Making it in Big Sky: Revitalized Restoration

EBS STAFF

Revitalized Restoration are Big Sky’s property damage mitigation and restoration experts, specializing in personal property recovery, contents cleaning, trauma and crime scene cleanup. For this Making it in Big Sky, Explore Big Sky sat down with President and Founder Amber Smith who arrived here with her husband Rob when they were dropping their daughter off at Montana State University. After their first sunrise in Montana, they were in love.

This series is part of a paid partnership with the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce. The following answers have been edited for brevity.

Explore Big Sky: Let’s start with you—how long have you been in the area and what brought you here:

Amber Smith: It’s been almost a decade ago since my husband, Rob, and I dropped our daughter Maddison off at Montana State University. We had driven the last portion of our drive from West Yellowstone to Bozeman in the dark. The next morning was our first Montana sunrise. It was a smoky August, making the colors amazingly vibrant. This was our welcome to the area.

We headed home a few hours later. Driving through the canyon was beautiful. Waiting for the light to change at U.S. Highway 191 and Lone Mountain Trail Rob noticed the sign for Soldiers Chapel. Driving up that driveway flanked by American flags, we were both awe struck by that dramatic view of chapel against the backdrop of Lone Mountain Peak. Taking it all in, I decided I wasn’t ready to go  home. I Googled breweries near me. Lone Mountain Brewery was the closest. During our lunch the bartender suggested we check out the resort. Rob reserved a room at the Summit.  When we checked into the hotel, it happened to be the last couple of hours of Vine and Dine. We were fortunate enough to enjoy some wine tasting and music. For the next couple of days we enjoy the Summit’s huge hot tub and the fabulous view up the mountain.

During the next couple of years I visited Maddison. My visits became more and more frequent until I was splitting my time between Bozeman and home. After returning from one of my trips I told Rob, “We are moving to Montana.” His response was, “They have real winter there.” I didn’t care. I was in love and Rob’s an avid outdoorsman. I knew this was the perfect place for us. I put the offer on our house in 2018, waited with great anticipation for it to be completed. It was blizzarding the day we moved in, the best welcome ever.

EBS: How did Revitalized Restoration get started—was there a need you saw in the community? 

AS: While attending college, Maddison worked part-time for a local restoration company. Her life plan changed when she decided to become a mom and adopt her daughter who was 10. Maddison had become a full-time employee and excelled in the industry becoming a superintendent of content and mitigation. She is a people person, enjoyed growing her team and serving clients. During her employment a common theme throughout local restoration companies became apparent, a disconnection between management and employees creating unnecessary challenges. This stifled innovation and career growth. In some instances it negatively impacted the job and depersonalized the whole process.

At the end of last year Maddison and I were both at a place in our lives where we wanted to go into business together. After a ton of planning and research we founded Revitalized Restoration. We knew we could bring fresh perspectives and fill in the gaps that exist in the local restoration industry. As far as we know we are the only 100% woman owned restoration company in Montana. We are also general contractors.We understand the necessity of personal development and growing our employees’ careers. We also love serving our clients and our community.  These are the core values Revitalized Restoration is built on.  

Every employee has the opportunity to take certification classes. The company encourages expanding knowledge and experience. In support we pay the fees for our team’s certifications, testing, and continuing education credits to keep their certificates valid. Since founding Revitalized in January our team members have taken nine IICRC certification classes, in addition to certifications they already held. The IICRC is a governing body for the mitigation and restoration industry.

We provide a personalized client experience. Each project plan is individualized for a seamless restoration journey from inception to completion.  Every job is unique. We assign a Client Services Specialist to each client. The CSS effectively coordinates directly with the insurance adjuster to promptly address any concerns, attends to client and project priorities, and delivers consistent results. The end goal is to minimize the Client’s stress during a stressful time.

EBS: What services do you offer the area and what sets you apart from other restoration businesses?

AS: We offer post loss recovery and management for any type of loss for your home, business, and personal property. That includes fire or smoke damage. All types of Water losses which includes sewage damage. Microbial (mold) damage and rodent damage. We also offer services for crime scene and trauma cleans as well. We are available 24/7 to assist in any emergency loss at any time day or night.

We have the ability to restore most personal property on site with our mobile content cleaning unit. This allows our customers to see the full process of restoration right outside their door steps. When you think of having the unfortunate event of a disaster in your home, typically you’re more concerned about your pictures and family heirlooms than your walls or flooring. With us having the ability to restore them onsite we alleviate the additional stress of watching your most valuable possessions leave your home and not know step by step what is happening with them. We are currently the only restoration company in Montana to offer this specific service. 

Revitalized Restoration is a concierge for the whole restoration process. We walk right beside you throughout the entire restoration process. From the moment we are notified of your loss to the moment you get to walk into your restored home, we are there. We help guide you through the insurance claim process, we explain the deconstruction and drying process so you fully know and understand why we do what we do, we help guide you in making the best decisions on building materials, etc. We do everything we can to ensure you don’t have any surprises along the way. When working with Revitalized, you can feel calm, confident, and secure knowing exactly what’s happening with your home, personal property, and the process along the way. 

EBS: What is the most frequent call you get from customers?

AS: We definitely get a variety of calls but, for the most part, they all have one thing in common. Stressed homeowners or property owners, who are faced with a disaster in their safe space looking for someone to hear them, understand their specific needs, and someone to lean in and let them know “we’ve got you” and really mean it.

Statistically homeowners will experience one major loss in their lives. So we encounter a lot of stressed and panicked people who just don’t know what to do or what to expect. But with us, we believe in empowering every homeowner or property owner to understand and feel confident in their restoration journey. 

EBS: Tell me about your “revitalizing our community” program:

AS: We believe in giving back. This program allows us to give back to each beautiful community we serve; quarterly. We pick each project carefully with the direction of the community to help us make the biggest impact possible for that specific area and time of year. Needs are constantly evolving so we listen to those in the community to select the most beneficial way to give back. 

In the past we have done projects such as collecting winter gear to hand out to those in need, sock and shoe drives, cleaning up homeless camps in parks to eliminate human waste, trash, and drug paraphernalia; allowing people to live in their camps safely. 

Giving back to the communities we serve means the world to us.

EBS: Anything else you’d like the Big Sky community to know?

We are here to serve in your time of need and are just a phone call away. 

EBS: What is the best business advice you’ve ever received:

AS: Hire smartly. Your team is one of your most valuable assets. Hire people who are skilled, motivated, and share your vision for the business and success.