Unlike other projects, we do at Restore-It, like water damage mitigation or restoration, crawl space encapsulation's billing process is handled by you, the homeowner, not the insurance company. So, keeping the billing process in check is essential to budget responsibly.
Education is a valuable resource for empowering you, our potential customer, to make well-informed decisions for yourself and your home. You are our primary focus as industry educators with over 50 years of combined experience. With our expertise and knowledge in crawl space encapsulation, we can help you better understand this process.
In this article, we will discuss the entire billing process for crawl space encapsulation, from when you pick up the phone to ask for an initial inspection to the first estimation and the final bill. So follow along as we guide you through our billing process.
Our typical crawl space encapsulation billing process
As previously stated, this type of project is not covered by the insurance company, so it's recommended to pay close attention to the billing process steps for budgeting reasons. Next, let's take a look at the general outline of this process:
The initial inspection
Once you have scheduled an inspection with us, two of our technicians will arrive at your home for the external and internal inspection. Our technicians will take measurements and pictures to highlight any issues found in the crawl space.
During this phase, our technicians will look for debris to be cleared, insulation to be torn down, and any leaks in the house that need to be addressed. Be mindful that this inspection carries a cost.
The initial estimate
After that, our technicians will write a report that describes the general condition of your home’s crawl space. Then, our technicians will provide you with an estimate outlining the general scope of work, materials, equipment, and the general cost. It's a good idea to remember that this is only an initial estimate, as there is a chance that, depending on your particular situation, the final bill may change.
The signing of the contract
Once you have agreed to our estimate, you will be asked to sign a contract stating the work, timeline, cost, and payment terms. We will be more than happy to guide you through every item and answer any questions you may have.
Scheduling for the job
We will agree on a determined schedule to begin the crawl space encapsulation project in your house. For safety reasons, we will always require at least two of our technicians to be present, as the usual narrowness of crawl spaces can be dangerous for people on the job.
Preparation for the project
Before proper crawl space encapsulation can start, any issue previously found during the inspection will be addressed. Debris, pests, or leaks must not be present for the encapsulation process to be successful.
The encapsulation project officially begins
Depending on the size and characteristics of your home's crawl space, two to four technicians will be present during the job. The equipment will also be installed. This includes the permanent light fixtures, the dehumidifier, the hygrometer, and the thermostat. The materials needed for the encapsulation will arrive at your house.
Depending on your specific situation, extra excavation may be needed. For example, if the space is too narrow for the dehumidifier to stand above ground level, the surrounding area will be dug out. In very rare cases, when the crawl space height is 2 feet or less, the whole area must be dug out for our technicians to operate.
While this is pretty rare, you may need extra equipment, such as a sump pump and French drains, only when there is a real danger of water intrusion in the space. The installation will also require extra excavation.
If we discover a problem during this phase, such as a leak or some other form of water intrusion that requires some of the extra work mentioned before, we will stop the work and inform you about the situation. While this is highly unusual, as the first inspection is very thorough, we only do this when it's strictly necessary for the success of the encapsulation project. Regardless of what we may find, we highly recommend continuing the process to its completion.
The final inspection
After the crawl space encapsulation is completed, our technicians will inspect the area again and thoroughly document everything to ensure everything is in order.
Payment and collection
We will send you an invoice for the project as soon as the job is done. Here at Restore-It, our bills are due within 30 calendar days. If you don't pay during this time frame, you will be subjected to a 1% monthly late fee.
Our warranty and follow-up
We work with quality materials and equipment and trust the work of our technicians, which is why we at Restore-It offer the following warranties:
- 20 years of warranty for the encapsulation materials, meaning the polypropylene plastic used for the vapor barrier.
- 5 years of warranty for the dehumidifier.
- 1 year of warranty for the workmanship.
We are prepared to bear the expense of any flaws in our work within these deadlines to uphold our commitment to delivering top-notch service.
We suggest scheduling maintenance visits twice a year to help maintain the space's good condition. We will also use this opportunity to change the dehumidifier's air filters. This will ensure its proper functioning and possibly even extend its life.
Hear me out; you are probably not the first person who has struggled with paperwork, and you won't be the last, especially for such a complex and specific project like getting your home's crawl space encapsulated. Thankfully, we are here to dot the i's and cross the t's when it comes to your billing situation, and we hope that you have a better understanding of the process by now so you can prepare appropriately. Now, it's time for you to contact us so we can schedule an inspection as soon as possible!
Topics:
