Total Restoration Contracting

I hope this will help others who have a chance to look online before signing the line after a disaster. This company was one of many who must have been listening to the scanners when my in-​laws’ house burned down and showed up on the scene. We thought this was terribly tactless and rude of all of them.
The owner, Dave, just makes his way in and starts talking as if he’s your best friend. He talks as if he’s already gotten the job, talking you all the way through from boarding up the house (which is required to happen but can be done for much much cheaper) to cleaning your clothing and textiles, to rebuilding your house. If you read his contract carefully, if you sign that day (and I cannot imagine how many traumatized home-​owners have made this mistake) the contract pretty much says you give him the right to work directly with your insurance company, take the money directly from them, name the cost, etc. Of course people who are still watching their houses burn want to hear this and I’m sure so many people get sucked in. Also, if you’re not careful, his crew will just start boarding up without asking.
But do not sign or make any decisions that day, you have time to decide. Call your insurance adjuster and ask who THEY recommend. You WILL get ripped off. They are taking advantage. I smelled a rat from the beginning and stood by my relatives and made sure they only will get billed for the boarding up, which, as you could imagine, was marked up ridiculously high. We had to cross things out, initial, them, change stuff, etc. Unfortunately for us the fire company had already called the in, but please remember — YOU can send them packing!
My suspicions were confirmed later when friends showed up, one who is an independent claims adjuster and one working in commercial insurance, they both said companies like this were just «vultures» and will take you for all you have at your worst moment.
Please make sure to protect friends and neighbors who may be in a disaster situation. Other companies with different names who claim to do the same thing are also just as bad, so please watch out.