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Contractor Evaluation to Fit Your Needs

Before a disaster is the best time to assess and prepare for potential risks. Your assessment should include determining what contractors you’ll call on for any man-made or natural disaster, from a burst pipe in a breakroom to recovering from a hurricane or wildfire. Establishing a top 3 list is generally advised, and the total number of contractors to have on standby depends on your geographic footprint.

As you consider your options, consult this short checklist of what to look for in a disaster recovery firm.

Professional Qualifications

 

A qualified restoration firm will have a contractor’s license and a variety of certifications, depending on your state and local requirements. Look up a contractor’s records to ensure they are in good standing. Top firms will have a wide range of certifications beyond what is required. Leading certifications in the restoration industry include IICRC and RIA.

References and Experience

 

The right contractor for your work will know your market and have deep expertise in projects similar to yours. There are different licenses for each sector of remediation and reconstruction, and your firm will need to have the right license for the work. They will be able to provide references from other businesses in your industry.

Location

 

Look for a provider that aligns with your geographic footprint. You want a firm that can mobilize quickly when a disaster strikes. Keep in mind that contractors may have a mobile response team that can quickly mobilize and deploy equipment and resources to the impacted area, in addition to regional offices.

Capacity and Resources

 

Selecting a firm that has national contracts in place with equipment suppliers can be advantageous when supplies are running low during the aftermath of a major catastrophic event. Leading providers will also have national response crews that travel to job sites in response to major events.

Equipment

 

Advanced tools and technology can expedite repairing and restoring your business assets. Look for a provider with the latest tools to help detect and address problems. For example, electrostatic sprayers that can cover large areas quickly and precisely, thermal imagery to identify hidden problems, and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation for decontamination of surfaces, gases, and liquids.

Pricing

 

Top contractors offer nationwide pricing, so you never have doubts about what a project will cost, whether your project is in California or Florida. The provider should also have resources who can prepare scopes of work and estimates that insurance carriers can readily understand and approve, streamlining the claims process.

Safety

Your provider should offer thorough safety training on how to identify, prevent, and control hazards, including how to use personal protective equipment. OSHA training is a baseline, but specialized jobs may require additional training. Be sure to check potential contractors’ safety metrics.

Choosing the Right Contractors

For a guide on how to assess a potential disaster recovery or restoration firm, download our quality white paper. If you’d like to know more about how ATI approaches projects, contact us today.

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