If you own a home, the chances are that you have had some form of conversation around repair and damage restoration work, whether recommended by a plumber or a contractor. The thing that most homeowners don’t realize, however, is that plumbers can and have been known to recommend services that you don’t really need, in order to earn themselves the referral fee and/or get a partner business more work – and money – from you. A common example of this is fire and water damage restoration work, which can leave homeowners with a pricey bill depending on the extent of the damage.
Luckily, as a damage restoration company working across fire, water, and mold damage, we not only know when real damage has occurred, but we are also primed to share a few insider tips on what you can do to avoid paying money for work you don’t need.
Why Should Homeowners Be Wary of Contractor-Recommended Damage Restoration Services?
Have you ever noticed how often the very best contractors are recommended within a local community, rather than found online or in a newspaper ads list? Of course, there are 24-hour emergency mitigation service providers who can be called at any hour for disasters, but for the most part, locals tend to rely on those who they personally know – and, most crucially, who they trust. And for a good reason. Not only is the contractor often local themselves, but they will be sourcing their materials locally, ensuring that their customers pay the very best prices, charging very minimal travel expenses, and operating under a solid local reputation.
However, if a homeowner decides to progress, for example, with a water damage service recommended by their plumber, there are a number of questions which will likely go unanswered – at least until the worker arrives to get the job done.
- How well do previous customers rate them?
- How efficiently do they work?
- Why would you choose them over another contractor?
This is where the conflict of interest starts to become apparent, with homeowners now more than ever being warned against simply taking the recommendation of someone they are already working with. After all, you don’t know what agreement that your plumber or other worker has with their recommended contractor in terms of referral fees or prices, and you cannot earn yourself a guarantee on the quality of their work or determine whether they are the best fit for your project. For a premium referral fee the plumber can even lead you to a damage restoration service that is not licensed, bonded or certified solely based on the fee they would receive. In some cases, a water damage restoration company could pay the plumber over $1,000.
This is why you need to make sure you are as involved as possible in the process of vetting and hiring the best service for your water damage.
How Homeowners Can Protect Themselves
Here at ASAP Restoration, we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver the highest quality restoration services as quickly as possible – and with a high level focus on testimonials as part of our customer engagement. One of the most common issues we are finding at present is the rise in plumbers who will pair up with water damage restoration contractors and recommend you for work that you really don’t need. This exploits both your time and money, with very little gain for you but plenty of profit for the plumber and their referring contractor.
But ask yourself this. If your home was really suffering from severe water damage, wouldn’t you have noticed it by now and called in a specialist focussed on water damage restoration?
Homeowners need damage restoration service you can trust, and that’s why it’s important to focus on the following:
- Only work with contractors who hold an established reputation, either online or in your local community.
- If you need a 24 hour service, contact a company with a high level website filled with testimonials. If you can’t find one in your local area, sites such as Yelp and Facebook can be good go-to’s for sourcing service providers and products.
- Try not to panic book someone – instead, perform a few vetting stages of your own to ensure that the damage restoration service you are booking has some reputable standing in the industry. This can save you both time and money later down the line.
- Don’t feel like you have to work with the first damage restoration service who provides a quote. Get a few quotes for comparison and pick the best fit for you in terms of timing and budget.
The simple fact is that homeowners are equipped with all the tools you need to ensure you only work with the very best – you just need to use them. From social media to recommendation sites and online company databases, vetting and selecting the right contractor for you is as simple as heading online and reading the experiences of customers just like you.
Hire ASAP Restoration – A Well-Established Damage Restoration Company in The Community
When you need a 24 hour service you can trust, ASAP Restoration promises to answer the phone every time. We have been helping homeowners with their damage restoration needs since 2009. We also work with all insurance companies, and are proud to be an insurance-preferred contractor.
For more information, or for a free estimate, contact ASAP Restoration at (602) 962-8563 or email us at [email protected]. You can also fill out our form here for a free consultation.
