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.
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
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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