With the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey in the Houston, Texas area, and Hurricane Irma in Florida, disaster restoration crews have taken to the area to assist with the cleanup and recovery efforts. That’s the good news. The bad news is that restoration scammers have followed suit, as is the case after any major storm that produces widespread damage. Therefore, in light of Hurricane Harvey and Irma, at American Restoration Water & Fire, we thought it would be fitting to spend this blog post talking about how to avoid restoration scammers. Here’s how you can avoid restoration scams:
Don’t Give Out Personal Information
In times of disaster, people have a tendency to be desperate for help. Hence, if someone knocks on their door claiming to be from FEMA or another recovery group, homeowners may do whatever is asked to streamline recovery efforts. Don’t give out any personal information right away. Instead, ask to see ID of those who’ve approached you. Ethical entities are always happy to provide the necessary information to give you peace of mind that you’re dealing with the right folks.
Ask to See Licenses and Insurance
Whether it’s a major disaster or just a little bit of water damage, you should never work with anyone who isn’t licensed and insured. Ask to see these crucial documents and get work orders in writing before allowing anyone to perform work on your property. American Restoration Water & Fire is fully licensed and insured, and we’re happy to provide documentation. Every one of our technicians are certified and trained to meet the highest restoration standards.
Vette Them
Before you agree to anything, poke around on their website, ask for testimonials and see if you can see any recent projects they’ve completed. If they downplay any of these requests or don’t have a website, be weary of who you may be working with. American Restoration Water & Fire prides itself on providing professional, ethical full-service restoration work. For more information on how to avoid scams, contact us today.
Copyright: karenr / 123RF Stock Photo
