Avoid getting ripped off after Hurricane Isaac

How Can Homeowners Avoid Getting Ripped Off After Hurricane Isaac?

How to Protect Yourself from Getting Ripped Off after a Storm?

What special questions should you ask repair specialists who are performing storm damage?

How can you ensure that the professional you’re choosing will work with your insurance?

Should you be wary of service companies that come knocking as soon as the storm is over?

Are local companies the best way to go even if they can’t get to you as soon as others?

What should homeowners look for to determine if a company might have poor service or a history of fraudulent repairs?

Isaac has been upgraded to Hurricane and is headed for the US coast right for the state of Louisiana.  The front side of the storm has already dropped several inches of rain, the eye will pass through and the back side of the storm will dump several inches more.  We are in Wichita, KS and preparing to team up with local vendors to serve clients in Louisiana.  We will work under local ServiceMaster assisting them with whatever they need in restoring homes and business after they have encountered flood and or water damage.

In Wichita, KS we experience many spring storms and related damage.  I have personally experienced hail damage at my home.  With a hail storm many business send us flyer in the mail and many sent canvassing crews.  I choose not to use any that came to my door or sent me mailers.  I knew some names from the local market who I called to get advice.  I waited for things to slow down and then got the repairs done.  I was able to get a good value for the $s I was willing to pay.

In the event of a floor or a hurricane Isaac, waiting may not be an option.  My encouragement to those needing services, call on ServiceMaster for all your flood and waterdamage cleaning needs. We have standing contracts many Insurance companies to give you priority.  The vendors in our network are pre-qualified and to be a part of the group, certain standards of workmanship and insurance must be met to be a part of this elite group.

Due to the high demand for qualified contractors, sometimes it is not easy to get estimates, since contractors are performing services for existing clients.  Using a network such as ServiceMaster in Wichita, KS  ensures prices that are generally market standard by 3^rd party pricing companies such as Xactware or Symbility.

IICRC Board Votes to Return to Original name
Keeps cleantrust as the consumer-facing service mark

VANCOUVER, WA (February 17, 2012) - The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) announced today that the Board of Directors has voted to return the formal name of the organization to the IICRC, keeping cleantrust as the service mark of the organization. The full details surrounding the transition will be announced at the Certification Council on April 22, 2012.

“We’ve heard the feedback from registrants over the past few months and considered many options,” said IICRC Chairman Darrell Paulson. “Ultimately, the board has decided to use the IICRC as the main brand and use the cleantrust as a service mark. This allows us to honor the 40-year history of our organization, while also working to gain more awareness with end-users. We are still working through all of the details and we thank the inspection, cleaning and restoration community for their patience during this process.”

The IICRC will retain the use of the updated logo, which represents the strength and breadth of the organization. The shape reflects a globe, symbolizing the IICRC’s international status. And like the organization, the logo is made up of many different parts that are working together in a unified pattern, depicting an organization that is deep in knowledge.

“Together, this powerful brand combination of IICRC and the cleantrust, will enable us to constantly work towards our mission of identifying and promoting an international standard of care that establishes and maintains the health, safety and welfare of the built environment,” said Paulson.

Updated materials with the new IICRC logo and an updated design will gradually rollout in the coming months, including ID cards, brochures, introductory video and a new website.
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About ServiceMaster by Best

ServiceMaster by Best is a cleaning and restoration firm based in Wichita, KS.  ServiceMaster by Best has trained and certified staff by the cleantrust (formerly IICRC) to meet your regular cleaning to specialty cleaning needs.  Since 2003 Best Corporation has acquired various ServiceMaster licenses to bring innovative products and services to the south Central Kansas and surrounding markets.  ServiceMaster by Best is the only entity in the region as a GS-42 GreenSeal Certified green cleaning services.  ServiceMaster by Best provides among other specialty cleaning services, Air-Duct, Carpet, Rug & Upholstery; Fire, Water, Flood, Smoke & MoldCleanup along with commercial and janitorial services.

ServiceMaster by Best is a licensed franchisee of ServiceMaster Clean division of the ServiceMaster Family of Brands.  ServiceMaster currently serves residential and commercial customers through a network of over 4,500 company-owned locations and franchised licenses.  The Company’s brands include TruGreen^®, TruGreen LandCare^®, Terminix^®, American Home Shield^®, ServiceMaster Clean^®, Merry Maids^®, Furniture Medic^®, and AmeriSpec^®. The core services of the Company include lawn care and landscape maintenance, termite and pest control, home warranties, disaster response and reconstruction, cleaning and disaster restoration, house cleaning, furniture repair, and home inspection.

