Living in Florida means dealing with heat, humidity, and hurricanes. The three H’s, if you will. For homeowners, that means keeping an eye out for mold and water damage, among several other potential issues that could arise. Luckily, Innova Restoration is a one-stop shop to help residential and commercial properties throughout Central Florida with issues ranging from mold remediation to reconstruction. Senior project manager Greg Hanchi spoke with Nonahood News about the history of the company.
“We are four owners (two families) that have known each other for over 15 years. We all come from different professional backgrounds, and I think this has been key to the success of the company. Each of us is responsible for different areas of the business. In other words, we complement each other pretty well. We started the company in November 2018 and operations went live in January 2019. We provide the following services: water damage mitigation, mold remediation, fire clean up, [reconstruction], and cleaning and disinfecting services. We cover all of Central Florida.”
Let’s focus on mold remediation … you might be asking yourself why that is important. According to Hanchi, water damage is one of the most frequently filed insurance claims.
“Any property that experiences water damage should contact a restoration company to properly dry the structure. If the structure is not properly dried in a timely manner, then mold can start growing. If mold is not remediated properly, it can have adverse effects on someone’s health.”
Some of the most common causes of water intrusion/damage are broken pipes, roof leaks, HVAC unit malfunction, toilet overflow, improperly sealed windows, stucco cracks, and more. Ways homeowners can identify potential damage include water stains in ceilings or walls, paint cracks, musty odor, baseboard or crown molding separation, etc.
If you’ve noticed any of the above in your home or business, it’s time to give Innova a call.
“As soon as a homeowner experiences any water damage, Innova should be their first call,” explained Hanchi. “We’ll send a certified project manager to their property to perform a free assessment and provide guidance on next steps.”
Hanchi detailed that every mold job Innova performs is different, and the cost of services vary based on the extent of the situation.
“When we are called to perform an assessment, we send a project manager to the property with the respective tools to assess the extent of the damage. We use thermal imaging cameras and moisture meters. Our trained staff will look beyond visible damage; we do an entire walk-through of the property, if necessary, and cover any rooms adjacent to the main affected area. Based on our experience and training, we’ll be able to tell you not only what has been affected but any potential damages that may not be visible at the time of assessment,” Hanchi continued. “Once the assessment is complete, our project manager will provide guidance on next steps and discuss in detail the options we think are best for the homeowner.”
At this point in the process, you might find yourself questioning whether your insurance would cover this or not.
“Normally, policies will cover damages caused by any sudden or accidental discharge/overflow of water, caused by acts of nature such as windstorm, hail, and hurricane. Policies also cover fire damages, lightning, vandalism, and many other perils,” advised Hanchi. “Some policies have water exclusions and/or limitations. We recommend homeowners to always review their policy. They may think they’re saving money by removing certain items from the policy or excluding certain perils, but in the long term, this could harm their budget.”
So why should companies and homeowners alike select Innova Restoration over the competition?
“We care for our customers and understand how frustrating it can be seeing your home in a water damage situation. With Innova, you will be kept in the loop every step of the way until your home is restored back to pre-loss condition,” detailed Hanchi. “There are restoration companies who treat their customers as another invoice; Innova goes above and beyond to make sure our customers feel comfortable with our staff and create a great experience during a stressful situation. The Innova experience is unique, and we treat our customers as family.”
Innova Restoration is also certified by the IICRC – the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification. Hanchi explained more about the certification.
“This institution creates the standards for the restoration industry. There are processes and procedures individuals need to follow when performing water mitigation and mold remediation. If these processes and procedures are not followed, the structural drying and/or mold remediation will not be effective and secondary damage can occur,” Hanchi described. “These IICRC standards also cover safety guidelines, and if these guidelines are not followed, you may be exposing your employees and others to health hazards. Innova also carries a mold remediator license registered with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which is required to perform any mold remediation jobs.”
All Innova Restoration assessments are free and the company even has a customer referral program – a $100 gift card for any referrals who sign up for Innova’s services. If you suspect water intrusion in your home or business, request your free assessment by emailing clientservices@innovafl.com or call (407) 630-7843. For more information, visit www.innovafl.com.
Photos Courtesy of Innova Restoration
