Compare them; don't take them at their word
Warehouse water losses are big enough that the contractor choice matters. A company that handles small office leaks well may not be set up for tens of thousands of square feet of slab, racked stock and shared air. This page doesn't recommend or represent any company. It gives you a way to compare whoever you're considering, and a reminder to check what they tell you.
Specifics make comparison possible. A company that explains its plan in terms of your building, your zones, the equipment it needs and the records it will keep is easy to evaluate. One that offers general reassurance isn't. A written scope that says who does what tells you more than confident language does.
The clock works against you, so build the comparison in advance. Keep a short list of companies, with the questions below and the answers you got, in the emergency binder. When water hits the floor, you choose from a prepared list instead of searching from scratch. Revisit the list every year, since companies, staffing and your own facility change, and ask your insurer or broker whether they have preferences you should know about.
Questions to ask every company
Put the same questions to each one so you can line the answers up side by side.
- Who does the actual work: the company's own employees, or subcontractors?
- What buildings of this size and type has it worked in?
- How will it record conditions, equipment and progress?
- Which credentials does it hold, and how can you confirm them with the issuing body?
- How does it handle stored goods and racking?
- What happens if the crew finds hazardous materials or contamination?
- How does it work with insurers and adjusters?
- What goes into the written scope, and how are changes approved?
What you can check, and what you can only hear
Some answers can be confirmed. Others stay claims until someone shows you.
Check it yourself
- Credentials and registrations, with the organization that issued them
- Insurance, through a certificate sent by the insurer
- References you contact directly
- Business registration with the state
A claim until shown
- Promises about speed or availability
- General statements about quality
- Predictions about insurance outcomes
- Equipment capacity described without specifics
Common questions
Should the insurer pick the contractor?
Policies vary. Ask whether your insurer requires or prefers particular vendors, and find out whether the choice is yours.
Is the lowest bid the best one?
Not necessarily. Compare the scope, the records each company will keep and who is responsible for what, not just the total.
General information for Commerce City, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.