A Look Back on the Last Nineteen Years

12/10/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Southern McHenry County has been in business now for just over nineteen years! We were able to serve our first customer just nineteen years ago on June 1, 2000. So, to celebrate we are looking back with our owners Robert & Josephine Hammerschmidt and getting their thoughts on why they got started in the restoration business and what we have learned over these last nineteen years.

Why did you decide to get into the Restoration Business?

"There is a side of us that likes helping people. This was an opportunity to combine business and help people at the same time. When individuals are in the situation where they’ve got water damage or fire damage they are in a position where they are having a rotten day and they don’t know what to do. We have the opportunity to come in and have the know-how and the ability to help them recover and get to the point where they are getting back to normal. We basically get to help when they are in a desperate situation. SERVPRO had a system in place nationally that did this well."

What makes us different from other restoration companies?

"We take on the opportunity to help people in all situations. Whether it's a large loss, a commercial loss, residential, we take it all on, to help them. The other thing that I think makes us stand out a bit is we try to do everything needed. We try to take care of them from A to Z with every need that they have. So, any of the services they are in need of in those types of situations we cover. We try to be a one stop shop."

"A big part of that, but not the only part, is the reconstruction business. When individuals have these situations there are some mitigation companies that will mitigate, get them cleaned up or dried up, and then they will have to go find a way to rebuild, they'll have to find the reconstruction. But we take care of the reconstruction as well. So that is something that differentiates us."

"We do the mitigation needed and then put it back together "Like it never even happened.""

Tell us about your team!

"We have a very dedicated team. They are at the ready to take care of customers at any time of any day. They are very dedicated and focused on doing a good job for the customers. Customer service is key. Our core leadership team has been with us pretty much since the beginning. Some of our first hires are still with us."

What have you learned over the last 19 years?

"We have learned how to take care of any type of situation for any type of customer. We know the ins and outs of working with the insurance industry and working in a way that satisfies their requirements and their needs. We know how to partner with our insurance clients to take care of our customers."

"Working with insurance with claims like this can be intimidating for customers. We take that all out of the mix because we know what to do and how to do it. Partnering with agents and adjusters to take care of customers is a big part of what we do. It's not just the production of the work."

Looking back 19 years, what stands out most?

"What stands out is building a great team; lots of memories of jobs well done. We've been through a lot together as a team in terms of taking care of customers. We’ve had lots of jobs, lots of stories. The growth for our business in terms of vehicles, equipment and people has increased our capacity and know how. We have a lot of experience now. This positions us to better able to take care of any type of customer in any type of situation or circumstance. We are ready for whatever comes."

We just want to say thank you to all of the customers and agents we have had the chance to serve and work with over the last nineteen years. We are so glad we get to be a part of this great community and that we get to serve it every day.