Archived Why SERVPRO Blog Posts
Community Spotlight: ServiceSource
6/1/2023 (Permalink)
Our owner Bill Warnecki is also proud to be ServiceSource Board Member
ServiceSource is a non-profit organization near and dear to our hearts here at SERVPRO Team Warnecki. The important work they do for the disabled community and their families is truly inspiring! First founded locally in Virginia, they have now expanded across the east coast and Utah, offering services tailored to help those with disabilities enter the workforce. From working with employers to ensure proper accommodations are met, to helping future employees with skill-based training, ServiceSource is constantly working towards a more inclusive world for the disabled.
Our owner Bill Warnecki, who is also a proud ServiceSource Board Member, traveled to Utah last week to witness firsthand the impressive programs run by ServiceSource’s affiliate PARC. He was humbled to meet all the hardworking staff and participants there and couldn't be prouder of them! And we couldn’t be prouder to support such an outstanding organization as ServiceSource!
Please feel free to visit their website and learn more at https://www.servicesource.org/
Bill Goes to the Capitol
6/1/2023 (Permalink)
Over the past couple of months, our President, Bill Warnecki, has been lobbying on Capitol Hill on behalf of the Building Service Contractors Association International (BSCAI) in efforts to solidify and expand the rights of our front-line workers. This is a very personal mission for us because all of our employees are family.
The pandemic helped recontextualize the incredible and important work our Crew Chiefs and Production Technicians do every day, and whether they need more comprehensive protections on our worksites or clearer roadmaps for their citizenship, we will fight for them. Our employees are the lifeblood of our family, and even though their issues may not be as visible or understood by our legislators up on the Hill, Bill will proudly continue to champion their needs.
This Year’s Women’s Forum at SERVPRO® Convention
5/31/2023 (Permalink)
We are so proud of our inspiring owner, Jennifer Rueda Warnecki!
Every year, SERVPRO® holds a national convention as a way to bring the whole SERVPRO family together, celebrate the brand, and learn the latest ways to give our customers the best experience possible. This year’s Convention, held in Tampa on June 28th, is particularly special to us. Our inspiring owner Jennifer Rueda Warnecki has been invited to be a panelist on the SERVPRO Women’s Forum!
Hosted by the SERVPRO Women's Initiative, the forum was created last year to highlight and support the wonderful women in the SERVPRO family and to discuss, among other things, the challenge of "taking their own seat at the table" in a traditionally male dominated industry. Having experience building our Construction Department from a dream into the foundational cornerstone it is now, Jennifer is a proud example of the potential women have in our industry to not only succeed, but to flourish. It is a humbling honor to be a part of this panel and to help support the next generation of SERVPRO women!
Our Morning WIP Meetings
6/2/2022 (Permalink)
Our WIP meetings allow all departments to catch up with each other.
Excellent customer service is the backbone of our business model. It is our guiding star. To help maintain this high standard, every morning at 8AM, we hold a company wide Work In Progress (WIP) meeting. This meeting keeps all departments up to date on all current jobs. Keeping everyone on the same page means that any of our customer’s concerns, whether voiced the day before or in an after-hours call, can be addressed as soon as possible.
These meetings also help monitor the progress of our jobs and set up accountability for the day. Fostering open communication allows us to act on the newest information, whether our Job File Coordinators need to send out new release forms or our Production Team needs to act on a brand-new leak.
Most importantly, however, these WIP meetings are an opportunity to come together as a family. To greet each new day with the strengthened support of each other. We are blessed to have an amazing team, and everyday we give thanks to that. These are the values and ideals our customers can expect when they hire us for a job.
Employee Testimonials
5/26/2022 (Permalink)
Why do our employees enjoy working for SERVPRO? Here's some of them in their own words.
