Four Tips for Making an Effective Emergency Call to a Restoration Company after a Disaster Strikes

7/30/2022 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth offers advice on how to contact a damage restoration company when emergency services are needed after property damage.

The team at SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth has received countless calls from property owners who have suffered water damage, fire damage, or storm damage to their homes or places of business. Calling a Keller, TX, restoration company to provide emergency restoration services can be stressful for someone who has never needed restoration services before. To help local residents prepare, SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth is offering tips on how to place a call to a damage restoration company after a property damage disaster strikes. Listed below are some tips to consider when reaching out to a property damage restoration company after a disaster has struck.

Step #1: Stay safe.

The top priority in any type or size of disaster is to make sure everyone is safe and stays safe while waiting for first responders and the arrival of the cleanup and restoration crew. A fire damage disaster is a toxic environment. Wading through flood waters to collect personal belongings is treacherous. Activity under a water-logged and sagging ceiling is ill-advised.

Step #2: Select a damage restoration company to call.

This step is easy with internet access, but if the power is out or if communications are knocked out, then an internet search is impossible. The delay could add to the extent of the damage and the expense of the cleanup and restoration.

Step #3: Call as soon as possible.

As soon as everyone is safe and it is evident that the cleanup and restoration process is not simple, quick, and easy, place a call to a damage restoration company. Water may be streaming into the home through the roof, which sustained significant damage from high winds. The fire department may still be on scene fighting the fire. Flood waters from a flash flood may be a foot deep throughout the home or business. If the disaster is widespread, waiting until the storm has passed and the skies are clear is an unnecessary delay that can lead to extensive advanced secondary damage.

Step #4: Follow up on any information the customer representative may have offered.

There may be some special instructions or general advice provided by the customer representative. As long as the situation is safe, follow through on these matters, if able. Remember, safety is the top priority.

What happens when a call is placed to SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth?

The call is answered by a customer representative who is trained to interact with the customer on two levels. The customer representative gathers information for a “First Notice of Loss.” This information includes contact information, the address of the damaged structure, insurance information, and a detailed description of the damage, including any special instructions about gaining entrance to the location. This initial phone call sets in motion a series of events that results in a crew arriving on the scene in about an hour or so after the call is placed.

Pre-qualify a damage restoration company before disaster strikes

SERVPRO customer representatives are trained to help customers deal with the anxiety, stress, and trauma of a property damage disaster. Many customer representatives have earned certifications in fire damage and water damage and have hands-on experience working on water damage cleanup and restoration projects.

The best time to reach out to a damage restoration company is before a disaster strikes. Stress, anxiety, and distractions are low or non-existent. The SERVPRO professional can address important questions from the prospective customer, such as:

1. Is the company locally owned and operated? If so, for how long?
2. Are crews available to respond 24/7, 365 days a year, including holidays?
3. How long will it take a crew to arrive on the scene at the customer’s address?
4. Will a detailed, well-documented estimate be presented before contracted work begins?
5. Are technicians IICRC-certified?
6. Can the company handle damage disasters involving fire, smoke, water, flood waters, mold, storm damage, emergency tarping, sewage backups, biohazards, crime scene cleanup, drug scene cleanup, and suicide scenes?
7. Is the company able to manage all facets of a repair and restoration acting as a general contractor?
8. Are references, reviews, and a portfolio available for perusal by potential customers?
9. Is there a mechanism to handle complaints?
10. Can the cleanup and restoration company handle the insurance claim process from end to end?
11. Is the company bonded, licensed, and insured?
12. Can the damage cleanup and restoration company scale to any size or type of disaster?

SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth is locally owned and operated, and the team is available 24/7, 365 days a year. IICRC-certified technicians arrive on the scene in about an hour with the right equipment to tackle the project. A detailed, well-documented estimate will be presented to the customer, and the staff can handle the insurance claims process from beginning to end. The dedicated team at SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth is committed to helping homeowners and businesses recover from disaster and return to normal as soon as possible.

Contact SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth to learn more about the damage restoration company. The office can be reached by calling (817) 741-5737 or by emailing office@SERVPROnortheastftworth.com