National Storm Damage Center Adds Another Layer of Consumer Protection By Signing Agreement With BuildZoom
Plano, Texas (PRWEB) July 20, 2015 -- National Storm Damage Center CEO Trevor Leeds announced today that the NSDC has signed an agreement with BuildZoom, which created the first objective, automated system for ranking and rating remodeling and construction businesses.
The NSDC-BuildZoom agreement comes on the heels of the NSDC signing a contract with Global Risk Management Solutions (GRMS), a leader in providing vendor screening solutions.
With BuildZoom, the NSDC has now added a second layer of consumer protection.
“BuildZoom collects information from more than 500 public and private databases throughout the U.S.,” Leeds says. “Using a proprietary algorithm, BuildZoom analyzes this information alongside consumer feedback and information provided by the businesses themselves. It is the industry’s only truly objective, automated system for ranking and rating construction businesses.”
As the NSDC grows its platform, “it’s critical that we properly screen certified contractors in our network,” Leeds says. “This provides multiple layers for us to show that we’re using the best in the industry to screen and vet our contractors.”
The NSDC introduced a revolutionary forensic technology that detects the precise path, power and location of a storm in real time. The ground-breaking weather technology is geared to help property owners in a time of crisis and eliminate “storm chasers” taking advantage of consumers.
Building and roofing contractors around the globe have contacted the NDSC, yet Leeds and NSDC Executive Director Dave Carlson “only want to work with the best and most experienced certified and licensed contractors.”
In today’s high-risk global business environment and turbulent economy, “it is more important than ever for a company to know the background and financial stability of the vendors with whom you conduct business,” Carlson says.
BuildZoom, a San Francisco-based company, enables consumers to quickly research vendors in their area while instantly viewing detailed information as to the contractor’s license status and customer reviews. With information on over 3.5 million remodeling and construction businesses, BuildZoom is the largest and most authoritative repository of information on the home improvement services industry in the United States, according to co-founder David Petersen.
“BuildZoom is completely free for consumers,” Petersen says. “We work very hard to make sure that every project submitted to our site gets bids from several trustworthy, talented contractors.”
NSDC Certified Contractors will receive enhanced BulldZoom scores because of the NSDC’s extensive screening process with GRMS.
The NSDC is the first company to use state-of-the-art technology to detect the exact location and intensity of a storm, whether it involves a tornado, hurricane, flash floods or a fierce baseball-size hail storm anywhere in the world. The impact this technology has on the building and roofing industry and contractors is immense.
The NSDC portal pairs property owners such as REIT’s, commercial clients and even homeowners with roofing and building contractors and public insurance adjusters.
The problem with platforms that exist today is that they do not feature useful and effective tools for information and resources for property owners before or following a disastrous storm, Leeds points out.
One of the biggest complaints by property owners after a storm event is that they feel taken advantage of by “unscrupulous storm-chasing contractors,” Leeds says.
Now, with GRMS and BuildZoom, the NSDC has an iron-clad vetting system.
GRMS conducts financial background screening, certification of insurance, W9 management, compliance and is a renowned expert with federal laws like the U.S. Patriot Act, which includes the O.F.A.C. list (the U.S. Government’s “do not do business with list”).
About NSDC: Headquartered in Plano, Texas, the NSDC is an independent consumer advocacy organization founded to help homeowners affected by natural disasters. When violent storms cause significant property damage, homeowners are faced with a confusing and often frustrating restoration process. Through free information, proactive home building monitoring services, and post-storm advocacy and forensic weather resources, the NSDC helps property owners navigate the insurance restoration process.
About BuildZoom: San Francisco-based BuildZoom is the intelligent marketplace for remodeling and construction services. The company simplifies the process of selecting a home improvement contractor and improving the outcomes of remodeling and construction projects. By gathering and analyzing information on 3.5 million licensed contractors and over 100 million improvement projects, the company has brought new levels of transparency and accountability to a notoriously difficult industry.
For more info, go to http://www.stormdamagecenter.org.
To find a top-ranked professional, go to http://www.buildzoom.com.
Media Contact: Rick(at)StormDamageCenter(dot)org / (888) 598-6980 ext. 114.
Richard Edward, NSDC, +1 (888) 598-6980 Ext: 114, [email protected]
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