We pride ourselves in providing our customers the very best service, but that’s not possible without providing our employees with the very best and supportive work environment possible. Don’t take our word for it, though. Here are some of our employees’ experiences firsthand:
“SERVPRO is well-known for offering great services to our community in time of need with restoration. As much as they care about their customers, their employees are treated even better. They offer a great family culture with respect and room to grow. They value their employees by showing how much they care with little things such as Birthday Celebrations and Team bonding Events. They work hard to make sure everyone feels part of the team and welcomed. I really enjoy coming to work daily and love the wonderful team that SERVPRO has created.” - Amanda Escobar
“I like working here because I get the opportunity to show my potential. I like that I'm part of the team and that my work feels appreciated. I look forward to work every day and continuing to grow within the company.” - Francisco Rodriguez
“I enjoy working at SERVPRO of Alexandria because the culture of the company is amazing. The owners of the franchise really go out of their way to show appreciation for their employees often. From celebrating individual birthdays, to staff lunches, they are always making sure that they are creating a very pleasant work environment for everyone. I appreciate that the on boarding process is very organized. Every new hire receives a development plan which helps to track your progress and achievements. The company's online training programs are great. I find the modules very helpful. I can always refer back to the training programs for any questions that I may have. Overall, I thoroughly enjoy working at SERVPRO of Alexandria!” - Kendra Owens
“I enjoy working at SERVPRO of Alexandria because I feel very welcomed, and I look forward to working with my fellow employees. Best job in the world!” - Yennifer Bustillo
“I love working at SERVPRO of Alexandria because we treat each other with kindness. Never a dull moment, very family oriented. We push each other to strive high and encourage one another to reach our goals.” - Jennifer Rodriguez
“I really enjoy working at SERVPRO of Alexandria. I’ve been able to learn new skills, grow as a professional, and challenge myself daily. I have been encouraged to provide my input on things, and my opinions have always been appreciated. Most of all, my coworkers have become an open and close family to me.” - Jose Cortez
“I like working at SERVPRO of Alexandria because I am learning new things, my co-workers are very nice and help me to learn my position. I also like the owners Bill & Jennifer as they are very understanding and friendly.” - Patricia Gomez
“I like working here because my co-workers work as a team, and we have fun together.” - Carlos Garcia
“I like working here because of the people, environment, and overall mission. Everyone is pleasantly kind and willing to lend a helping hand. The environment is consistently positive and the teamwork in each department is very motivating as we work through all situations together. This job is also very rewarding since we assist clients through a time in need and get them the best quality service. There are also many opportunities to learn and grow within this company which drives everyone to improve in their field/department while embracing what everyone uniquely brings to the table.”- Maria Fuster
February is American Heart Month!
2/8/2022 (Permalink)
Our team is wearing red to promote American Heart Month!
February may be best known for Valentine’s Day, but there’s another reason why it’s associated with hearts: it’s American Heart Month! We at SERVPRO understand the importance of heart health. Every year, we strive to do our part and encourage not just our employees, but everyone, to live a more active lifestyle.
Sadly, heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the United States, but the good news is that there are lot of ways to protect your heart. Here’s a simple checklist of some preventative actions you can take.
- Understand Your Risks, Whether Genetic or Habit.
- Get Your Blood-Pressure and Cholesterol Checked
- Choose Heart-Healthy Foods
- Aim for a Healthy Weight
- Manage Stress
- Get Regular Physical Activity
- Quit Smoking
- Get Enough Good-Quality Sleep
More in depth information can be found on the NIH website here: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/heart-healthy-living
This year, to further promote a healthy heart lifestyle, we are running (no pun intended) a Steps Challenge for our office. For the entire month, our employees are tracking the number of steps they take every day. Whoever has the most cumulatively at the end of February 28th wins a gift card. The real winners, though, are all of our hearts!
We also would like to extend an invitation to everyone to join us in this challenge and help us raise awareness for this cause. Together, let’s keep our hearts healthy and pumping!
What is the IICRC?
12/15/2021 (Permalink)
Our IICRC Certified sticker is the first thing you see when you walk up to our front door.
You may already know that SERVPRO is proudly an IICRC certified firm, but what exactly is the IICRC and how does it ensure our customers get the best service?
To start off, IICRC stands for the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration. Founded in 1972, It is the governing body of the mitigation/restoration industry, setting the procedural standards by which all cleaning, inspection, and restoration work is measured. Considered “state of the art” in the contamination field, the IICRC is also an accredited member of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) which verifies the regulation process. In short, these entities quicken the acceptance of new products and methods while keeping them safe and effective for all consumers.
By continually maintaining our IIRC certification, SERVPRO can offer our customers the most technologically advanced products and techniques in the restoration business. More importantly though, these rigorously tested standards help keep our customers safe, another reason why SERVPRO is the premier restoration company.
Creating Precise Estimates with Xactimate
12/14/2021 (Permalink)
Xactimate can even be used on an iPad!
Our focus here at SERVPRO is to offer our customers the very best service in their time of need. That is why our team is certified to use the software program Xactimate, which helps us to create estimates much faster and more accurately than ever before.
