How to Hire a Water Damage Restoration Company
A water damage restoration company can protect your home from mold and structural damage
If you experience water damage due to a burst pipe, leaky roof, ground flooding, or faulty appliances, the damage can be much more extensive than you think. Water damage can cause mold, damage your floors and walls, short out electrical components, and even cause serious structural issues. A water damage restoration company can ensure your home doesn’t suffer the consequences of a leak or flood. This water damage restoration hiring guide will help you find the right pros to protect your home.
What Services Does a Water Damage Restoration Company Offer?
Water damage can be insidious, causing serious problems in places you can’t easily see or access, like signs of water damage under the floor, beyond the walls, or in attics and crawl spaces. A water damage restoration company offers services including:
Fast response to prevent issues from getting worse with time
Locate and address the water source
Water extraction
Drying and dehumidifying
Sanitizing
Removal and restoration of damaged material
Mold prevention and remediation
Restoration of goods such as textiles, electronics, and hard goods
Can I DIY Water Damage Restoration?
If you experience only minor and superficial water damage, you may be able to DIY water removal and drying or dehumidifying, but since water damage can occur where you can’t see it, in most cases, you’ll want to call the pros.
Mold can develop very quickly after water damage and can cause serious health problems for your household. Water damage can also weaken your home’s structural elements, which you may not realize until it’s too late. Hire a water damage restoration company to ensure all underlying damage is addressed.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Water Damage Restoration Company?
Water damage restoration costs, on average, $1,300 to $6,300, or $3 to $7.50 per square foot. Insurance may cover some of the costs, depending on the cause of the damage and the specifics of your policy. Mold remediation and repairing structural damage can cost many times as much as water damage restoration, so it’s best to address the problem quickly to prevent costly issues later on.
Home insurance covers water and smoke damage from covered incidents outlined in your homeowners insurance policy. Make sure to document all damages with pictures to make it easier for your insurer to determine coverage. Damage resulting from neglect normally isn't covered by most policies---check your policy to understand what damage you're protected from.
Tips for Hiring a Water Damage Restoration Company
Once you’ve experienced flooding or a leak that’s caused damage, it’s important to hire the right company to restore your home and ensure there are no long-term risks.
1. Determine the Extent of Water Damage Restoration Needed
There are many types and categories of water damage, and damage can range from minor to catastrophic. Before hiring a restoration company, assess the extent of the damage, what damage you can see, and the cause of the damage. Having this information will help you choose the right restoration company as well as deal with your homeowners insurance.
2. Interview Pros and Get Multiple Quotes
Although it’s critical to act quickly when it comes to water damage, take the time to contact at least three restoration companies and get quotes. Be sure to clarify what’s included in the quote before making your final decision.
3. Check Qualifications and References
Confirm that the company you choose is properly licensed and insured for the kind of work they’ll be performing. Ask if they have available references from previous customers and check online reviews to see if any red flags arise.
4. Get a Contract and Arrange Payment
Once you’ve chosen a water damage restoration company to hire, review the contract and finalize payment details. Make sure you’re clear on the payment schedule, what is and isn’t covered by the contract, and any other specifics of the agreement before work begins.
Questions to Ask a Water Damage Restoration Company
The water damage restoration process depends on the type, location, and extent of the damage. Knowing what to expect before restoration begins will help make the process smoother. Some questions to ask the water damage restoration company include:
Whether the company will help you with your water damage insurance claim
What steps they’ll take for the restoration process
If they’ll coordinate with any necessary subcontractors
Whether you can stay in your house when work is being performed
Choosing the Right Water Damage Restoration Company
Hiring the right local water damage restoration company will protect your home from long-term water-related problems and ensure it’s safe for you and your family. Water damage doesn’t always look as bad as it actually is, so it’s important to find pros who know what to look for and can restore and remediate both visible and hidden damage.
After Your Water Damage Restoration Company Has Finished
Once the work is completed and your home is back to its original condition, make your final payment according to the details of your contract. If you’re happy with the service performed, offer to write a reference—having prewritten references can be helpful when prospective customers need to make a quick decision for time-sensitive issues like water damage.
Get our Angi-powered app
