When a tragic event occurs, one of the last things a person will want to do is expend the emotional and physical energy needed to restore a space to a safe and healthy condition with the extensive cleanup that might be required. While it’s unlikely that a situation will ever occur that requires you to use a forensic cleaning service, a little research on what to look for in one could save you additional stress at an already-stressful time should you find yourself in such a situation. Whether you’re a homeowner or manage a commercial property, partnering with the right forensic cleaning company can be an important component to moving on and restoring a sense of normalcy.
While many tend to think of a violent death when they think of forensic cleaning services, it’s much more likely to need to employ one following something like a robbery, accidental injury, or even an event like a fire or flood. Forensic cleaning companies are trained in both local and federal rules and regulations to ensure that your property is restored to livable and usable conditions following an event. Not only does partnering with the right company protect you from additional stress, but trusting the clean-up to a company that specializes in forensic removal can protect you from potentially hazardous materials that were left behind. Forensic cleaning professionals take a number of precautions to protect themselves over the course of their work, including wearing specialized gear, using professional-grade equipment, and following strict protocols.
Contents
Certification and Insurance
Like with many events, your insurance company will likely play a role in the aftermath of any crime committed on your property, from helping you to cover the cost of damages to even the cleanup. It’s not uncommon for insurance companies to have their own requirements for how cleanup is conducted. Not only that, but insurance will also protect you from potential liability should someone be hurt during the cleanup process.
In addition to your insurance company, your state or city will have their own requirements for how cleanup is conducted. The forensic cleaning company that you partner with should be certified and trained to conduct the work according to these guidelines and to return your property to compliance so that you can feel confident that there will be no additional obstacles once cleanup has been completed and you return to normalcy.
Discretion and Professionalism
When a potentially traumatic event happens, the level of professionalism and discretion displayed by a company can be one of the most important services they provide. Many forensic cleaning companies will rely on referrals and word of mouth to sell their services, rather than displaying their logo or services on their vans or uniforms while working. Partnering with a company that will operate without attracting unwanted attention can help to reduce the stress and anxiety of an already stressful time. More than just professionalism in conduct, partnering with the right forensic cleaning company will also ensure that you are entrusting your property with a fully trained team with the experience, equipment, and qualifications to ensure that the job is done correctly and efficiently. Because of what can sometimes be involved in forensic cleanup, you should also feel confident that the team that you hire is able to handle both the physical and the emotional challenges involved.
References
For good or bad, reputations are earned. When researching which forensic cleaning company to partner with, choose one that’s earned the trust of their clients. You may already receive recommendations on companies from your insurance company or even first responders at the scene of your incident, but you should be able to request additional references when you first reach out to companies that you’re considering. References will help you to gauge what level of service you can expect from the company, the professionalism that they’ve displayed during previous jobs, and whether or not they would be a good fit for your needs. Depending on what you’re looking for in the company that you choose to work with, you can also prepare a list of questions like what types of scenes they’ve worked with in the past, how they handle traumatic scenes, and about their compliance with city and state guidelines.
Cost and Financial Age
As with anything else, the cost of the cleanup will be a factor in your decision. Researching all of the forensic cleaning companies in your area should include a cost comparison for services to ensure that you’re getting the best value for the work that you need. It’s also important to keep in mind that your insurance company may help to cover part of all of the cost depending on your policy details. There may also be additional help in the form of disaster relief funds. Many cities and states provide financial assistance in the event of a disaster, and you should check to see if you qualify and how that could impact your working with any of the companies that you’re considering. Other forms of assistance from the region could be available depending on if there’s a public health issue from biological and chemical contamination, Survivors of disaster, violence, and crime could also be entitled to victim relief funds.
Disaster and crime scene cleanup is a service that everyone hopes that they will never need, but it pays to be prepared. When already faced with a stressful situation, not knowing how to choose the right forensic cleaning company can only make things feel more overwhelming whether you’re a homeowner or managing a commercial property. Choosing a company with a strong reputation for quality work and professionalism should help to make the process a little easier. While it may be tempting to choose to hire other types of cleaning companies for cost effectiveness, hiring a forensic cleaning company will ensure that the job is done efficiently and in compliance with any regulations you may be expected to adhere to as the property owner, often saving you money down the line rather than incurring costly repairs from secondary issues. By using the recommendations of this article, you should have a strong foundation for selecting the right company to partner with.
Talk to a Forensic Cleaning Company
Do you have questions? You can contact us by calling (650) 459-4557 or click here to send an email. We’re here to help you find a solution!