NEW!!! Do not hire a Restoration Company which refuses to work with your Insurance! (and why).
NEW!!!!!!!!!! Information Regarding ONE company's "100% Unconditional Guarantee"
Udated June 22nd, 2010
(For Updates look under "NEW! Answers")
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The ESR Method:
17 June 2010
The ESR method, an acronym for "Extremely Sleazy Representation", is used by a few restoration companies as a way to draw more business. Such companies employ an "all female marketing team", otherwise also known as "guns for hire".
This is quite possible the toughest item when speaking about certain restoration companies who encourage their all female marketing team to be, at times, very available and flirtatious. The complaints come mainly from the owners and managerial staff of companies who work with restoration companies. Receptionists, dispatchers and managers alike, are many times female themselves.
When one is trying to survive in a hard economy such as this the last thing one needs are "additional distractions" such as overtly flirtatious sales girls running around giggling and whispering into your staff's ears. Moreover, one of these restoration companies does not mind their sales girls making house calls. Yes, that is correct, this company collects personal information from YOUR staff and uses it to have their sales girls call to them personally. We have to admit, it is a pretty darn brilliant way to completely bypass the office staff. This restoration company does not have to bother with getting a nod from the owner or to make an appointment with the manager or even show up to be known.
If they do show up to your office, in the very few cases that they in fact do, you will not see one inch of skin. But talk to your technicians and your field supervisors and estimators, who themselves are pestered by these sales girls. Some people may not be bothered by this "Extremely Sleazy Representation" method, but we are sure the wives will.
As an additional point, what is so sexy about disaster restoration? So glamorous? It is business and a business in which the shortest skirt will NOT fix a homeowner's basement. The company showing more skin will not really impress a homeowner in distress, will not have the best service. I mean if a company is using the ESR method most likely they should spend less money on guns for hire and a bit more on doing the work right. Case in point, the company which was voted the one using the most guns for hire was also the one voted least reliable.
At the end of the day several of the Restoration Companies we have had contact with agree that one does NOT need to hire an all female team for sales. That in most cases it is counter productive, as what you want to communicate to prospective accounts and costumers is not that you can hire a few marginally attractive girls to do sales, but that you will have the right workers to get the work done properly. Besides, do you really think you are going to get lucky?
-WDC Team
NEW! Request for Information #2: First of all, a big thank you to everyone who sent in these "referral contracts" and "work contracts" from Unlicensed Contractors. We received quite a bit of information regarding some Unlicensed Contractors and by exposing these illegal acts we are cleaning up the industry in our own backyard. Once again, thank you! The Second Request we have is simple: (a) Pictures of Unlicensed Contractors doing work that requires a License, i.e braking into drywall, removing flooring, installing or adding anything and/or doing any type of demolition. In short doing ANYTHING to a property over $500. Send us a picture of the uniform, the truck, the work in progress, etc. All information is kept confidential. (b) Reports of such work performed by Unlicensed Contractors. Here is our email. administrator@waterdamagecompany.net NEW! Request for Information: We have been working, when possible, to get the information out there to the consumer. Information that has apparently helped a few honest people protect their homes, their businesses, their livingness, etc. We have been surveying the areas and taking questions and looking for answers. It seems so far, to me, that the NUMBER 1 concern for the consumers is the fact that there are two or three companies out there pushing these "Contracts". I have received a few questions on it and the same companies keep coming up, many people want OUT of these contracts, but they feel they can't with out getting into troble. Here is what we need: (a) copy of the "Referral Contract" (b) copy of the "Certificate" they give you after signing the "contract" (c) Work Authorization contract when the company starts work at your house (d) any bids, estimates, scopes of work, etc you may have You can scan these copies and email them to us at (administrator@waterdamagecompany.net). Whatever you have will help, all submissions will be kept confidential. We will collect as many of these old and new documents and send them to a construction attorney to have him give us his thoughts on it. Then I will post the attorney's findings here under a NEW page for all to have handy. THANK YOU . A Water Damage situation is normally an Emergency situation. However, it is important to remain calm and choose the correct contractor for your needs. It is also important to know a little bit about the laws governing the industry in this State. California is a very strict State and many companies choose to NOT obey by its rules and/or walk the grey line in an attempt to avoid liability and the costs attached to proper licensing and taxation. Moreover, there are some companies who willfully misinform their clients, accounts and vendors in order to gain an advantage. The information in this website is FREE and easily accessible to anyone interested in using, contracting or referring a restoration company. Most of the information in this website can also be accessed through the CSLB (California State Licensing Board). Much of the information we have attained for this website has also been consulted through a firm which specializes in Construction Law. We hope you enjoy the information and choose the right company. We do welcome feedback and any information or leads regarding unlicensed contractors in California. You can also report unlicensed activity directly to the CSLB's SWIFT unit through their website in our LINKS page. -WDC Admin