How Do You Hire A Good Service Provider?

12/9/2022 (Permalink)

Be sure to check out a company before you hire them.

Tips about How to Hire a Service Contractor

Good service providers are concerned with customer satisfaction. They want to turn customers into repeat businesses. Shady companies are about making as much money as possible from each job and customer.

Reputable companies plan to be in business for the long haul. They care about our community and its reputation. In a town the size of Yuma, a bad reputation spreads quickly.

There are many companies that are honest and mean well, but they fail to deliver on quality, or have other serious shortcomings that impact their customers. The typical weaknesses are:

• Not putting estimates in writing
• Late arrival
• Poor communication during the job
• Working messy
• Missing deadlines

Of these five problems, research studies reveal that the lack of clear communication is the basis for 80% of customer complaints about contractors. The remedy seems simple, keep both parties informed by using text memos, photographs of the work, and, most important of all, face-to-face conversations. However, communication failures seem to be part of the human condition and can quickly become the most significant obstacle in developing a stable professional relationship. It is critically important to prevent misunderstandings and disappointments from happening. 

You can have confidence in a vendor you intend to hire by asking potential service providers how they update and inform you about your project from start to finish. Ask them what their policy is when a crew is running late. Do they let you know? Observe how well the prospective contractor communicates with you during their sales process because this is often a strong indicator of how you will be treated after becoming their client.

SERVPRO of Yuma is aware of this blog's five most common shortcomings. We know any one of these problems can be relationship killer. While we are not 100% perfect, we do our very best to provide quality service by providing written estimates, arriving on time, communicating well, maintaining a clean and safe job site, and meeting our promised deadlines.  When a mistake happens, our people will own up to it. Our team members will do their very best to correct the issue. Everyone’s goal at SERVPRO of Yuma is to satisfy our customers, make you happy, and build a solid and positive reputation in Yuma and throughout the area.

For additional information or service, don't hesitate to contact our SERVPRO of Yuma East Foothills office, call 928-247-1180. We’re here to help and “Like it never even happened.”

Is There an Advantage to "start to finish" Service

12/9/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Yuma provides mitigation, demolition, and reconstruction.

Commercial Locations With Property Damage Require Cohesive Service.

What do we mean by cohesive service? We suggest that SERVPRO of Yuma can provide all the benefits to restore a damaged property from start to finish. This is a unique advantage for our clients.

Most contractors are specialists and must bring in sub-contractors to perform specific tasks. When this happens, there are often lag times in the production schedule, and mistakes can quickly occur. This is not the case with SERVPRO of Yuma, our services can flow seamlessly from the first day to the last day, and there will be fewer communication mistakes because we will keep the same production supervisors on the job.

Many of the property damage jobs we repair are for businesses or income property. Companies lose money when they are closed or partially closed, and income property does not make money when tenants aren’t paying rent. That is why emergency damage cleanup and repairs must be completed quickly and adequately. We get it.

Andy Alverez and Richard Rodriquez look forward to discussing your property repair needs and potential future needs with you. Please reach out to 928-247-1180.

A valuable free gift from SERVPRO of Yuma.

12/9/2022 (Permalink)

Business owners can download a free emergency preparedness app from SERVPRO of Yuma.

We Care About Yuma Businesses

SERVPRO of Yuma is committed to helping businesses in Yuma and the surrounding area thrives. We’re part of the community, and having a healthy business environment is as essential to everyone’s quality of life. That’s why we offer a free customized ERP (Emergency Ready Plan) for every business in Yuma, Dome, Fortuna Foothills, and Ligurta.

We know that when a business suffers a major property disaster such as a fire, it is difficult for companies to re-open their doors. We also know that almost half of the businesses that do reopen will go out of business within the following year. Why? It’s not usually because they don’t have insurance. It’s because they don’t have an emergency plan in place to help them be back in business quickly. A slow recovery can be deadly for a company because they lose its customers. Customers go elsewhere and become accustomed to the new business.