In fact, Xactimate is the leading standard in the restoration industry, used by contractors and insurance adjusters alike. This means that our customers’ insurance companies can work seamlessly with our estimates, cutting down on the time spent not working on that water leak in your basement. Since we are the preferred vendor for insurance companies like State Farm, it also allows them to send us jobs directly, even further streamlining the restoration process.
Most importantly, our customers can rest assured that the estimates they receive from us are detailed and precise. We have worked hard to obtain and maintain our certifications. Just another example of our commitment to our customers’ satisfaction.
Our 1st Annual Coat & Blanket Drive!
12/13/2021 (Permalink)
Donations are piling in!
It’s the most magical time of the year! The holiday season is a time where families and friends come together and make these cold and long evenings feel warm and bright. It is a time to be grateful for the little things, but most importantly, it is a time to give back to those that may be less fortunate. That is why, in the grand tradition of the season of giving, we are proud to announce our 1st Annual Coat & Blanket Drive!
Along with our local State Farm partners Sharon Eddy, Reggie Harris, and Kelly Allison, we are accepting new and gently used coats and blankets at our offices for the entire month of December. Our staffs and families have already contributed, but we would love to invite the community as well to participate in this cause. Even if you are unable to make it to our office or any of our drop locations, simply give us a call at (703)739-2800 and we will make arrangements to pick up any donations you have.
At SERVPRO, our motto, “here to help,” applies to more than just repairing water damage from a violent storm. It is a social responsibility we take on daily. A commitment to always give more than we take because we are all in this together.
At the end of the month, we will gather all the coats and blankets and donate them to our local Christ House ensuring the most in need this holiday season will benefit from them. Giving back and providing a helping hand is in our DNA here at SERVPRO. Whether it’s helping those that are less fortunate get through these cold months with warm clothes, or restoring a family home after a devastating disaster, we are forever grateful for the opportunity to serve our community.
From our families to yours, we wish you all a blessed holiday season!
SERVPRO of Alexandria is a Family
6/3/2021 (Permalink)
Here is a picture of the team celebrating one of our youngest members, Martin, graduating from high school!
When comparing different damage restoration companies to give your services to, we know you have a lot of choices and a lot of things to consider. If you choose to allow us here at SERVPRO of Alexandria to take care of your damage restoration needs, you can take comfort in knowing not only did you hire one of the most professional, courteous and efficient damage restoration teams in the Alexandria area, but that you also hired a family.
We celebrate one another here at SERVPRO of Alexandria and we support each member of our team as they advance through the carious stages of life. Whether that means celebrating a recent graduation, or helping console one of our team members through the tragedy of a recent death, SERVPRO of Alexandria takes care of their own with the same love, compassion and empathy that we exhibit out there on the field.
It is our pleasure to share our family with this community as we continue to service you all!
SERVPRO of Alexandria is Committed to Accuracy
6/3/2021 (Permalink)
The team looks focused at one of our daily morning meeting
The SERVPRO of Alexandria team is 100% committed to efficiency and precision when on any job, no matter the size. To help foster the value of accuracy, our President Bill has developed a daily morning ritual here at SERVPRO of Alexandria to encourage communication and understanding between the office and the field team members.
Every morning the SERVPRO of Alexandria team meets and discusses the ongoing jobs as well as collaborate to iron out any outstanding details remaining from the previous work days.
These power meetings ensure that everyone is on the same page, and that we can continue through the work day quickly without any hiccups.
It is this commitment to doing the job well that sets us apart from any other damage restoration firm in the Alexandria area! We love what we do here and we do it well. If you have suffered through a fire, flood or have an ongoing mold problem give us a call here at (703) 739 - 2800
SERVPRO of Alexandria is Committed to Keeping our Streets Clean!
5/1/2021 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Alexandria participates in quarterly litter pick ups as a team
Restoring your homes after water, fire, and mold damage isn't our only commitment to the members of our community.
SERVPRO of Alexandria is also committed to keeping our streets clean!
We recently became members of the Adopt a Block program in Alexandria. We adopted a section a South Van Dorn Street, that extends for 2 blocks from Pickett to Stevenson. To maintain our membership in this program, and our commitment to a cleaner Alexandria, we will complete several litter clean ups throughout the year, and report them to the City of Alexandria.
Know that when you decide to contact SERVPRO of Alexandria for all of your restoration needs, that we are committed to all members of this community, in more ways than just one.
SERVPRO of Alexandria Gives Back to our Great Community in Which we Live and Work
4/16/2021 (Permalink)
SERPVRO of Alexandria makes several conscious efforts throughout the year to give back to different organizations in our community
A community is defined as “a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.” As our company continues to grow from the support and continued business from members of our community, we realize how important it is to give back to the great communities in which we live and work!
