EP# 250: How Premier Restorations of The Carolinas Helps Communities Recover From Disaster

What makes Tim Rhoades with Premier Restorations of The Carolinas a good neighbor?
When disaster strikes your home, who can you trust to put the pieces back together? Tim Rhoades, owner-operator of Premier Restorations of the Carolinas, brings a refreshingly personal approach to disaster recovery that's increasingly rare in today's corporate landscape.

After transitioning from a career in law enforcement to restoration services, Tim purchased Premier Restorations in early 2024, bringing certified expertise in water, fire, smoke damage, and mold remediation to communities devastated by Hurricane Helene. What sets his company apart? While national chains might send representatives, Tim personally visits each site, works alongside his crew, and keeps homeowners informed throughout the restoration process.

The conversation reveals critical insights about proper disaster recovery that every homeowner should know. Many Hurricane Helene victims are now facing dangerous mold issues months after attempting DIY solutions with box fans - a stark reminder that water damage recovery requires specialized knowledge and equipment. As Tim explains, "Drying water is a process and it takes time because you can't get rid of it as fast as you got it."

Beyond the technical aspects of restoration, Tim shares the profound emotional impact of helping neighbors during their most vulnerable moments. Entering homes destroyed by flooding and witnessing families at their "lowest times" has transformed his perspective on service. "If that don't change a man, nothing will," he reflects, highlighting how restoration work extends far beyond property repair to helping rebuild lives and communities.

Whether you're currently facing water damage issues or want to be prepared for future emergencies, this conversation offers valuable insights from someone who has seen disaster recovery from both sides. Connect with Premier Restorations of the Carolinas through Facebook or by calling Tim directly at 828-406-2877 to learn how proper restoration can protect your home and family.

To learn more about Premier Restorations of The Carolinas go to:

https://www.premierrestorationofthecarolinas.com/

Premier Restorations of The Carolinas

828-406-2877

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Skip Monty.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Hello everyone and welcome to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
So, are you in need of arestoration company?
A lot of folks are these days,especially after what we've been
through in this region.
If so, one might be closer thanyou think, because today I have
the pleasure of introducingyour good neighbor, mr Tim
Rhodes, who is theowner-operator of Premier

(00:31):
Restorations of the Carolinas.
Tim, welcome to the show.
Good to be here.
Well, we're glad to have youand, like I said, excited to
learn all about you and yourbusiness.
So, if you don't mind, whydon't you kick us off by telling
us what you do?
So?

Speaker 3 (00:45):
we are a specialized fire, water, smoke damage, mold
remediation.
It's a premier restoration ofthe Carolinas and you know, we
provide residential, commercial,fire, water, smoke damage.
We do odor control, moldremediation.
We use the latest mitigationtechniques, procedures that

(01:07):
we've learned through all of ourclasses through the IICRC.
We work hard to, you know, keepour company's peace of mind.
Our customers keep their peaceof mind and knowing that it's a
locally owned company, that's,you know, that does have their
best interest in heart.

Speaker 2 (01:23):
Which is very important to a lot of folks, you
know, as opposed to a big chain, national chain.
Always try to do business withlocal owners of businesses.
Yes, so, as I mentioned, youknow, this area of the country
went through a horrible floodand a hurricane.
Helene, I'm sure you've beenpretty busy.

(01:44):
Did that affect your businessin a big way?

Speaker 3 (01:49):
Yeah, we were extremely busy.
I'm not saying we're stilldoing jobs from the hurricane,
but a lot of people when thehurricane come, they pushed out
the water, stuck a box fan on it.
But you know a lot, of a lot ofpeople in the hurricane come
they, you know they pushed outthe water, stuck a box fan on it

(02:09):
and went on and you know nowthey're having to deal with some
mold issues.
So we're getting calls now frompeople that's getting you know
recurring issues from thehurricane.

Speaker 2 (02:18):
Oh wow, Mold remediation and that's serious
business.
It is.
I can kill you.
Well, Tim, how did you get intothe restoration business?

Speaker 3 (02:29):
Well, we were.
I was in law enforcement for along time and then, back in 2017
, I decided to make a change.
We started an air duct cleaningbusiness and then, January of
2024, some good friends of minethey owned Premier Restoration
and they were stayed on me forseveral years to buy their

(02:51):
company because they were oldergentlemen just ready to retire.
So we finally bought thecompany in January 2024.
And it's with their help, youknow, alongside of us getting
started getting some classesunder my belt, we just kept
moving forward Very good, verygood.

Speaker 2 (03:10):
Well, what are some and I'm sure there's plenty some
myths or misconceptions in therestoration business?

Speaker 3 (03:20):
Well, one of the biggest one I found over the
time is you know people thinkwhen they have a water leak, you
know that you can come in andset up all the equipment and be
done in a day.
Drying water is a process andit takes time because you can't
get rid of it as fast as you gotit.