Schools, hospitals, and large businesses have extensive disaster recovery plans ready and in place. In fact, these organizations usually have one or more risk managers on staff to manage problems and challenges before they get out of hand and seriously impact the entity.

Small businesses don’t need an extensive plan or a person on payroll to manage potential disasters. However,  emergency preparedness planning should be part of running a business.

FEMA and the Red Cross offer advice on emergency readiness. SERVPRO of Yuma takes it a step further. We have an EPR APP that puts your customized information about your company and facility at your fingertips.

What’s the Gimmick?

None. We believe that if we work with you to customize your business survival and recovery plan, we will build a friendly and favorable relationship. If you ever have an emergency, you would likely opt to call us. It’s that simple. There are no costs of any kind, no contracts, and you maintain and own your information on the APP.

Sounds too good to be true. Call us and let us demonstrate to you that we really care about our fellow business community at 928-247-1180. We’re SERVPRO of Yuma.

Storms are Becoming more Severe

12/9/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Yuma continues to invest in drying equipment.

Is Your Home or Business Prepared For a Storm?

The shift in our climate is causing a worldwide increase and the intensity of various types of storms. Extreme atmospheric temperatures collide to cause stronger tornadoes and hurricanes, and more of them. Draughts cause more wildfires. Heavy rains cause flooding and mudslides. Ice storms and wind damage take a toll too. In many parts of the world, including where we live and work, earthquakes can cause havoc.

Sometimes, people can feel helpless against the power of storms. However, we can take precautions and prepare ourselves for approaching storms. The Red Cross and FEMA websites provide many tips on disaster readiness. These websites offer ideas about having and maintaining an inventory of emergency supplies ready for use and making plans for communicating with family members and business associates during and after a disaster. For example, here in the Yuma area, flash floods are a possibility. Depending upon the location of your home or business, you may want to maintain an inventory of sandbags at the ready.

Consider the SERVPRO Emergency Ready Plan

SERVPRO of Yuma offers an Emergency Ready Plan (ERP) free of cost for business owners and commercial customers here in the Yuma area. Users of the plan are not even obligated to use our service in the advent of disaster. Why do we offer such a valuable plan for free? Because we believe in our community and support our fellow business owners. We also believe that if we spend a couple of hours together customizing your disaster recovery plan, you will have confidence in our capabilities.

Our Emergency Ready Plan is designed to help commercial property owners and businesses to manage events during a storm and after a storm by assisting with the steps for a speedy recovery. The ERP plan is a phone APP that puts valuable data, including contact information of co-workers and emergency response vendors, at your fingertip.  We invite you to take advantage of our ERP offer by calling today for more information or an appointment.

We are SERVPRO of Yuma East Foothills: 928 247-1180

Is Mold a Problem in the Yuma Area?

12/8/2022 (Permalink)

No matter the type of mold growing indoors it needs to be removed appropriately.

How Can Buildings in a Desert Climate Have a Mold Problem?

In the center of the desert, only a short distance from the Mexican Border, temperatures can get extremely high. One would think it’s too dry to have mold problems. Mold problems happen in our homes and commercial structures, and when they do, the problem will often spread quickly.

While many molds have adapted to low humidity and the elevated heat of the desert, these are not usually the molds that typically cause problems for building interiors or are problematic to people. While average outdoor humidity in the Yuma area is around 40% there are three months of the year when our desert has elevated humidity and is more supportive of all kinds of mold growth. For your information, molds that can cause health effects for people require relative humidity above 60%.

The so-called black mold, Stachybotrys, and others are the types of mold that can pose a threat to humans because they produce fine airborne spores that can quickly enter our respiratory system. These molds find enough locations in the desert with adequate moisture to support their growth and survival year around, and they benefit from the Monsoon rain season. Trust us when we say, “airborne mold spores will find their way into wet or damp indoor environments.” Since these molds prefer 60% relative humidity (and above) and temperatures in the 70F to 85F range, they will thrive in a damp indoor environment. Remember, most indoor environments are air-conditioned to this temperature range. Once an indoor environment is wet by a plumbing mishap or groundwater flooding, the interior humidity will quickly elevate to 60% RH and above. Unless HEPA filtration, the HVAC system will move spores throughout the ventilation system. Even if an HVAC system has advanced filtration to capture mold spores the system will blow and move the air in rooms, and that can spread the spores around, causing some of them to settle on wet portions of walls and other surfaces such as paper, cardboard, leather, and certain fabrics such as cotton. These surfaces named, are considered food sources for mold colonies.

Ideal Food Sources for Mold:

Paper

Cardboard

Softwood

Decaying food

Leather

Cotton fabric

As we have explained, mold can indeed become a problem in desert community homes and buildings just like it can become a problem in a temperate or tropical climate. The reason, no matter where we live, our homes and their interior atmosphere are similar, and plumbing leaks, water flooding, and other issues can quickly raise indoor humidity to a level where mold can grow and spread spores.

If you suspect your home or building has a mold problem, please call SERVPRO of Yuma. We are always happy to talk with you and/or make a site visit. If remediation services are required, we may introduce you to an Industrial Hygienist (third party) who can provide a written scope about the remedy. SERVPRO understands how to safely remove mold by following EPA and OSHA guidelines.

Our business phone: 928-247-1180.

Does SERVPRO of Yuma Provide Storm Cleanup?

12/8/2022 (Permalink)

Our Region of the Country is No Stranger to Storms

Yuma and the region are susceptible to Monsoon rains and flash flooding that can impact not only individual structures, the water damage, and flooding can devastate entire communities, including causing loss of life. SERVPRO of Yuma is experienced in providing storm damage responses for rain and water events. We are also experienced in providing qualified services for other types of natural or man-caused disasters.

SERVPRO of Yuma is certified by SERVPRO Industries’ Storm Response Team. As a team member, we have traveled to Texas to perform mitigation and restoration services for freeze damage and flooding. Our trained storm team technicians have also responded to multiple wildfire events throughout the state of California. During a large fire, the air quality usually becomes a serious concern. Because we offer HVAC cleaning, we were assigned to clean the HVAC system at a hospital thoroughly. Our team was pleased to provide this vital service.

When significant disaster events happen, they will rapidly overwhelm the local response services. That’s why the states and the federal government will shift equipment and response personnel to the heavily affected areas. Likewise, property disaster restoration companies often become overwhelmed. That’s why SERVPRO Industries has developed a national storm response team (a support network) to shift resources from around the country to where they are most needed at any given time. Several SERVPRO franchises have been trained to participate in the Storm Team.

At SERVPRO of Yuma and our sister company SERVPRO of El Centro, we are pleased to know that if a large-scale disaster happens in our area, competent help would be on the way to support us in serving our local communities. We hope that you, too, are confident that SERVPRO will be ready to help, no matter how big the storm disaster!

We are always available to talk and to provide service; call… 928-247-1180

Water Damage Cleanup Should Begin Quickly After a Flood

12/8/2022 (Permalink)

Flood water contains bacteria. It becomes more contaminated as time passes.

Why is "Time" Important During Water Damage Restoration?

When a structure has a water flooding event, the EPA says it is vital to begin the restoration process within 48 hours or less because wetness in an indoor environment can produce bacteria growth and cause secondary damage. Secondary damage is damage to contents caused by the elevated indoor humidity caused by flooding. Paper, leather, and other materials may be ruined by excessive moisture. High humidity can also cause problems such as potential mold growth. If the structure already had mold colonies before the recent flooding event, the elevated humidity often stimulates the existing mold to grow and spread its spores. Even if no mold colonies are present before the flooding event, there are already mold spores in the indoor air. These spores can settle on wet building materials and begin to grow. Many studies indicate that mold spores can start to grow in a damp, high-humidity (60% RH and above) as quickly as three to five days. That is why it is imperative to begin mitigation (stop and contain the damage) as soon as possible. Mitigation and restoration companies, such as SERVPRO of Yuma, believe it is best to begin extracting water and drying a wet structure whenever possible within hours of the flooding event. 

