The aftermath of a property disaster or emergency is always difficult for the homeowner involved. It’s hard enough to contemplate the damages at hand, but for some, it’s even harder to determine which emergency cleaning service will be the best company for the job. Since time is of the essence in situations like these, it is important that a homeowner faced with these circumstances be prepared with the proper questions to ensure that he is hiring the right service for what is bound to be a rather involved cleanup project. Enrique Ramirez, owner of PuroClean Property Paramedics, suggests that homeowners ask the following questions before committing to a particular service or contractor:
- Are you licensed? First and foremost, you must make sure that the company you are thinking of hiring is licensed to perform the specific services that your situation requires. Whether it’s fire damage, water removal, or mold mitigation, you’ll need proof that the company in question is officially authorized to perform the necessary services. You’ll also want to see if the emergency cleaning service is IICRC certified, which means that it has the backing of the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification.
- Are you insured? Before you can agree to any sort of contract, you’ll need to make sure that the emergency cleaning service in question has the proper liability insurance in place. If the company is not properly insured and a worker gets injured on your property during the course of the job, then you, the homeowner, will be legally and financially responsible – which is the last thing you’ll want to face during an already stressful time.
- Are your workers trained and experienced in my specific situation? Home-related disasters can come in a variety of situations and circumstances. Before you agree to use a company’s services, make sure that the company has experience in dealing with your specific situation. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for details as to how the company in question will go about tackling your cleanup job. The more information you get, the more comfortable you’ll feel when it comes time to make your decision.
- How long do you expect the job to take? Emergency cleanup can be a complicated job. Multiple factors come into play when estimating the length of the cleanup project at hand, but a good emergency cleaning service representative should be able to use his expertise to determine approximately how long your particular situation will take to rectify. While you might not like what you hear, it’s better for you, as a homeowner, to know how long the job is likely to take so that you can manage the situation accordingly. Since many emergency situations require temporary evacuation from the home, you’ll need to know how long you should expect to stay away so that you can make the proper short-term housing arrangements. Your insurance company might also need to know how long the cleanup is expected to take, especially if your coverage includes a temporary housing allowance. Therefore, you should never sign a service contract until you have an estimated finish date for the job — in writing.
- Do you have references? The best way to determine whether or not your emergency cleaning service will live up to its promises is to speak with former satisfied customers. Do not hesitate to ask your representative for references, specifically the names of people whose circumstances are similar to the ones in which you are suddenly finding yourself. You’ll then want to ask each of those former customers if his cleanup job was completed in a timely fashion and in a satisfactory manner.
- Does my insurance company recommend this service? Of course, this is a question that you’ll want to ask your insurance company directly, but it’s an important one to cover before signing any contracts. Insurance companies are used to dealing with emergency situations and as such, they tend to have information on all the local emergency cleaning services on file. It’s a wise idea to ask your claims representative if he or she recommends the cleaning service that you are thinking of using. Any reputable service in the area is bound to be one that your insurance company is, at the very least, familiar with. If the company name doesn’t ring a bell with your insurance agent, then that should be an automatic warning sign. Also, remember that while this might be the first time in which you’re faced with a particular domestic disaster, your insurance company representative has probably seen the situation many times before. Therefore, if your insurance company specifically advises you against using a particular service, then you’d be foolish not to heed such a warning.
Dealing with the aftermath of an emergency can be mentally and emotionally trying. However, the right cleaning service can help turn a devastating situation into one that is, with time, easily fixable. The more questions you ask before committing to a particular service, the better equipped you’ll be to make a good decision as to which company to choose for this important job.
