Preparing Your Disaster Restoration Business for Increased Demand

In 2024, With predictions of an active season filled with named storms and potential major hurricanes, the demand for disaster restoration services is about to spike.

If your disaster restoration business is located in one of the states impacted by hurricanes and storms, such as Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, or Alabama, or Tennesse, you are most likely facing increased demand.

Every phone call from homeowners and business owners is important, and while in the past you may have been able to answer every call yourself, 2024 is a completely new reality. You are in a unique position to grow your business and help a larger number of homeowners and business owners recovering from tropical storms or hurricanes, but this also means that you need to get your business systems in order.

Particularly when dealing with destruction and displacement caused by these large natural events, how you handle each customer interaction will make a huge impact on your business reputation.

Whether you provide construction services, mold remediation, smoke and fire restoration services, or water damage restoration services, it’s time to uplevel your processes to ensure that your business thrives and you are able to help your customers during this unprecedented season.

• According to IBISWorld, the escalating threat of climate change has greatly driven up the demand for damage restoration services. Industry revenue is estimated to increase at a CAGR of 4.5% to $7.1 billion over five years to 2024, to reach an estimated $7.1 Billion.

The report further states that this growing demand for water damage restoration in a hurricane season is creating new opportunities for restoration specialists, but unfortunately it is also causing longer wait times and stress for both providers and customers.  

To keep up with the competition and ensure every client gets the help they need when it matters most, many disaster restoration businesses should be partnering with professional answering services.

Partnering with a professional 24/7 disaster restoration answering service will go a long way to help you manage the surge in client inquiries during the 2024-25 hurricane season and beyond.

5 Ways answering services help disaster restoration companies 

In the past, if you are like most disaster restoration businesses, you may have answered and managed phone calls on your own, which was enough.

However, as we have seen so far in the 2024 hurricane season, the increasing frequency and intensity of storms demand a more robust communication strategy.

With forecasts predicting up to 25 named storms and several major hurricanes, relying only on in-house call handling is no longer be enough for disaster restoration businesses. It’s time to bring in a reliable 24/7 answering service partner. Here are just a few of the benefits that a disaster restoration answering service provides businesses like yours:

1. Focus on business priorities: Some tasks in your business cannot be outsourced, and your expertise is in great demand, but answering phone calls and recording lead information can easily be handled by professionals who answer phones 24/7. Let the answering service take care of calls so you and your team can focus on restoring properties and helping your customers get back into their homes safely. 
2. Round-the-clock availability: You know better than anyone that disasters don’t wait for business hours; they can happen in the middle of the night or even on a major holiday. With 24/7 availability, your clients can reach your business anytime, even when you are out on a job site or taking time off.
3. Friendly voice: Trained operators will greet your callers with a warm and professional voice, displaying empathy with regard to the difficult circumstances while also gathering caller details so you can return the call or dispatch someone from your team at the most appropriate time.
4. Reduced strain on your team: With a professional virtual receptionist managing incoming calls, your staff can breathe a little easier and focus on their core tasks without distractions.
5. Cost savings: Using an answering service is a cost-effective way to handle calls without the need to hire extra staff, so you can allocate resources where they’re needed most.

Responsive Answering is one of the companies that specialize in fully service answering services for emergency restoration contractors. Answering agents know that emergencies happen around the clock, which is why they are available 24/7/365 including weekends and holidays, to answer calls and represent your business with a friendly and compassionate voice.

Let's say you are a mold remediation specialist in Naples, Florida. When the storm passes and homeowners or property managers discover flood damage or structural issues, they may feel confused on frustrated. They may struggle to accept the situation, or worry about the cost of repairs and potential health hazards.

The combination of these emotions, on top of the practical challenges of dealing with the aftermath, can make it difficult to think clearly or make decisions. When a frustrated or overwhelmed caller reaches out to your company, having a professional answering service can be make a huge difference.