CNSMoms is proud to welcome a new (and essential) partner to the network: Restoration 1 of Chicago North Shore. Restoration 1 specializes in water, fire, smoke, odor, and disinfection damage mitigation on Chicago’ North Shore and surrounding areas. We had the pleasure of hearing from Long Grove parents of three teens, and Owners of Restoration 1 of Chicago North Shore, Kevin and Kristi Ramirez, who tells us how their personal experiences with home damage led to starting up this location, the highs and lows of starting a new business, and very important advice to homeowners you won’t want to miss. Welcome Kevin and Kristi!
Hi Kevin and Kristi! Please introduce yourself. Where are you from originally and where do you live now. Kids?
Hello, my name is Kevin Ramirez, and I am a Chicago native. I was born in the Wrigleyville neighborhood and was raised in the Lakeview neighborhood on the Northside. My wife, Kristi was born and raised in Skokie. We have three teenagers and currently reside in the Village of Long Grove since 2016.
My wife and business partner, Kristi have been happily married for twenty years and we will be celebrating our anniversary this month. Our eldest son, Luke recently graduated from Stevenson High School and will be attending Lawrence University this month. Our middle son Nate will be a junior and our youngest daughter, Mia will be an eighth grader.
Tell us about your business, Restoration 1 of Chicago North Shore. When did you start this?
My wife and I are co-owners of Restoration 1 of Chicago North Shore and we have been operating since January of this year. Restoration 1 of Chicago North Shore is an emergency mitigation company. What that means is that we reduce the harmful effects of an unfortunate situation in the home or business. For example, a pipe leaks in the home and the water spills out into the home and affects the floors, walls, etc., we come in after the plumber fixes the pipe or when the water is shut off, to clean and remove the damaged parts of the home so mold does not grow inside. To create greater damage. We also perform disinfection to homes and businesses to help keep those occupants healthy and safe.
We specialize in water, fire, smoke, odor, and disinfection damage mitigation. We are an emergency service company, and we also perform ongoing service for odor and disinfection. What sets us apart are our core of IICRC Certified technicians with over ten years of experience. Our technicians have the training, testing and experience to handle all types of mitigation jobs.
Our goal is to be the most trusted restoration company in the North Shore and the Chicagoland area. We want to be the one that our fellow neighbors can count on when the situation is in dire need of remediation. That is our main goal is to serve our clients.
Do you work with insurance companies?
Yes. Our certified technicians work with ALL insurance carriers.
What was the inspiration behind starting up with Restoration 1 of Chicago North Shore?
Our inspiration to start this service business was based on our own experience. We had water damage due to a sump failure several years ago. We did not realize that there were service companies that specialize in this and how having a professional who can fix the problem. Our backgrounds are in business. My wife was a Vice President of a large local corporation, and my background is in sales and investing. When she was laid off due to corporate restructuring, we believed we wanted more control of our livelihood and starting a recession resistant business that helps people in an inconvenient situation was the answer.
What has been your proudest moment so far with this service?
Our proudest moment was and still is taking action. We have always discussed it, however, taking a risk with three young children was a bit more than we wanted to take.
What has been the hardest aspect of this business?
The biggest challenge we have is that we cannot help everybody. Regarding mold, most homeowners and business owners do not realize that they are not covered for it. It is painful to witness their reaction when they have mold and the bill to remove it is in the tens of thousands of dollars. I urge all those to review their policy with their agent and get an endorsement added to the policy. Another is a sump pump endorsement, not covered if it is not added to the policy.
That is great advice, thank you. So far, what has been the most rewarding aspect of this business?
The most rewarding feeling is seeing the client happy and satisfied that we helped them in an inconvenient situation. Whether it is their home or business, we do our best to get them back to normal with minimum interruption.
What’s next for Restoration 1 of Chicago North Shore?
Our plan is to grow by adding more qualified technicians to help serve our clients and to help keep them employed in the workforce. We are always looking for individuals who want to work hard and are service minded. We are an EOE employer. Veterans, women, and minorities are encouraged to apply.
How can our readers learn more and schedule a consultation with you?
For all your property restoration needs, call Restoration 1 of Chicago North Shore today at (847) 613-1385 email us at [email protected].
This interview contains sponsored content. Thank you to Restoration 1 of Chicago North Shore, a proud partner of Chicago North Shore Moms.