A fire in your home is one of the most terrifying things most homeowners can experience. You’ve lost possessions, keepsakes, and memories, but you’ve also lost your sense of security. Restoring your home to a safe and loving home is an important job that comes with a lot of anxiety and urgency, but it’s just as important that you trust the project to the right team for you and your family. What kind of things should you look for in a fire damage restoration contractor?

Certifications and Training

Be sure to ask any prospective contractor about their professional certifications and associations. These may vary by State or region, but generally it’s a good sign when they have met the standards to become members of these associations. The associations typically merit based on quality standards of work and training of staff. Keep an eye out for trade associations that are not directly to do with fire restoration, such as air duct cleaning and repair or any structural inspection certifications; these may be less obviously damaged by the fire, but they will still be in need of repairs. Fire damage restoration contractors need to be able to assess damage beyond the surface materials.

Experience and Subcontractor Associations

When you’re hiring a contractor to work in your home, you’re conducting an interview for a job, so it’s important to get a sense of your prospective contractor’s experience. Be sure to ask; it’s appropriate, not rude. You can even ask for references of past work or examples of their professionalism as fire damage restoration contractors. It might be helpful to look up online reviews of the company as well.

It’s also important to ask if your contractor performs all the work in-house with their own staff or if they subcontract some of the work out. Fire damage restoration contractors have a big job ahead of them, and it may cross many lines between trades. Subcontracting is a common industry practice, and it generally benefits the customer because your contractor is finding the best people for each portion of the job, whether it’s carpentry, window replacements, or plumbing work. They may be private about the specific companies they hire, but it’s important to know that your contractor will stand behind their subcontractor’s work as much as their own work.

Working with Insurance Companies

Easily the biggest headache you’re likely to have in any accident situation is dealing with your insurance company, and it can be even more frustrating because this is your home. You’re just trying to get back to your regular life again, but the hoops you have to jump through can sometimes be ridiculous. Acting as the middleman between your fire damage restoration contractors and your insurance adjusters can be exhausting, frustrating, and time consuming. Discuss with your prospective contractors if they are able to deal with your insurance company directly to address issues with payments, approvals, and any other of the hundred issues that may come up. It will really take a weight off of your shoulders when you’re already struggling.

Project Timelines

When your home is under this kind of stress, your entire life can be in disarray. To put things back on track, you need to make arrangements for you and your family to function temporarily. You need to know how long you’ll be living with family or friends or staying in a hotel. Your kids need to know how long they will have different routes and arrangements for school. Your employers need to know how long your home situation may be requiring your attention. Talk to your fire damage restoration contractor about a realistic timeline for the completion of your work. Ask for project updates and to be made aware of any schedule changes. It’s not just your home; to some degree, it’s your whole life’s structure being worked on.

Workmanship Guarantees

Nothing is worse than having to do a job twice. Your home’s repair should be up to industry AND your standards. Make sure you and your fire damage restoration contractor discuss what the final results of the repairs will be, and be sure to read the documentation of the contracts. While mistakes happen, you need to partner with a contractor who you can trust to do the job, stand behind the work, and fix any problems to a degree that you are both happy with.

At the end of the day, this is your home being worked on, and you need to trust the people working on it. Home is an important part of feeling safe and stable; it’s perfectly understandable to be cautious about who you hire to work on your space. Fire damage restoration contractors are there to make you comfortable at the end of the process, but they should make you comfortable about the process as well. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, check references, request updates, and do what you need to get your life back to normal.