Detecting Water Restoration Scams...

Homeowners that just experienced a calamity usually want their homes restored immediately so that they can go back to living their normal lives. Because of the urgency by which they want things to be done, there are water restoration companies that take advantage of their vulnerability and victimize the homeowners with various scams.

One of the most common ways by which companies take advantage of homeowners is by charging exorbitant fees for simple water damage restoration services. These companies usually send someone to check on the condition of the home. After evaluating the damage that the flood or the fire has caused the home, they will insist on doing the work immediately. They will give you reasons such as how leaving the water in your home will cause further damage, how the insurance will refuse to pay for the services if you do not act immediately and other reasons to justify starting the water damage restoration the same day that they evaluated the situation in your home.

Usually these companies will not provide a written cost estimate and will just tell you the cost estimates verbally. Then they tell you that there is possibly more work that will be needed as they go along with the project. Sometimes they will provide costing as they go along but will not explain all the work clearly and the equipment involved. They make the services appear more complicated than they really are so that the homeowner will not complain about the fees being charged by the water damage restoration company. These companies convince you to hire them immediately because the insurance will pay for their services anyway. They then do very simple services and charge very high fees.

If a company refuses to give a clear cost estimation even after the representative has made an extensive inspection of your home, then do not sign up for the service. Being the homeowner, you should at least get an idea how much the water damage restoration will cost you. You should get quotations or pricelists from two or three restoration companies.

You should also check if the company charges a high amount for the evaluation of the damage. Some companies charge minimal fees for this while there are companies charge expensive rates just for visiting your home to check for damage. Charging an exorbitant amount for the site visit guarantees them instant income even if they do not have to perform any more services for you.