need an estimate from a restoration company that meets the strict insurance company requirements. If the estimate format does not meet the insurance company standards, it may be rejected. This is just one of the many reasons why it is important to hire contractors who have experience dealing with insurance companies.

Ask How They Accept Payments

If you hire a quality contractor, it’s likely you will end up paying one of two ways; the contractor will ask for a reasonable deposit, or you will pay after you work things out with your insurance company. Notice, if the contractor expects you to pay up front, run as fast as you can, as they don’t seem credible. How exactly would it make sense for a reputable contractor who frequently works with disaster victims to ask for full payment upfront? You want to work with people who are sensitive to your unfortunate situation.

Seek Out References

Remember, whomever you hire will inevitably spending a decent portion of time at your home, so it’s important that you receive honest opinions concerning how they typically conduct restoration projects. We suggest that you call for references, as they will be more likely to answer important questions. If you get the opportunity to speak with a previous client, ask them some of the following questions:

• Did the contractors complete the project on time?
• Were you generally comfortable with the team who worked in your home?
• Did the workers display professional behavior and were they easy to contact throughout the restoration?
• Were you satisfied with the overall restoration?