Industry Tips | iRestore Restoration Software - Part 3

The Value Of The “Call” After The Initial “Call”

The phone rings and you are called to duty. Whether it is a new water loss, fire, or mold, you have been given the opportunity to serve and the opportunity to fulfill your mission as a restorer.  As important as it is to deliver high-quality services in a timely manner to your new customer, we do so with the understanding that beyond each individual person you serve lays more opportunity. Consider the following:

  1. Branding: The neighbors of the new customer will see your truck with your company logo and phone number.  Everyone who sees you in action on the way to that job will be touched by your brand. Keep your fleet looking clean as they are out and about representing your organization; this will help lead to referrals from those in your community who “saw your trucks.”
  2. A New Happy Customer:  Once you have successfully served your new customer, you have a new fan.  Consider the power of a new promoter of your organization. The following Harvard Business Review touches upon the concept of a Net Promoter and the power of developing the relationship:
    • Reviews: The Acquirly system is a great tool to engage your new Promoter to give you a raving review online, positively impacting your SEO and your credibility with the next potential new customer.
    • Referrals: Friends, family, and neighbors who have a disaster are likely going to hear from your previous customer regarding who they should call for help.
  3. Other Relationships to Develop: Serving a new customer gives you the opportunity to build relationships based on credibility and trust.
    • Adjusters: Communication and well-documented loss information can help you build a foundation for a long-term positive relationship.  Read more in the following article: Adjusters are People Too
    • Agents: Insurance agents are at times in the sphere of influence during an insurance claim.  Serving a mutual customer is a great way to start or build a relationship.
    • Other: There are a variety of other contacts and interested parties that may be involved in a job that may lead to opportunities to build and foster relationships for future referrals.

HOW TO GROW YOUR COMPANY FROM ONE INITIAL “CALL”

To enjoy all the opportunity that lies within each loss and call, your team must consistently operate at peak performance in their service to others. Although there is not a simple formula to ensure this, the following is a list of things to consider:

  1. Execution:  There are processes and details that must be consistently executed and documented.
    • Checklists
    • Contracts
    • Moisture Monitoring and Logging
    • Scopes/Pictures/Notes
    • Equipment Tracking and Documentation
    • Tasks
  2. Communications: Effective and proactive communications are essential within the organization, both with those served and interested parties. There are a variety of means and preferences of communication in today’s world: email, phone, and text, to name a few.  The expectations of those we serve regarding quality, quantity, and types of communications is a constantly evolving demand that must be met.
  3. CRM:  Managing and engaging the new positive relationships that were formed is necessary to enjoy all the benefits from the new customer, the new referral sources and the new opportunities that can be enjoyed from successfully serving.

AN AFFORDABLE SOLUTION TO MANAGE THE JOB, THE RELATIONSHIPS, AND THE COMPANY

iRestore is a restoration management software system that is affordable, user-friendly and designed by Restorers for Restorers.  It is a solution to effectively manage the job from the time the phone rings until it is complete.

This software includes a fully integrated CRM that will even allow you to continually engage previous customers and other important relationships.

iRestore can help you realize The Value of the “Call” after the initial “Call”. Although iRestore will not be able to clean your vehicle, it can help you keep your fleet running and well maintained.

Importance of Clear Responsibility in Your Restoration Company

industry tips, restoration management, restoration management software

There are lots of moving parts in our restoration companies. For our operations to run smoothly, it is critical for everyone to know and execute their roles and responsibilities. It is equally important that there are accountabilities in place. There are many tools that allow us to operate with clearly communicated expectations: Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), best practices, policies, job descriptions, and the list goes on.

On jobs, it is important that all job-related tasks are executed with appropriate attention to detail. Tasks necessary to execute a given scope of work should be assigned to a person who will ultimately be responsible for the execution and accountable to the organization and its purpose.

What happens to a new technician when a company does not clearly communicate their responsibilities in the execution of a job? Find out from one of my recent articles for Restoration and Remediation Magazine – Restoring Success: Assignment of Responsibility.

Also, be sure to check out the story of Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. With iRestore, you can employ the power of our task management feature to keep this from happening on your jobs.

Happy iRestoring!

Photos: A Critical Component of File Documentation

industry tips, restoration management, restoration management software

 

Photos are an important part of file maintenance for a variety of reasons. They are used as communication and reporting tools while also protecting your company’s interest. Specifically, the management of your photos within your operation affect the following:

Building Relationships:

  • With Insurance Carriers and Adjusters: Well organized photographs submitted in conjunction with your estimate will help you build relationships with the carriers and adjusters that you are working with. Read more hereBuilding Relationships with Adjusters.

  • With Insurance Agents and Other Interested Parties: By utilizing photos to communicate job progress and incorporate within reports, you will impress those you are working with on current jobs and you may have the opportunity to build long term relationships for the future.
  • Through Marketing and Social Media: The saying, “A picture tells a thousand words” still holds true and is more important than ever. Encourage your entire team to takes photos of their work and the team in action. Social Media, newsletters, blogs, presentations, and general marketing materials all look better with great pictures that will help engage potential customers.

Protect Your Team and Company:

  • When used properly as supporting documentation, photos may help you get your estimates approved and paid faster.
  • Taking thorough photos of pre-existing conditions of both the structure and contents help protect your team and company.
  • Photograph general conditions and other factors that may affect the delivery of your services. For example, an open window on a hot humid day may affect your drying progress.

Properly Label Photos:
The following is a list of photos to consider making part of your protocol.

  • Affected Areas
  • Cause of Loss
  • Daily Equipment
  • Daily Meter Readings
  • Debris Removal
  • Debris in Dumpster / Truck
  • Front Risk (Structure)
  • General Conditions and Other Meaningful Photos
  • Job Progress
  • Post Project
  • Pre-existing Conditions
  • Subrogating Factors (If Applicable)

Photos have become an important component of restoration management. It can be cumbersome and have an administrative consequence. iRestore was designed to accommodate and help you manage all of your job-related photos.

VP of Operations