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A home can last a long time, but you’ll need to take care of it to make sure that any damage and threats can be dealt with immediately. Delaying any repairs is highly harmful to any home because it’ll cause issues to worsen and spread throughout your home. This is true for problems like mold and water damage.
Any expert, like Rescue Clean 911, can tell you that water damage is horrible to have in any home because it can rot walls, floors, the foundation of your home, and other parts. It can also be caused by various things such as terrible weather, leaking water heaters, leaking pipes, blocked drains, faulty sprinkler systems, condensation from AC, clogged gutters, and water leaks from washing machines. But, physical damage to your home isn’t the only issue. It can also decrease the value of your home and affect your health.
One of the effects that water damage can cause is mold growth. But it’s important to remember that any mold issues should be urgently addressed because it’s not just harmful to your home but also to your health. It can flare up asthma and allergies. It even causes long-term health issues such as insomnia, anxiety, depression, memory loss, confusion, and difficulties concentrating. It’s even worse for immuno-compromised people because mold can cause life-threatening infections.
Water damage and mold infestation go hand in hand because mold requires moisture to grow. Unfortunately, both can go unnoticed for a significant period because they can be in hidden areas of your home. There’s always a way for you to find water damage or molds in certain parts of your property though. Nonetheless, they can still be easy to miss, so it’s better to call in professionals to effectively help you find and deal with these issues.
But, finding the perfect company that’s right for you can be challenging. There are many businesses that provide the same services, but not all of them can give you the same quality of service. Furthermore, you might prefer how certain companies work over the others. But, it’s going to be hard to make the right choice, especially if it’s your first time getting these services.
To make things easier for you, here are some tips you can follow to find the perfect local mold and water damage restoration company for you:
1. Check Out the Most Popular Company in Your Area
Depending on where you live, there are different companies in operation. There are more well-known ones, depending on how well they market, how long they’ve been around, and how popular they are with their customers. For instance, if you live in Florida, you might have heard of Rescue Clean 911 – West Palm Beach Water Restoration Services because of the popularity they have gained due to how well they let people know about their services, such as in this video below.
To be sure, companies become popular because of how well they provide services, and not just because of how well they market themselves. You see, even if this mold and water damage restoration company is well-known due to marketing strategies, their popularity will still plummet if their services are lacking. This is because customers talk and recommend services that they like and thought were worth it. So, to see a continuously popular company in your local area is a great sign that a company provides excellent service.
2. Look for Recommendations and Reviews Online
As mentioned, customers like to talk about their experiences from any service they’ve tried. This is why websites like Yelp and Better Business Bureau are becoming spots for people who are curious about a specific company or are simply looking for the best company to try out. Online reviews are fantastic because there’s no way that a business can control what the customers are saying. On the other hand, looking through their own websites can be misleading because they can filter what customers say about them.
On the flip side, there could also be some reviews from people who might not have gotten the services at all and just want to smear a certain company. You’ll need to look out for many reviews and proof that they did get the services, which can be difficult to ascertain. If there are thousands of reviews, you can probably feel confident that most of the reviews are authentic.
3. Ask for Recommendations from People You Trust
If you have friends and family in the same area you live in, you can talk to them about finding a mold and water damage restoration company. Even if they haven’t had these services done, they can still probably find people who have had a great experience from a local company. A simple post on their social media asking for recommendations will immediately get replies. So, it’s a quick way to get some company names down.
4. Doing Your Own Research
Nowadays, it’s harder to find a company with no online activity than it is to find ones that are active online. Do a quick Google search for companies who can help you deal with water damage and mold growth. Companies’ websites can help you understand what kind of services they can give you and how they work.
An example would be videos like this which you’d normally find on such websites:
Besides, they have their contact information, so you can call them directly for any questions, especially if you want answers as soon as possible.
These companies even use social media, where you can see their projects and how they interact with customers. If you’re lucky, you can find some customers on their social media page, and you can contact them to talk about how they liked the services. Do this for all the local companies you can find, and you’ll get a better idea about which company is right for you.
5. Have a Checklist
As a customer, you have the right to base your choice on any wants or needs that you may have. It would be best if you made a checklist to make sure that the company you hire can follow through. For instance, you might want a company to provide insurance, specific payment options, working schedules, and anything else. Furthermore, if you’re unsure about whether a company offers any of the things you have in your checklist, give them a direct call to find out.
6. Call For Free Inspections and Estimates
Many companies provide free inspections and estimates, and it’s not just for those who deal with mold and water damage. Plumbing, electrical, roofing, and even gardening companies do this. This is in hopes that they can make a good impression to make a deal with the customer who called them.
You shouldn’t be ashamed to call in multiple companies for an estimate because these companies are essentially competing for your coin. Think of it as an audition, where each company shows how knowledgeable, helpful, and professional they are. Then, you can also ask them about their services on the spot. Being able to speak to a person face to face is better than conversing over the computer or on the phone.
One red flag you should keep an eye out for is when the companies inspect the damage over the phone. It’s impossible to get a thorough inspection without being present in the damaged or infested home. As mentioned, they’ll need to look for water damage in walls, crawl spaces, and even under floorboards. So, the repairman should be there to look at the issues personally.
7. Work Around Your Budget
Each household has a different budget, and it can definitely limit your options for a restoration company. Companies would probably have a baseline for pricing their services reasonably, but some will be more affordable than others. It’s possible that some companies are cheaper but still provide good service. On the other hand, some are more affordable but give poor quality services. While you need to work around your budget, you’ll still need to consider how well they execute their services by doing your research and reading reviews.
8. Do Research On What Needs To Be Done
When you get a free inspection, you should ask specifically what processes need to be done to deal with the issues. Once you get a clear idea of these methods, you can research on what materials will be required, how tedious the process is, and what alternatives you have. This way, you can determine whether the pricing is fair for the services or if it’s a task you can do on your own.
You should also learn more about the kind of mold growing in your home. Make a note on how damaging it is, and how you can protect yourself from it. But, if you do get a terrific company to help you out, it would be best to ask for tips on the types of molds and how to protect yourself from these.
Conclusion
There are many ways that mold and water damage can take over any home to the point of utter destruction. Some tips and tricks can, indeed, help you keep your home mold-free. However, dealing with water damage and substantial mold infestations needs to be left to the professionals. It’s a dangerous job that needs to be done correctly, and it’s possible that doing it on your own can be more detrimental.
