7 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Water Damage Contractor

Experiencing flooding due to extreme weather or plumbing problems can quickly cause extensive water damage to a home. Homeowners needing to hire a water damage contractor in the Highland Park, NJ, area often turn to the water restoration professionals at The Restoration Group. These experts have seen many homeowners make mistakes when hiring a company for water damage repair and want to help other Highland Park homeowners avoid those problems.

Take a look at the most common mistakes homeowners make when hiring a water restoration company.

1. Hiring Based on Price Alone

When it comes to water damage restoration, the saying, “You get what you pay for,” definitely applies. Lower prices usually indicate that a company doesn’t have the necessary experience, equipment, or knowledge to fully and correctly remove water and sanitize a home. 

2. Planning a Poor Budget

While homeowners shouldn’t hire a company charging too little, they should also prepare to pay more than the original price quoted to them. During the water damage restoration process, contractors often find more problems than they anticipated, sometimes requiring further services to save a home.

3. Waiting Too Long to Call

Some water damage emergencies happen during times when homeowners may feel rushed, exhausted, or in general, don’t feel like dealing with it immediately. They might believe that it can wait until the morning or for them to get off work later that day. Unfortunately, this leaves ample time for the water to do much more damage than it’s already done.

4. Attempting DIY Repairs

Water damage restoration can cost a pretty penny depending on how deep the damage goes, prompting many homeowners to consider the DIY route. Without the proper knowledge and expertise associated with years of water restoration experience, homeowners risk missing key damage points in their homes. 

5. Misunderstanding the True Damage

While any homeowner can see the obvious signs of bubbling wallpaper, discolored flooring, and softened wood, they may not see the damage lurking behind these symptoms. A professional water damage contractor can not only see water damage, but they can visualize what it looks like behind the visuals. Water damage can ruin a home’s entire structure if not treated correctly, and many homeowners only discover the true depth of the problem after working with water damage professionals.

6. Hiring a Handyman

Some contractors put themselves out there as a handyman, claiming that they can handle everything from switching out a bad power outlet to fully restoring a home after a flood. When called, they show up alone or with one other person and claim that for their price, lower than that of their competitors, they can easily complete the job according to the homeowner's satisfaction.

What they may not tell homeowners includes the inexistence of any water damage certifications, plumbing licenses, or insurances for the homeowner or the contractor’s subcontractors. When these handymen get to work, they often perform surface-level repairs to make the homeowner happy. Since they don’t address the root cause or ensure that no deeper damage needs handling, the homeowner may face more problems with their home down the road.

7. Not Doing the Research

Homeowners carry the burden of having to search for a water damage contractor they can trust in their area. Online searches can turn up hundreds of companies claiming to perform the best water damage restoration in the area, making it difficult to know which one to trust. As a homeowner calls around looking for service, they can ask several questions to help them narrow down the best contractor.

How Much Should the Service Cost in the Area?

Asking around to see what friends, family, and neighbors have paid for similar water damage services can help homeowners understand what they might expect to pay. Homeowners can also take quotes from several services, asking for ballpark numbers and comparing them to see which prices seem the most similar. 

Can the Company Prove Their Licensure and Insurance?

Water damage contractors should provide their insurances and licenses upon a customer’s request, allowing homeowners to insure the validity of a company. In addition, homeowners can read over the company’s insurance policy for their own peace of mind.

What Do Other Customers Have to Say?

Online reviews provide insider information on how the company functions, what problems other customers may have faced, and overall client satisfaction. Homeowners can also find out how the company addresses and works with upset customers and important consideration with a service as important as water damage restoration.

If Water Has Left Significant Damage to Your Home, Call the Restoration Experts

Whether suffering from minor flooding or feet of standing water, the water damage contractors at The Restoration Group can help homeowners get dry in no time. Call the water damage experts at The Restoration Group in Highland Park, NJ, at (732) 334-3620.