Standing water on a floor may be from a clean water source, such as a bathroom sink overflow, or the water may have come from a sewage backup referred to as blackwater. It is easier to extract and dry up "clean water" than to clean up and dry "blackwater." Don't worry; competent mitigation companies like ours will employ the proper techniques and equipment for each type of water damage regardless of the size and extent of the damage.

Please, do yourself a favor; if your property suffers a severe sewage backup, don't attempt to clean it up yourself. Sewage often contains bacteria and nasty chemicals.

Safety Tips For Victims of Water Damage:

- Wet floors are a slip hazard

- Wet structures may present an electrocution risk

- When a room is wet, check inside closets and opposite walls for additional wetness

- Remove books, papers, boxes, and clothing away from wet areas

- Don't attempt to clean up serious sewage spills

- Don't procrastinate in calling for professional help

SERVPRO of Yuma has solved hundreds of water damage problems at homes, businesses, schools, churches, hospitals, and other locations. We will be there 24/7 should you ever need our services. 928-247-1180

Can a Person Have Confidence That A wet Building Can be Dried?

12/8/2022 (Permalink)

Even a small pipe leak can create substantial flooding if it is not repaired promptly.

Modern Restorative Drying Techniques available to Yuma Property Owners are Effective

When portions of a structure become wet it is essential to dry the affected structural materials quickly and thoroughly. How can the property owner know if the restoration company that “dried” the wet building did an excellent job and was able to dry the hidden moisture?

The drying equipment and techniques used by SERVPRO of Yuma are designed to help us apply the scientific drying standards established by the IICRC (the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification.)  These standards are based on several decades of research at test centers and data collected from thousands of jobs. Our employees have graduated from IICRC-certified training programs that teach the standards of care for various water damage situations, including the severity of the “flooding”.

Here are three circumstances to consider:

1. There are certain flood situations where dehumidifying the damp indoor air will be adequate for drying the damp structural materials.

2. In hidden spaces, dehumidified air can be pumped into the wet cavities in the structure by using small tubes and air pumps. Other tubes can be inserted into these cavities to exhaust the damp air by way of vacuum pumps.

3. In other cases, the penetration of water into certain building materials may require that the wet materials be removed by way of controlled demolition In other cases, the penetration of water into certain building materials may require that the wet materials be removed by way of controlled demolition.

Qualified restoration technicians at SERVPRO of Yuma know when to use surface drying techniques, when to use penetration (inner wall) drying, and when controlled demolition is required.

However, the question remains, is it dry?

Using the correct restorative techniques and technology is essential, however, how do we know if the systems worked? Is the structure dry?

Some moisture meters, humidity sensors, and thermal image cameras can detect hidden moisture. These advanced tools are available for the property damage recovery industry. Our SERVPRO technicians use these tools to monitor the moisture reduction from the first day on the job through drying and to job completion.

A customer should feel confident about the drying results when SERVPRO of Yuma has produced the restorative drying process. Furthermore, SERVPRO work orders and contracts provide written guarantees for our customers.

Our goal is always to do the job right and have satisfied customers.  For your water damage and other property damage needs, please call SERVPRO of Yuma at 928-247-1180

Get Your Copy of the EPA Booklet About Mold.

12/8/2022 (Permalink)

The EPA Mold Booklet is free. Be sure to download a copy of it.

Mold, Moisture, and Your Home

The EPA has published a helpful mold guide for homeowners to understand why mold might grow in their homes and how to remove it. The booklet, Mold Moisture and Your Home is available as a PDF download from the EPA.