In April 2021, our SERVPRO team contributed a sizable donation to the Fraternal Order of Police of Virginia.
The organization attempts to improve the working conditions of law enforcement officers and the safety of those they serve through education, legislation, information, community involvement, and employee representation. This was a small token of our appreciation for their continued dedication to those in the line of duty.
THANK YOU to all respectable state and local officers, past and present!
SERVPRO of Alexandria is Dedicated to Keeping Our Streets & Your Homes Clean
4/16/2021 (Permalink)
Our dedication to the individuals in our city extends past helping you inside your homes and businesses into keeping our streets CLEAN as well!
We are EXCITED to share that we are now a part of the Adopt a Block program through the City of Alexandria.
We have officially adopted a 2 block section of South Van Dorn Street, stretching from South Pickett Street to Stevenson Avenue. Being a part of this program means we must clean this section of road at least 3 times a year and report the number of bags of trash we collect, in addition to any street lamps that are out, sidewalk repairs needed, or storm water drain problems. Our pickups will typically coincide with "Earth Day" in April and the "Day to Serve" in Autumn.
It is so important to us, as a company, to give back to our community and build stronger relationships within our team.
We will participate in our first street cleaning on Earth Day, April 22nd, and can't wait to share our experience with you!
Our IICRC Certified Specialists can Restore your Alexandria Home
3/24/2021 (Permalink)
We are an IICRC Certified Firm
SERVPRO of Alexandria is an IICRC firm. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) creates the standards for the restoration industry and provides training and certification to restoration companies.
IICRC Certified Firms must
- Present accurate information to consumers and conduct business with honesty and integrity.
- Require a technician on all jobs who has been formally trained and passed all required tests.
- Require a continuing education program to keep technicians up-to-date on the latest changes in the industry.
- Maintain liability insurance to protect all parties in the event of an accident.
- Maintain a written complaint policy and agree to Better Business Bureau or similar arbitration to resolve disputes, and accept the conclusions and recommendations of arbitration.
The IICRC Develops The Standards For The Restoration Industry
The IICRC has been the driving force in establishing the main industry standards and reference guides for professional carpet cleaning, water damage restoration and mold remediation. These IICRC standards take years to develop and require the coordination of experts in the field: manufacturers, industry organizations, insurance professionals, training schools, contractors, and public health professionals.
Every five years, the standards are reviewed and updated. The water damage restoration field changes rapidly with advancements in technology and science, and therefore the standards must evolve to keep pace.
About SERVPRO of Alexandria
SERVPRO of Alexandria specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration and we are an IICRC Certified Firm. We believe in continuous training: from initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.
Meet Our Crew
Our Certifications
- AMRT - Applied Microbial Remediation Technician
- ASD - Applied Structural Drying Technician
- CCT - Carpet Cleaning Technician
- ECTP - Employee Certification Training Program
- FSRT - Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Technician
- IICRC Certified Firm
- OSHA - Other Training
- RRRP - Lead-Based Paint Activities and Renovation
- WRT - Water Damage Restoration Technician
We are Commercial and Residential Cleaning Experts
4/28/2020 (Permalink)
We're Ready When You Are!
During this unprecedented time caused by the global pandemic of coronavirus, this is a reminder to our customers that we are specialists in cleaning services, and we adhere to the highest cleaning and sanitation standards.
Specialized Training
We are prepared to clean and disinfect your home or business, according to protocols set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We have years of experience in dealing with biological contaminants, and we will go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff perform on a daily basis.
The CDC encourages cleaning of high-touch surfaces such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, light switches, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets and tables. Other spaces mentioned in the CDC’s guidance for commercial spaces include:
- Kitchen/Food Areas
- Bathrooms
- Schools/Classrooms
- Offices
- Retail Spaces
- Water Fountains
- Shelving/Racks
- Sales Counters
- Carpets and Rugs
- Stair Handrails
- Elevator Cars
- Playground Equipment
- Fitness Equipment
Specialized Products
The CDC recommends usage of a labeled hospital-grade disinfectant with claims against similar pathogens to the coronavirus. Multiple products in the SERVPRO product line carry the EPA-approved emerging pathogens claims. While there is currently no product tested against this particular strain of the coronavirus, we are following all guidelines as provided by the CDC and local authorities.
Call Today for a Proactive Cleaning
If your home or business needs deep cleaning services, call the experts today – SERVPRO of Alexandria, 703-739-2800.