Encore Construction has published a detailed homeowner guide titled ‘Should You Call a Restoration Company or Insurance First After Water Damage?’ to help property owners navigate insurance claims and mitigate property loss. Operating as a family-owned restoration contractor founded in 2015, the firm serves Western Washington across Skagit, Snohomish, King, Whatcom, and Island counties. The newly released guidance addresses critical operational steps following property water damage, aiming to protect homeowners from denied claims, extensive repair costs, and the administrative burdens of managing insurance documentation alone.
What Changed
Encore Construction released explicit operational guidance for property owners facing water damage emergencies. Approximately 95% of the company’s restoration projects are funded through homeowners insurance. According to the company, delaying immediate action is the single costliest mistake a property owner can make. Insurers routinely deny coverage for secondary damage, such as structural rot, if mitigation is delayed. Furthermore, the guidance highlights that managing insurance claims independently can consume three to four hours every day until a project is fully completed, turning the administrative aftermath into a substantial secondary burden for the homeowner.
Context and Company Background
Founded in 2015, Encore Construction operates out of a 13,000-square-foot storage warehouse located at 20611 67th Ave NE, Suite C, Arlington, WA 98223. The company maintains active Washington general contractor registration under the identifier ENCORCL857K6 and holds $1 million in general liability insurance coverage. Unlike contractors that rely on outsourced labor, Encore handles all mitigation, remediation, and reconstruction projects using its own internal crews.
The company’s comprehensive service suite covers water damage restoration, mold remediation, fire damage restoration, biohazard cleanup, emergency mitigation, contents packout, and full-scale reconstruction. To support regional property owners, Encore offers free on-site inspections and maintains a 24/7 emergency restoration response line at (425) 548-4877.
Business Implications and Industry Standards
The intersection of property restoration and insurance claims involves complex regulatory frameworks and consumer rights. According to the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, policyholders possess the legal right to choose their own contractor for covered repairs. Homeowners are never legally required to use a contractor recommended or preferred by their insurance carrier.
Jason Lokhmatov and the operational team at Encore emphasize a distinct operational philosophy regarding these relationships, noting that while the firm works alongside insurance companies, it ultimately works exclusively for the homeowner. This distinction is critical when claims disputes arise over the scope of loss, pricing, or the timeline of emergency mitigation.
Risks and Limitations
Navigating water damage without professional guidance introduces severe financial and structural risks. As noted in the company’s findings, a common scenario involves a property owner discovering water, delaying mitigation efforts, and contacting their insurer weeks later. In such cases, insurers may determine that the resulting rot stems from neglect rather than the original sudden event, leading to claim denials.
Additionally, managing documentation, communicating with adjusters, and tracking inventory or contents packout requires significant daily time commitments. For an untrained homeowner attempting to manage this process alone, dedicating three to four hours a day to paperwork can disrupt personal and professional responsibilities.
Sector Impact and Who May Be Affected
Regional homeowners throughout Skagit, Snohomish, King, Whatcom, and Island counties are directly affected by water damage protocols and insurance claim procedures. Property owners frequently find themselves caught between emergency mitigation demands and complex insurance policy language. By establishing clear guidance on whether to contact restoration professionals or insurance carriers first, contractors like Encore help bridge the communication gap between policyholders and insurance adjusters.
What to Watch Next
As regional property markets continue to experience weather-related plumbing failures and storm incidents, consumer education surrounding disaster response remains paramount. Industry observers will monitor how regional contractors continue to publish advisory resources to help policyholders exercise their statutory rights, avoid coverage denials, and streamline the administrative workflow of property restoration. Homeowners in Western Washington can access immediate assistance through Encore Construction’s 24/7 response services or review their published guidance directly via Newsfile Corp. and IT Business Net coverage sources.