In this article, we have quoted several vital areas of information from the EPA mold guide to provide you with a quick review of the information. However, we recommend that you download and read the entire booklet!

• “Molds are usually not a problem indoors unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing.”

• “The mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If mold grows in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem.”

• “Who should do the cleanup depends on several factors… one consideration is the size of the mold problem? If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself, following the guidelines below.”

The EPA booklet warns homeowners against self-do-it-cleaning if the mold source was contaminated with sewage, if they suspect the HVAC system is contaminated, and if there is a quantity of mold of more than 10 square feet. The booklet then provides two pages of instructions about how to safely and properly clean moldy surfaces. The instruction discusses how to safely use bleach (if and when it may be needed).

• Avoid breathing in mold or mold spores. To limit your exposure to airborne mold, you may want to wear an N-95 respirator, available at many hardware stores and from companies that advertise on the Internet.

• Wear gloves. Long gloves that extend to the middle of the forearm are recommended. Ordinary household rubber gloves may be used when working with water and mild detergent. If you use a disinfectant, a biocide such as chlorine bleach, or a robust cleaning solution, you should select gloves made from natural rubber, neoprene, nitrile, polyurethane, or PVC.

• Wear goggles. Goggles that do not have ventilation holes are recommended. Avoid getting mold or mold spores in your eyes.

• Cleanup and Biocides. Biocides are substances that can destroy living organisms. Using a chemical or biocide that kills organisms such as mold (chlorine bleach, for example) is not recommended as a routine practice during mold cleanup. There may be instances, however, when professional judgment may indicate its use.

The EPA booklet asks an important question, how do I get rid of mold? Here is their answer:

• "It is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors; some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in house dust. The mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If mold grows in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold but don’t fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back."

We can’t say it enough about, Mold, Moisture, and Your Home. It is an outstanding resource. We strongly encourage you to get a personal copy.

Please, understand SERVPRO of Yuma is an expert in resolving moisture and mold issues in homes and public buildings.  

We can be contacted at 928-247-1180

Business Interruption Insurance Explained.

12/8/2022 (Permalink)

Business owners should consider having Business Interruption Coverage.

Business Interruption Insurance… explained.

When a commercial property is damaged, there is often a negative impact on the business(s) housed within the structure. Sometimes, the business interruption will last several days or longer and disrupt the company's income-earning capabilities. In some cases, the interruption to the business is more “costly” than the damage to the structure. That’s why many companies have Business Interruption Insurance for just such an emergency. The Forbes Advisor describes this coverage like this, “Business interruption insurance helps to replace lost business income if you cannot open your business temporarily due to a loss covered by the policy, such as a fire or theft. Let’s say a storm knocks a tree into the front window of your business. Business interruption insurance, also known as business income insurance, would cover costs of lost income to your business until the window gets repaired.”

If you do not have business interruption insurance, you may want to talk with your insurance agent. For more information on the topic, you can also review the Forbes Advisor article.

In the past, SERVPRO of Yuma has worked on commercial property damage losses where business interruption insurance is in effect. In these cases, our responsibility is to perform the cleanup and restoration as quickly as possible so the business can return to work as soon as possible. Various studies have examined the reasons why some companies with adequate insurance go out of business after experiencing a disaster. The loss of customers and sales is a significant factor. The findings made clear that the longer the business is interrupted, the more difficult it will be for the company to recover and survive. Time is of the essence! That’s why, at SERVPRO of Yuma, we will work 24/7 to help restore the commercial property. Whenever possible, we will suggest and implement ways to keep at least part of a damaged company open and working.

Research about the effects of property damage on business recovery also reports that businesses with emergency-ready plans in place before the damage occurs have a substantial advantage in the recovery process and long-term survival.  SERVPRO of Yuma offers a customized emergency-ready plan.  We would be pleased to discuss making a plan for your business, and it’s free!

SERVPRO of Yuma contact information:           928 -247-1180