An Important Decision
There are many tips and tricks in the industry but here are a few things to watch out for as a homeowner looking for a mold remediation company.
Advertisement Testing Mold Separately vs A Mold Testing and Remediation Company
Facts that should not be avoided when trying to find a mold restoration company are the situations when a company both tests and removes mold. Why do you want to avoid a mold inspection and mold remediation company? It’s a conflict of interest; the person can easily say that you have more mold than is actually there. They are not certified to do testing, if they are certified ask them how long the course was that they took and what certification they have. Most reputable companies won’t do both because it’s not legitimate to test and remove the mold and test yourself to give you a pat on the back for the good work you may or may not have completed.
Low Cost Mold Remediation
Don’t do it! There are ways to budget like going to a grocery store to buy discounted food with a coupon, or shopping around for the cheapest gas. When trying to get the lowest price for mold remediation, you’ll end up with a higher cost. It’s like buying Tuna, but getting home and realizing it’s expired and you can’t return it. The mold restoration project needs certain steps to be followed. One step is setting up containment and putting the area under negative air and removing it properly with the right treatments. Setting up the containment is one of the biggest costs to a mold restoration project, it’s also the first area which a company would cut when providing a reduced price. Without a containment, the mold can spread and contaminate other areas of the home and over time the home would be twice as bad as when you hired the first mold remediation company.
Reputable Certifications In The Industry
Sadly, the industry has many certifications which look reputable but just don’t hold any weight and should be banned. Many companies offer a one-day Internet only course which provides a certification. If it was a home which needs to be livable, having someone who has an online only-certification and no real experience would not be someone I would let into a home which needed mold restoration. Two reputable certifications which require an in-person training are the IICRC and ACAC. Both are good organizations and some contractors prefer one over the other but a contractor with either one of these should be a good pick.
Industry Insurance Requirements and Recommendations
In this area, most contractors will “yes” you to death but it’s important to ask to see the insurance papers. Any legitimate company will provide them for you without any problems, the ones which don’t carry it will make excuses and try to sell you before you ask to many times to see them. Insurance coverage you should be aware of and look for when dealing with mold restoration is Pollution Control Insurance and General Liability Insurance.
Customer Reviews and Online Reputation
Advertisement This one gets me every time because people read and believe very easily what reviews say and speak. Always be cautious when reading reviews. Be sure to look at how many reviews a person has left, if it’s less than 5 and a negative review than chances are it could be a competitor. Companies will typically have one or two customers who weren’t fully satisfied but look at the overall rating. If the rating is less than a 3 out of 5 stars and the company has 5 or more reviews, I would avoid that company. Don’t be afraid to look and review different sites for reviews for a company, one site is not always the answer.
CRD Restore is a local company who services New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware with water remediation and mold remediation services. The company is trained by the IICRC and has EPA certifications as well as the proper insurance coverages for the industry.
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12 comments
Great article! As a water restoration company the only thing I would add is to do your research on approximate costs. Down in our area, restoration companies are known to rip people off. Compare prices, don’t go with the cheapest but be ware of the most expensive estimates. They may be using unnecessary equipment. Ask for a price list of some sort so you have an idea. Sometimes damage is minimal and you can easily resort to videos and articles online to get the job done. But to know all this you need to be informed to gauge the severity of your situation and make an educated decision.
If you’re in Miami or the South Florida area, check us out at http://www.thewaterrestorationgroup.com
These are great examples of how to choose a mold remediation company to resolve your issues. Here at Eradicator we also suggest that a client do there due diligence by acquiring as much information about the topic of mold before making a decision. We also suggest that you consult at least 3 firms at minimum before making a decision. This unfortunately is not a cheap industry and whatever you can save by comparing and contrasting is always best for the client. We also have noticed that clients sometimes fall prey to the term “free inspection”, realistically there is nothing free in this world and if a remediation firm offers a free inspection we can guarantee that they will convince you to spend on mold testing for something that is visible and obvious to the inspector. What we do suggest is that a remediation firm should meet these qualities that we have compiled.
http://www.molderadicator.com/eradicator-mold-removal-nj/
I like your tip on finding a mold remediation company that is reputable and certified. I would imagine that finding someone that is certified would be a good way to ensure that they will do a good job. My wife and I recently found mold in our home so maybe we should hire a certified company to come and get rid of it.
I think it’s interesting that there are many certificates that look reputable, but don’t hold any weight and should be banned. I always try and look to see if a person is certified before I hire them. I wouldn’t want them to have a certificate that holds no weight, and then come work on something in my house as serious as mold.
I appreciate your tip on finding a mold inspection company with reputable certifications. I would imagine that finding someone who is certified by a good organization would prove they will do a good job. My husband and I are considering buying a home so before we do we should probably find a reputable mold inspection company to inspect it.
We do not because this could result in long term mold problems because moisture can creep up behind the surface.Finding a qualified remediator, who understands the potential hazards of improper remediation can be difficult. Visit plz http://www.moldbustersllc.com/mold-remediation/
Thanks for outlining some of the steps in what to expect as far as the containment step of mold remediation. I imagine when looking for a company you could ask them what their process is, and if they don’t mention containment you could take that as a red flag. My mom’s basement was flooded last month and she is worried she may have mold down there now. I’ll pass along your suggestions for her to use while searching for a company.
Thank you for all this great information about choosing a mold company! One thing that really stood out to me is that you say to make sure that the company is certified in the end. It would be nice to know that they have proof of the training they went through.
This is some really good information about mold remediation. It is good to know that it would be smart to make sure that you don’t go with someone who does super cheap work. That is good for me to know because I am scared of my new home getting mold.
I liked that you mentioned you need to consider the insurance requirements and recommendations of a mold removal company before you hire them. My husband and I are looking for advice to prevent a mold infestation in her mother’s house. I will let him know about your recommendations to find the best mold removal company to help her.
My twin sister found mold in her basement and she needs to hire a mold remediation service as soon as possible. I like how you recommend using online reviews to help you find a reliable company and to consider how many reviews they have. This tip will really help my sister find a good mold remediation company so I will be sure to pass it along to her.