Why Choosing a Qualified Preferred Vendor Matters

8/23/2022 (Permalink)

Why It's Important to Pick a Qualified Preferred Vendor

A client calls your office to report that they have an insurance claim in Century City, CA. Like most business owners who are facing a disaster, they're anxious to get the cleanup and restoration process completed as quickly as possible. As an insurance agent, you have a responsibility to help your client get the help they need while keeping costs down for your company. Luckily, you have a list of preferred vendors, and you inform your client that the names on that list are truly the best. Here's why it matters to you and to your client that they choose a preferred vendor.

1. Qualified
To participate in the vendor program, a company has to be able to verify that they are qualified to complete the services that they say they provide. Vendors who value their business will keep good records of certifications, but it's even more important to know that the staff receives regular continuing education in order to stay on top of the latest best practices. A company like SERVPRO has a set of twenty-one guidelines that employees of each franchise must meet in order to remain on preferred vendor lists.

2. Compliant
In addition to qualified staff, a preferred vendor who wants to be recommended by an insurance agent must maintain compliance with all industry standards. This means that the tools they use, the standards to which they complete jobs, and the way they maintain project paperwork all have to be above board. The easiest way to ensure that these things happen is to work with a company that has consistent expectations for every franchisee.

3. Professional
The last thing that your client wants to deal with is a vendor who doesn't keep in touch. SERVPRO has the reach to ensure that calls are answered and the resources to keep every project organized.
As an insurance agent, you want your clients to be confident when they choose a restoration company after a disaster. Encourage your clients to use the preferred vendor list so that they can be confident that they are working with the best in the business.

Containment Key to Minimizing Mold Spreading

7/15/2022 (Permalink)

Key to Reducing Mold Spread: Containment

If mold makes an appearance in your Westwood Village, CA, business, immediate action needs to be taken to keep the problem from growing. Once mold spores get the moisture, nutrients and warm temps they need, they will quickly start spreading to other areas of the property. Contacting a mold cleanup and restoration company is essential in stopping the spread. They will work to contain the affected area and have the tools and expertise to mitigate the issue the right way.

Stopping the Spread

While you wait for help to arrive, there are a few ways to minimize the spread.

If possible, turn off vents to the affected area to minimize the chances of spores spreading. Consider sealing the door with plastic wrap and tape.
Lower the temperature and ensure humidity is below 60%. If possible, run a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture in the air.
Any moldy objects should be placed in sealable plastic bags and removed from the area. For delicate items, such as documents, bag and freeze them to deactivate the growth process.
Objects that can’t be removed should be wiped down or temporarily covered.

Professional Cleanup
Once help arrives, a certified professional will inspect and assess the mold contamination. Depending on the extent of the issues, different containment and cleaning techniques may be used. They will create a containment chamber to isolate the affected area, which minimizes the chances of cross-contamination. In most cases, HEPA-filtered negative air will be used to better seal the area. It creates a vacuum effect, limiting contamination. Disposable personal protective equipment, including facemasks, gloves and full-body suits will be employed to keep spores from attaching to regular clothes and drifting to unknown parts.
Dealing with mold cleanup is not an easy task. It is a microorganism that wants to survive, so taking immediate action to contain and begin the removal process is essential.

5 Advantages of Electronic Claims Systems

4/25/2022 (Permalink)

Electronic Claims Systems Have Five Benefits

Today, technology has made sharing data and filing an insurance claim for your business in Beverly Hills, CA, incredibly easy. This allows you to get your claim money quicker, so you can hire a disaster restoration company, such as SERVPRO, and get started rebuilding as soon as possible.

1. Earlier Payments
It can take a while for a traditional claim to receive a payout. However, filing an electronic insurance claim can result in earlier payments. This means you can start rebuilding your business sooner and reopen with minimal downtime.

2. Earlier Detection of Errors
Any information in your insurance claim that you submit electronically can be scanned for errors quicker. This means you can edit your claim as soon as possible and resubmit it if any errors are found. This drastically reduces the chance that your claim will be rejected or you will be denied payment.

3. Lower Administrative Costs
When you submit claims electronically, you lower the amount you have to pay to create paper copies and send them in. This is because you don't need to print documents and physically submit them to your agent. Instead, you can submit them all online through your customer portal.