Fire at the 2012 Daytona 500

Benefits of Repeat Business by a Carpet Cleaning Firm

What are the benefits of repeat business? (Question from eLocal blog)

What are the advantages of consistently working with the same professional? Do you offer discounts for repeat customers or faster service? How do you, as professionals, try to ensure that you establish long-term relationships with clients? Are there times when you won’t work with a customer again? What can customers do to keep good relationships with their favorite professional?

Answer: (as a eLocal expert vendor)

From the perspective of a service professional:

I like repeat clients! I like the ones that appreciate the service I provide and the ones that pay timely.

·         It saves me the acquisition cost of the new client.

·         My crew is familiar with them from having serviced them previously.  They obviously had a good experience from the previous time, or they would not have called again to be serviced.

·         Since we are a cleaning and restoration firm, competition is fierce and people often go for the cheapest cleaner.  We happen not to be the cheapest and thus it validates the value proposition that we put before our clients.

·         With repeat clients one builds a valuable relationship which extends to referrals and more business.

·         I approach my clients not a cleaner, but a solutions provider.  I want them to call me not just for their carpet cleaning needs, but advise on anything that pertains to their home or business and the maintenance of their properties.  This gives me the opportunity to serve them in more areas.

·         If I bring value to them, when there is a need for a vendor when they have a water damage or fire/smoke damage (where the scope of the work) is much more than Air-Duct cleaning, we both benefit from the repeat business.

·         When I have serviced a client before, I emotionally want to make sure they are a valued more.  I appreciate their business more.  It comes naturally to me.

·         I would gladly offer a better price to someone with I continually do business and have a relationship.

To establish a better relationship with our clients, we follow-up after each job how they were served.  We send them a Thank-you card after the follow-up call.  If we have their e-Mail address, we will also send them a brief questionnaire to see how our service was with the simple question, if they would use us again or not.

When clients do not pay for one reason or another, we will mark them not to be served again in our systems.  Very few have called back over the years.

From the perspective as a customer:

I have a HVAC contractor who served me well last year.  A few years back a plumber served me well.  I have a “handy-man” who served me well.  I pay these folks timely and they give me a great price.  I use them in my business to serve my clients.  Since I have established a good relationship with a few of these folks, they give a little extra attention to my clients.  This is a win-win for my clients, the vendors I personally use and an opportunity for me to be profitable.

How much does it cost to repair a leaky toilet

Answers to questions I was asked by a reporter:


On average (as I realize each situation is unique) how much might it cost to have a leaky toilet repaired? Let’s say there’s a crack in the tank or the plumbing is dripping somehow and although it’s not a major leak at this stage, still should be repaired.

To repair a toilet (ceramic tank and bowl) may not be a good idea.  In my opinion, it would be better to replace.  Depending on where you live in the country and type of bowl and tank you purchase from the hardware/appliance store, the cost of the toilet could be as low as $99.00 and up from there.  Installation may cost about $150.00 +, often larger stores may offer a discounted installation cost as well.  If it is my house, a crack in the tank would mean replace the tank (if possible), otherwise the whole unit.  Some toilets and tanks are 1 piece.  I try not to do these type of repairs myself, I hire a plumber for such repairs.  (I consider myself quite handy, however some things I prefer to have a pro do.)

More often than not, I have observed that the “supply line” to the water tank develops a hole.  If it is a slow leak, I would get that replaced or replace it myself.  These are easy to do and readily available.  I would replace with a metal braided supply line.  They tend to hold up better in the long run.

How much might it cost to do a major toilet repair? The tank cracks, the plumbing that was leaking just a little is not a faucet, etc.?

Cost of toilet as little as $99, cost of install depends on the market, here upwards of $150.00.

   

How much might it cost to replace a blown (and spewing water) washing machine hose?

To replace the hot or cold water supply line to the washing machine is cheap.  The hose will cost as little as $7 at a hardware store.  I would not recommend them to anyone.  I would encourage the use of the metal braided ones.  Now there are metal braided with auto pressure shut off in case of a  rupture.  I have these at my home, each cost about $20.00 each.  If a person can install a garden hose, they can install these.  Only difference is they need to use plumbers tape. (Readily available at the hardware store for about a $1.00) Just wrap a few times (2 to 3) over the threads where the hose connects on each end, and you are good to go. 

Now let’s talk about the damage the ruptured hose may cost. (which is what we often assist clients with)

Scenario 1.: House built on a slab foundation (with no basement).  Depending on where the laundry room is located and what kind of drains are in the room.  If there is a floor drain, the room may get a little wet.  Some drywall may get wet and will need to be dried out.  This may cost about a thousand or so or less, depending on the situation for water damage restoration.

