James Tole  

I would first off like to point out that until recently, most contents technicians received little to no training for their craft. When you consider the broad and varying material types we encounter, it is difficult to expect great outcomes if training is not available. Little was available to teach the skill of cleaning. How do you develop a cleaning process for a content that has never been designed to be cleaned? Where do you begin? Beginning with the development of inventory software and now the IICRC CPT course, this segment of restoration is getting its due in my opinion. Practices and procedures that are standardized will certainly assist with efficiency and productivity models for contents processing.

As for what I see as the most important tools in contents restoration, it would be simply that; standardized productivity and efficient processes for all aspects of contents. Proper evaluation of total loss, wrapping and pad-protecting techniques would certainly be a great place to begin. Cleaning of any surface begins with a clear understanding of the material's cleanable surface and any limitations, and learning to adjust the process of cleaning is the route to success in cleaning of contents. Finally, understanding industry standard productivity and efficiency rates allows a business owner to gauge the success of their department in “real time.”  I would rate these as the core skills required to be successful in contents restoration.

High-quality inventory software is now widely available and even on a per-job basis, which makes this a financially attainable tool even for a smaller service provider as hand-written inventories with unattached photos are a way of the past. Ultrasonic and electronic cleaning systems, and hydraulic textile cleaning systems, are certainly efficiency tools that help in contents restoration. They are still by no means required equipment. Currently, a restoration company skilled in proper evaluation and stabilization of contents, good inventory and evacuation techniques, as well as cleaning and deodorization skills will be the most successful in building a good business model.