Hiring a Restoration Contractor

When a disaster such as flood or fire strikes, it is overwhelming to deal with the prospect of cleaning up and rebuilding.

Adding to the stress is the fear of being taken advantage of by shady or inexperienced contractors.  

When choosing a restoration contractor, there are a few questions every homeowner should ask before choosing a service provider.

1.  Are you licensed?  The State of Minnesota requires anyone who contracts or offers to contract with a homeowner to construct or improve residential real estate must be licensed as a residential building contractor.  Reconstruction of a property after a flood or fire is considered an improvement.  
As part of the licensing process, companies must prove that they carry the necessary insurance to protect not just you as the homeowner but the contractor's employees and the contractor if something unfortunate should happen during your project .  
An additional protection offered by hiring a licensed contractor is that you are then eligible for the state Contractor Recovery Fund which reimburses a homeowner should they incur a financial loss due to misconduct or nonperformance of contractor.  
Restoration Professionals is licensed as a residential building contractor in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

2.  Are you experienced in handling insurance claims?  It is important that you hire a contractor who is able to estimate, document and coordinate your insurance claim.  
Many home remodelers that have gotten into the restoration industry in recent years do not have the experience needed to deal with insurance claims and are unaware of the steps and documentation necessary for you to recover all insurance proceeds in order to restore your property to a pre-loss condition.  
In addition, there are specific procedures and processes that should be performed on your property to eliminate the possibility of mold or lingering smoke odor once your home is restored.  Restoration of a fire, smoke or water damaged property can be more complex than a regular remodel. 
Restoration Professionals has been handling insurance claim projects since we started our business and as the name implies, we are professionals at restoration work. 

3. Is it safe to let your employees into my home? After a disaster happens, you may feel especially vulnerable.  Letting complete strangers into your home and giving them access to your personal property can be daunting.  It is important to make sure your contractor performs background checks on employees and provides adequate training on handling customer's personal property.  
Restoration Professionals performs background checks on employees and provides continual training as well as restoration industry certifications.  

Know the right questions to ask to protect yourself, your property and your financial well-being if a misfortune strikes your home.