Including vetted disaster recovery companies in your emergency response plan can help minimize business interruption if catastrophes strike.
Before a loss occurs, look for the following key criteria when evaluating commercial disaster relief contractors.
LARGE-LOSS CAPABILITY
Check that your selected disaster recovery company can handle a major catastrophe.
If hurricanes, fires or structural collapses cause facility-wide damage, you’ll want a vendor skilled in complex commercial disaster recovery. Large-loss capability means the vendor can handle recovery efforts at the required scale.
Far-reaching destruction can overwhelm a smaller, inexperienced vendor. They may lack the depth of resources and detailed coordination needed for massive, dynamic loss situations.
Search Tip: Look for companies that show proven experience responding to big losses, such as to winter storm property damage or tropical cyclone devastation.
RAPID RESPONSE ABILITY
After a disaster, every hour matters. For example, untouched roof damage can allow leaks to continue, and unaddressed water damage can lead to mold growth. Choosing a partner who can arrive on-site quickly can help prevent losses from getting worse.
Look for disaster recovery companies that:
Have 24/7 response capabilities
Pre-position infrastructure before an expected major regional disaster
Pre-load fleets for a quick deployment
Having infrastructure and assets in place before a big loss can accelerate response times and restoration efforts.
Search Tip: Search for contractors with experience quickly responding to area-wide events. Are they able to help clients even when a widespread event like a hurricane affects an entire region? Or are their resources spread thin?
SINGLE-SOURCE PROVIDER
Streamline your business disaster recovery services with an all-in-one contractor.
Instead of juggling multiple vendors and trying to keep every document and bill straight, total recovery can come to your property through one point of contact.
The same company that oversees the immediate restoration can also assist with post-cleanup construction and rebuilding.
Search Tip: In your disaster response contractor evaluation, prioritize those contractors who offer multiple service lines on a single project to help simplify your recovery.
HIGHLY TRAINED AND COMPLIANT
To help ensure safety in your disaster recovery, note the disaster recovery companies that prioritize staff training.
OSHA compliance is particularly important in maintaining safety standards on hazardous job sites, a commonplace condition for post-disaster recovery scenarios. As important, the contractor should adhere to local, state and federal regulations.
Search Tip: Noncompliance or safety errors can result in delays that extend the duration of your property’s recovery, so make sure your selected commercial disaster relief contractor is fully committed to safety.
EXPERIENCE IN YOUR INDUSTRY
Many disaster recovery companies deliver recovery solutions, but your industry likely requires a specialized response.
Give extra consideration to those who have vetted experience providing large-scale restoration in your particular vertical. Contractors with industry knowledge will understand:
Search Tip: Check that your chosen disaster recovery company understands the nuance of your line of work and the special care your buildings, staff and guests require.
EXPERIENCE WORKING ON INSURED LOSSES
An experienced contractor will not only have the practical restoration knowledge but will also understand the intricacies of working with the client’s insurance carriers.
Look for business disaster recovery service providers that give detailed documentation, reports and invoices to facilitate a thorough overview for the claim. Disaster restoration contractors that offer a Master Service Agreement (MSA) can help minimize some paperwork needed during a loss because an agreement is already in place beforehand.
Search Tip: See if your selected company offers a priority response program, like Cotton GDS’ FirstAlert! program, to get the most out of your MSA.
DEPTH OF RESOURCES
Your selected disaster recovery company should have a depth of excellent resources and locations to fully restore your property after a catastrophe.
Contractors should possess commercial-grade equipment and have expertise in operating it. Additionally, and even more importantly, the people behind the tools should be exceptional. They should offer expert knowledge and provide high levels of communication with you throughout the restoration job.
Search Tip: A lineup of strong resources and diverse locations are particularly important in mold remediation. This type of work may require moisture mapping tools and the use of HEPA filtration.
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
A commercial disaster recovery company with decades of experience can signal dependability and expertise.
More years of hands-on experience can mean more efficiency. This is especially important when picking contractors before impacts like water damage, which are time-sensitive and can be extensive.
Search Tip: A contractor with an established presence, indicated by good reviews and satisfied clients, can help narrow your search.
