If you’ve been the victim of a devastating house fire, the last thing on your mind is going to be evaluating the proper fire damage restoration service. Fires are traumatic events that cost you so much, from your home to your possessions, to your time, to your health and your mental well-being. With all this upheaval, it can be very difficult to know what to look for in a professional fire damage restoration service.

However, it’s also very important to be able to keep a focus on what fire damage restoration service you choose to employ. No two fire damage restoration services are exactly alike. Although the temptation may be there to go with the first one you find, this can wind up being a vital mistake that will leave you in a much worse position than you were in after the fire.

What are the characteristics that make up the best fire damage restoration service? Before we get to that, it’s vital to understand what a fire damage restoration service is, and what it does to help you recover after a blaze.

Fire Damage Restoration Services: Who Are They, and What Do They Do?

Before you know how to choose the right fire damage restoration service, you need to know the basics of what services they provide. Fire damage restoration services are professional companies that specialize in taking all of the steps and precautions necessary to ensuring a smooth transition from a disaster area to a clean, safe, and habitable space.

A fire damage restoration service has to be thorough in its approach. It must do a proper assessment to quantify the breadth of the damage, seal off all contaminated and compromised areas before getting to work, methodically remove all damaged components and structure (including drywall, studs, electrical components, flooring, carpet, tiles, wallpaper, and window frames, among many others), do a comprehensive cleanup of all damaged material, sweep and disinfect, and replace all damaged components and materials. Doing all of this properly is a tall order, so it’s important to have the best fire damage restoration service you can find.

Tips for Choosing The Best Fire Damage Restoration Service

In the frantic heat of the moment, it can be easy to call the first local fire damage restoration service whose site you find in a search, but being hasty can cost you. Like all businesses, fire damage restoration services are subject to differences in quality and workmanship.

Finding the best fire damage restoration service can be a daunting task. However, following a few key tips can make the search for a fire damage restoration service much simpler.

#1:  Reputation

Feedback is key to procuring the finest providers of any service, and fire damage restoration services are no exception. Thanks to online outlets like Google reviews and Yelp, consumers are able to provide feedback, ranging from glowingly positive to scathingly negative and all degrees in between.

Doing a bit of homework and scouring for online reviews will help you narrow down the most professional fire damage restoration service in your area. The more reviews, the better. More reviews will help provide a better picture of the reliability of the fire damage restoration service than a single review from a spurned and irate client who may just be feeling emotional after a traumatic fire.

#2:  Cost

In many, if not most, cases, your homeowner’s insurance policy will cover many of the outstanding costs associated with a fire. Depending on your policy, this can mean coverage of temporary quarters, materials, and services. However, it’s best to know what it is your insurance will cover before getting on the phone to a fire damage restoration service so you don’t wind up in a bind covering unforeseen costs.
Always make sure you know up front what is covered for a fire damage restoration service by asking the company themselves what costs may be involved, and then checking it against your policy. You may be best advised to consult your insurance agency in every case.

#3:  Professionalism

A reliable fire damage restoration service will hide nothing, and it will not get irate and impatient with your questions. Remember: it’s you who will have to live with the results, so it’s your right to be in constant communication with your fire damage restoration service. If they are not prompt, will not answer questions, and constantly put you off, it’s a red flag. In your time of need, a fire damage restoration service should show the utmost sensitivity, giving you time to ponder and making sure you are absolutely clear on everything you need to know.

Fire Damage Restoration Services

Finding and choosing the right fire damage restoration services is made easier with these helpful tips. Experience, professionalism, and good reputation all make for the best services.

Fire damage is unlike anything else. It can completely ruin a home or property. In fact, fires unrelated to wildfires were responsible for over $11 billion of damage in the US in 2018 alone. But if there is hope of restoring a space after a major fire, it happens with the help of fire damage restoration experts. These professionals are trained in assessing, repairing, and renovating spaces that have been devastated by fires. They are the only way to truly know a space can be restored after a blaze, which is why most property managers and home owners call up the experts after a fire.

Here are just a few reasons why you should choose professional fire damage repair services after your property has been damaged.

Find the Big Problems Early

Fire damage can be all-consuming. It can get into absolutely everything, destroying a space so that it is basically unusable. It can do this in a way that’s not immediately evident. Unfortunately, when people attempt fire damage restoration on their own, they often think replacing the floors and painting the walls will do the trick. This can be a major issue. Hidden structural issues can become bigger problems, often sooner rather than later, and that means expensive repairs and renovations, right after you have finished expensive repairs and renovations.

Hiring fire damage restoration experts means you can get a proper assessment of the damage early and make a game plan from there. They can look at the property and tell you the real issues, and what needs to be done to make it its best again. This could be as extreme as demolition or less costly measures. Whatever the assessment, going with the professionals means there will be fewer surprises down the line.

Safety

Those big problems mentioned above? They can often be major safety issues along with being expensive and time-consuming. While assessing the safety of a property is standard after a big fire, understanding the safety risks of a property requires fire damage restoration experts. They can help you discover any issues that could impact your restoration plan. Plus, when you work with the experts, it means you won’t be risking yourself or your own team in doing the work. Fire remediation experts are trained in navigating unsafe properties and bringing them up to code, and they are the only way to guarantee a safe experience in the repair process after a fire.

Get Fixed Up Fast

Whether you are living in the space or want it back and available for tenants as soon as possible, a home with fire damage is one that is inhospitable. That means you are either losing money on alternative accommodations or an empty property. If you try and make the restorations yourself, you will quickly find out that it is labor-intensive and time-consuming work. If you choose to go with professionals in fire damage restoration, however, you can get real timelines that will help the property be hospitable much sooner. That means less time living elsewhere or losing money to an empty space.

Eliminate Smoke Odors

One of the major services that fire damage restoration experts offer besides the assessment, repairs and restoration is the professional removal of smoke odors. Getting rid of this distinctive and lingering smell is often beyond the capabilities of your average contractor and requires specialized equipment and training. Only fire restoration experts have access to everything they need to eliminate these odors completely. Without them, the smell will likely come back and remain until it is dealt with.

If you own a property that has undergone fire damage, then you will need to contact the professionals to assess and help with the repairs. Rather than relying on amateur opinions and repairs, you should trust the expertise and advice of those who understand fires and fire damage restoration. With the right team of experts, you can understand the full extent of the damage and work together on a plan that will get the property inhabitable much, much faster. Only with the experts can you understand what needs to be done, get it done, and be one your way to normal again with confidence.