Restoration 1 Of Tampa Bay

Depending on the cause of loss and the extent of damage, we help the homeowner or business owner decide if the damage will exceed their deductible. If it is a "sudden and unexpected" loss (i.e. a broken water pipe), it will almost certainly be covered by the insured’s carrier. 

To begin work, we have the responsible party sign a contract including work authorization and authorization for direct pay (AOB) allowing us to invoice their carrier directly for the services provided. This is much the same as signing papers at your doctor’s office allowing them to bill insurance directly. Once the mitigation and dry out is completed, we offer to assist the homeowner with repairs or reconstruction. Unless the homeowner just doesn’t want to deal with anyone but us (which happens often), we suggest the homeowner receive the repair money directly and obtain bids for the work. Otherwise we provide an estimate to the carrier for the repairs and wait for the check to be issued. Once a deposit to begin work is received, we will perform the repairs and request the balance once the homeowner is satisfied with the completed project. 

I personally have a 30 year background in commercial HVAC systems for large buildings. This experience gives me an in-depth understanding of the psychrometrics (the science of the temperature and humidity of air) behind drying out building structures and materials. 

My staff includes veterans of the restoration industry and multiple IICRC certified technicians. Not only are they experienced, but they are compassionate with the victims of disaster at home. Water and fire can cause severe damage including discoloration, swelling, mold, smoke, soot and odors. We know how to treat and restore properties to the pre-loss condition. 

The insurance industry primarily uses Xactimate as their standard for the pricing of loss recovery. Everything in Xactimate is quantified by measurements and pricing is specific to the zip code of the property. Our pricing is based on Xactimate. We create and provide an Xactimate estimate when billing the insured’s carrier, along with the required documentation such as floor plans with measurements, photos, moisture readings, IR photos, etc. 

I wanted to use my knowledge of construction, buildings and building systems (mechanical, plumbing and electrical) to help people in need. I researched and found that the restoration business is the ideal vehicle for my needs. I get to help people who have experienced a disaster in their homes or offices, and use my knowledge to get them back to a normal life as soon as possible. 

We have worked with single family homeowners, condo owners, property managers, and business owners & managers. Our larger commercial clients include Walmart, Walgreens, Sherwin-Williams, Ashton-Woods, Spectrum/KableLink, the Exchange on MacDill AFB and others.  

We were recently called out to a home that had been "dried out" by another contractor whom we will not name here, but they are a preferred contractor by a large national carrier. The previous restoration company did little more than run drying equipment in the home, and the result was that mold grew in multiple locations throughout the home. We had to complete the job for the homeowners, including handling the removal and storage of their furniture and contents, performing the mold remediation, repairing the damage, and recommending multiple specialty contractors to put their home back to “true” pre-loss condition. The result was a very happy client that gave us a wonderful 5-star review and refers business to us whenever they can. 

Check their reviews on Google and other resources. Look for detailed references to their specific loss event and for names of the employees who worked in their home. 

Ask if the restoration company also does the repairs after the "dry out". I receive calls all the time from homeowners saying another company did the dry out and then left. Now the homeowner is looking for someone to do the repairs and reconstruction. If the restoration company doesn’t offer to at least to manage your rebuild, call us. We’ll manage the complete loss for you from start to finish as you prefer. 

If the client chooses to work with the insurance carrier's "preferred" contractor, know this ... they are preferred by your carrier for a reason. Their primary goal is to reduce the cost of the claim for your carrier; returning your home to its pre-loss condition is a secondary concern. We’ve turned down "opportunities" to become a preferred vendor for some carriers because they specifically request that you "minimize" the loss. You have the right to use anyone you want to repair your home, and your carrier is obligated to pay for it.