4. Free Software Submissions
Most insurance companies now have their own electronic claims system. That means you no longer have to pay a third-party electronic claim submitter and submit your documents for free through a customer portal.

5. Available Support
Many insurance companies have a helpline for customers who are trying to submit their documents electronically. You can often find this number in the customer portal or on the company's website if you need it. In other words, even technophobes can submit their documents online.

Exchanging information with your insurance agent just became much easier with electronic claims systems. This lets you get connected faster and submit your critical documents for review. Many benefits come from a faster submission.

3 Reasons To Own and Operate a Damage Restoration Franchise

2/17/2022 (Permalink)

If your home in Westwood, CA has suffered from damage seek the expertise of a certified mitigation company.

Why Entrepreneurs Should Consider Owning and Operating a SERVPRO Franchise

Damage mitigation and restoration services are always in demand. Whether a crisis impacts a single home, neighborhood, city or larger region, a one-stop cleanup and remediation business can meet the needs of homeowners and communities. Here are three reasons why entrepreneurs should consider owning and operating a SERVPRO franchise.

1. Perpetual Demand

When a home suffers damage, many homeowners will seek the expertise of a certified mitigation company. There are several factors that set SERVPRO apart from the competition:

• All-in-one mitigation and restoration services
  
• Fast response times
  
• Industry-leading certifications and standards
  
• National company with local franchises
  
  

These factors draw customers and explain why entrepreneurs may want to own and operate this business. If demand exceeds the capacity of a local SERVPRO franchise in the event of a catastrophe, the national company can offer regional support.

2. Professional Support

In the event of a disaster such as a hurricane, tornado or wildfire, a national restoration company can help a local franchise provide services to the affected area. This can enable a location to meet increased demand for mitigation and restoration services with the following resources:

• Additional equipment
  
• Certified experts
• Supplementary personnel
  
  

SERVPRO is on call 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. When a catastrophe strikes, the company can mobilize more than 1,700 franchises nationwide.

3. Proven Success

SERVPRO was founded in 1967 and sold its first franchise in 1969. The company has continued to grow over the last 50 years. Today, it is the highest-ranked restoration company on the 2018 Entrepreneur Franchise 500 ranking.

Entrepreneurs should consider opening a SERVPRO franchise for the same reasons that homeowners and insurers rely on this company in the event of a disaster in Westwood, CA. The business model enables one-stop mitigation and restoration businesses that are locally owned to benefit from the experience, name-recognition and national network of an established company.

How Do Hygienists Check for Mold?

1/31/2022 (Permalink)

Sampling Techniques Professionals Use

Hiring an environmental hygienist to perform a mold test is the most accurate method for determining whether mold is growing in a residence. Learn about the sampling techniques professionals use and how test results can increase the effectiveness of mold cleaning.

Obtaining Samples

An environmental hygienist will take samples to send to a lab for analysis. Depending on the situation, a hygienist may obtain different types of samples:

• Air
  
• Bulk (contents or materials)
  
• Spores
  
  

Any of these methods can yield conclusive results about the type of mold present in a house. Air testing may include analysis of microbial volatile organic compounds and spores. Bulk testing may focus primarily on the presence of spores. All of these methods allow for targeted mold remediation measures.

Analyzing Samples

There are several methods of lab analysis that a hygienist or mold specialist may recommend. The amount of detail and speed of these methods vary:

• Microscopy
  
• Culturing
  
• A combination of these methods
  
  

Microscopy involves visual analysis and can provide results in as little as two days. Culturing is a slower process that involves growing mold spores in a petri dish. This process can provide more detailed results, such as the subspecies of mold, but is slower and more expensive.

Reporting Findings

A hygienist can provide test results and recommendations for mold cleaning. A homeowner may want to work with a full-service restoration company to ensure that mold remediation proceeds as efficiently as possible. Depending on the species of mold and the extent of an infestation, different cleaning or quarantining methods may be recommended.

These are the three major stages of checking for mold. An environmental hygienist can recommend the best mold cleaning methods for a particular species of fungi or type of infestation. If a homeowner is concerned about mold damage at a residence in Westwood Village, CA, he or she should hire a certified hygienist.