Speaker 2 (03:43):
You can get it quick, too.
You can get it quick too.
You can get it real fast, realfast, wow.
Well, that's a big one.
Well, who are your targetcustomers, tim, and how do you
reach them?

Speaker 3 (03:56):
Well, property owners , business owners and just local
neighbors.
You know, we, we advertiseright now through Facebook.
I say we, my wife does all thatfor me.
We, we just go through Facebookand then word of mouth.
That's key, cause when you takecare of one neighbor they tell
the other neighbor.
So that's key.

Speaker 2 (04:15):
Absolutely, and, and some of the best advertising you
can get is, for sure, well,outside of work.
What do you like to do for fun,tim?

Speaker 3 (04:26):
Well, for fun, you know we own a cattle farm and
for fun it's just, you know,going out and spending time with
the cattle and, and you know,just hanging out with them in
nature.

Speaker 2 (04:37):
Well, you live in a.
We live in a beautiful placefor that, for sure in western
North Carolina and eastTennessee.
Well, let's change gears herefor a second, Tim.
Can you think of or describe ahardship or a life challenge
that you've overcome and how itmade you stronger in the end?

Speaker 3 (04:59):
Yeah, and probably like so many other people, I'm
going to use the hurricanebecause during the hurricane we
met so many people that was insuch a really rough spot.
You go into houses that arejust completely flooded.
You know getting to meet peopleat their lowest times and you

(05:23):
know trying to help them comeout of that and you know if that
don't change a man, nothingwill.
So you know we got to help alot of people and you know it's
just, it's very satisfying tohelp the people when they're at
their lowest.

Speaker 2 (05:43):
At their absolute lowest and there's a lot of
people that can say that afterthe hurricane.
But, very like you said, I'msure it does your heart good to
see those folks coming out of it.
Oh yes sir Yep, it does my heartgood to see how our region has

(06:04):
reacted to all this and howquickly Western North Carolina,
east Tennessee, has recovered,with help from people like you
and some really good neighbors.
I think people helping peopleis a wonderful thing and we've
seen lots of examples of that,including you.
Well, if, if, tim, if you couldthink of of one thing that you

(06:28):
would like our listeners toremember about premier
restoration of the Carolinas,what would that be?

Speaker 3 (06:35):
That we are a locally owned company.
We are a restoration companythat is certified on the highest
levels with any otherrestoration company around, but
we're just locally owned.
That's where the owner stillcomes out and works.
I go out and I work hand inhand with my guys and you know I

(06:57):
go meet with the homeowners, Iput a plan together with the
homeowners and I keep thehomeowners involved every step
of the way.
And you know, it's just, it's agood feeling going out and
meeting the customers andhelping the neighbors.

Speaker 2 (07:11):
And I'm sure that I'm sure that your customers
appreciate that as well the guythat actually owns the company
coming out shaking their handinstead of you know, I don't
want to say lackey, but justsome frontline employee, exactly
, absolutely.
It means a lot to me.
I can tell you that and,unfortunately, I think that's
something that people appreciatetoo.

(07:32):
If they've got a problem, theywant to talk to the man in
charge, that's you.
How can our listeners, if theywant to learn more, or they've
had recurring mold issues, orthey've got a water issue or
whatever, they need help andthey want to learn more about
you and your company, how canthey do that?

Speaker 3 (07:53):
There's a couple ways .
They can go on Facebook PremierRestoration of the Carolinas,
or they can email me at PremierRestoration of the Carolinas.
Or they can email me attmairduckcleaning at gmailcom.
Or they can do it theold-fashioned way, which is the
way I like.
The best is they can call me.
My number is 828-406-2877.

(08:13):
They can call me and I'llanswer any question they got or
try to Don't mind, to come outand see what's going on and see
if we can put a plan together.

Speaker 2 (08:23):
Very good.
Well, I tell you what.
There's a lot of people,including me, that appreciate
that approach, because mostbigger chain corporations that
you do business with.
I don't know if you've had thisexperience or not, but it's
almost impossible to talk to ahuman being, sometimes to be
able to fix a problem with acompany, and to me it's

(08:44):
impressive that if they callPremier Restoration of the
Carolinas, you're going toanswer the phone right.

Speaker 3 (08:52):
Yes, sir, the 1-800 number goes to my phone and then
.
So it's either my cell phonenumber or the 1-800.
So either one of them can getme All right, Very good, Very
good to know.

Speaker 2 (09:04):
Important this is the guy you're going to be dealing
with folks if you've got aproblem.
Well, Tim, I really appreciateyou being on the show and we
wish you and your family andyour cattle and premier
restoration of the Carolinas allthe best moving forward.
Thank you, we appreciate youbeing here and maybe we can have

(09:25):
you back sometime.
That'd be great.
All right, Thanks so much.

Speaker 1 (09:31):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
neighbor podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, Go to GNP try dashcitiescom.
That's GNP try dash citiescom,or call 423-719-5873.
5873.