Scenario 2a.: House has a basement and the washer unit sits in the basement in a well drained utility room.  Similar to above, because the water would drain out fairly easily. Cost could vary.

Scenario 2b.: House has a basement and the washer unit sits in the basement in a not so well drained area.  This could propose quite a problem, since the carpet in the basement would be wet and water would wick up the drywall.  Drywall would need to be dried out, base trim and all materials would need to dried to prevent fungal growth.  Depending on the severity, cost could range upwards of $1,000.00 to dry out + cost to rebuild if necessary.

Scenario 2c.: House has a basement and the washer unit sits on the main floor with a finished basement.  When a flood happens in this situation, generally this is quite extensive and expensive.  Cost could easily go upwards of $2500 depending on what is damaged + rebuild costs if necessary.

Scenario 3.: House has a finished basement, main level and floor above the main level and the washer unit sits on the top floor.  These turn out to be quite expensive since the water will run down through the floors and the walls causing extensive damage to walls, flooring such as carpet etc.  Cost could easily be about $2500+ per floor to dry out and then the cost to replace and repair damaged structure and the contents.

Similar costs structure if it were a toilet and its location.

How much might it cost to replace rubber washing machine hoses with steel braided ones?

Note the beginning of the point above. If you do it yourself, $20.00 + for the cost of the hose; if you hire a plumber, I assume they would charge a minimum rate of about $150.00 and that is dependent on what area of the country.

How much might it cost to install an auto shut off calve with an audible alarm on a washing machine or dishwasher hose line?

I really have no idea.  However pressure sensitive auto shutoff metal braided supply lines cost about $20 a piece and higher, dependant on the length etc.

If a hot water heater starts leaking, is it (in general) able to be repaired or is a new one usually the only option?

These are not generally repairable, it is time to get a new one and replace the old, especially if it is leaking on the hot water side with hot water/steam.  This is potentially a dangerous situation because hot water evaporates quite rapidly and can cause fungal growth quite rapidly.  We are currently remediating an unfinished basement that had the hot water heater rupture when the tenant was out of town.  2 days later he returns to a incredibly contaminated basement.  The basement looked like a Petri dish full of fungal growth.  It will be restored, but will cost the client in the vicinity of $10,000.  If my hot water heater leaked, I would replace without a question.

On average, how long do hot water heaters last?

Hot water heaters come with various “warranties”.  I am not an expert on their life, but I do know that the better the warranty, the better the product.  Warranties generally are 6-10 yrs. A hot water heater’s life can be elongated by a handful of things.  If you live in a hard-water area, install a water softer or related appliance.  This reduces buildup of sediment in hot water heater and pipe oxidation/buildup.  The second thing one can do is to drain the hot-water heater periodically based on manufacturer directions to drain it of the buildup in the bottom of the hot-water heater.  This reduces corroded buildup on the bottom of the hot water heater.  Doing this procedure will also improve the amount of hot water you get from your tank and its efficiency.

A few other thoughts that may be helpful:

Slow leaks and the damage they cause are generally not covered.  Slow leaks are often the cause of fungal/mold growth around the leak causing wood rot etc.  Better to take care of it when it is a small problem, rather than wait for a burst pipe causing far greater damage.

If possible as in some of the new homes and newer plumbing systems, the pressure can be regulated and or reduced by simply slowing down from the breakaways from the main line, especially where water pressure is not critical.  I have done this and advise other of it as a simple precautionary thing to do.

How Should Homeowners Interpret Estimates?
For all contractors, designers and home improvement professionals, how accurate are estimates? Do most professionals shoot high and try to come in under budget? Should a homeowner expect projects to come in on budget or just near the budget? How should homeowners interpret differences between professional estimates?

Comment to the question:

Estimate: As defined by Merriam-Webster “to produce a statement of the approximate cost of” [among other things].  My approach to giving an estimate is as if I were the customer.  As a customer when someone tells me they estimate the cost to be $500 to finish project x, I take it at that.  If the vendor puts it on paper titled “Estimate”, $500 to complete project x; I read it as based on any unforeseen things, it will be $500.00 to finish that project.  If there are caveats of unforeseeable expenses, than I expect that discussion to happen during the “estimating” process.  When I give an “estimate” to the client, I let them know that this is only an estimate based on the scope of work described in the estimate.  Should other things arise, charges will be additional based on what arises.  Being in the cleaning and restoration business, to give an “estimate” to clean a carpet or air-duct is rather simple.  We are upfront with “based on the information you provided, we estimate the cost of x to be $ Y.  If our technicians arrive at the site and notice the scope of work outlined is different than on the work order, they are to call the office staff and expectations corrected.  Based on what is necessary charges may change and we communicate with the client before services commence.  How one communicates the word “estimate” is crucial to what a person may hear.

When a client asks for a bid on a certain project, it is generally do not exceed bid number that we give for the services requested and outlined in the bid.

Should a client want a proposal on what needs to be done, we discuss that and “propose” things that need to be cleaned and restored.  They may want something different than what we are proposing, we will create a bid based on the fine-tuning of the proposal.

When we perform restoration services, [unless a client is paying out of pocket], we use and industry-wide internet based software that has a initial day estimate, but by the end of the job will have a final billing.

Call it estimate/bid or proposal, communicating with the client and setting expectations of service is the key.  Over communicate with all parties involved, under promise and over deliver.

Read more at here.

Murder scene clean-up (as posted on BusinessNewsDaily)



In addition to specializing in cleaning and disaster restoration, ServiceMaster by Best, a ServiceMaster franchise located in Wichita, Kan., dedicates part of its business to cleaning up what few others will: crime scenes.

Owner by Sam Lazarus, said the company gets called upon several times a year to help clean up the blood, fluids and other damage incurred by homes and businesses that become the scene of a bloody incident.

"We are trained to deal with blood-borne pathogens," Lazarus told BusinessNewsDaily of his unique proficiencies.

Upon arrival, Lazarus' staff suits up in protective gear and sprays the home or business with a germicidal agent. Using an abrasive brush, they then try and clean as much as possible, he said. Carpet or drywall that can't be cleaned is removed, and special air filters and pumped-in ozone help relieve the odor.

Since the conditions are so rough, Lazarus's employees are given the option to pass on a job they don't feel comfortable with. Those who gut it out are rewarded handsomely.

Depending how grisly the scene, Lazarus said he pays his staff between double and triple what they would make on a regular cleanup job.

Cleaning up blood and other stomach-turning things most wouldn't come near – like homes filled with dead animals – can take anywhere from a couple of days to a few weeks, according to Lazarus. He said the cost of a crime scene cleanup can range from $1,000 to as high as six figures for some tougher jobs.


To read about 9 other unusual companies, visit BusinessNewsDaily

10 Strange Businesses You Didn't Know Existed

5:46 AM ET   |   

By: Chad Brooks, BusinessNewsDaily Contributor

Post-Christmas Organization

With Christmas gone and the new-year upon us, this is a great time to do some of the things that get left behind.  Being in the midst of winter, it almost is no fun being outdoors.  This is a great time to take on inside projects that have been put on the back-burner.  It is a little early for spring cleaning, but never too late to spruce up your home.  Here are a few tips on taking care of a few things around the house that may need attention. This article gives a few directions on organization and light duty cleaning.

Organization Related:

·         Plan:

o   Have a goal in mind on what you would like to accomplish.  Are you attempting to de-clutter a room or a level of the home or your entire home?

o   Be realistic to what you can accomplish in the time that you have.

o   Mark out a staging area to where you can put things that you will donate, items that you may throw away and the other that will be kept to go in the organized area.

·         Storage Supplies:

o   With a variety of storage options available, consider what suits your needs and budget.

o   Have containers for the size needed so that they will not be over-loaded to make them too heavy.

o   Apply peel-able labels so corrections and changes can be made as you are in the process of organizing. This will help store things neatly and you will know where things are located should you need them.

·         Organize:

o   Bed Room Closet: Perhaps the Children’s closet.  Sort out the clothes they do not wear.  Put the ones they use back on hangers. If you plan to throw away the damaged things, put them in the trash pile while keeping the ones you may wish to donate or have a garage sale in a separate pile.  Shoes, toys and boxes can be cleared from the floor or the top shelves as well.

o   Under The Bed: Often things get shoved under the bed.  Get rid of what is not used in the last year if it cannot be donated or sold at a garage sale.

o   Linen Closet: Apply the same principle to this area.  Making rags may be a good idea from old towels; however Micro-fiber towels are better for cleaning.

o   Bathroom Cabinets: Often there are old cleaning chemicals, hair dyes partially used, throw them out!  Keep only what you need.

o   Throw out the old: There is always a reason to keep something, but there is also a reason to make room.  It simplifies your life.  De-cluttering should be part of one’s tasks.

o   Have a place for everything: Be a minimalist.