Restoration Pros Unplugged

AI is changing the way restoration companies operate, and WonderBuilt Restoration is already putting it to work. In this episode of Restoration Pros Unplugged, Clinton James talks with Raul Gonzalez, owner of WonderBuilt in Tucson, AZ, about how AI tools and remote oversight are helping him streamline operations as the company grows.

Raul explains how he listened to our interview with James Hatfield from LiveSwitch, signed up right away, and quickly found real use cases like faster mold evaluations using AI-generated scopes, better contents planning through data-driven insights, and live remote support for technicians on complex jobs.

Alongside the tech discussion, Raul breaks down what’s currently working in his marketing, the challenges he’s faced while scaling, and the operational bottlenecks he’s been working to eliminate.

By the end, you’ll hear how WonderBuilt is using AI and improved documentation workflows to train faster, estimate more accurately, and create a more efficient operation without adding unnecessary overhead.

Want to see how LiveSwitch can streamline your restoration operations? Book a live demo using my link here:
https://join.liveswitch.com/9o7u9222eyk4

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Want to grow your restoration brand and generate more water jobs with expert marketing?

Book a free strategy session with our team at Water Restoration Marketing:
https://www.waterrestorationmarketing.net/schedule

In this episode of Restoration Pros Unplugged, Clinton James sits down with Claire Carreras an entrepreneur known for taking broken home-service teams and turning them into high-performing operations. Claire shares her unusual path into restoration, her experiences at Paul Davis and Servpro, and the leadership lessons she learned while rebuilding departments, launching new service divisions, and now running 1-Tom-Plumber Austin.

Claire breaks down her simple 3-part method for fixing struggling restoration companies:

- People: understanding who’s on your team, what motivates them, and who fits where.

- Process: reviewing what’s working, what’s broken, and what needs to change.

- Execution: setting expectations, building consistency, and holding everyone accountable.

She also talks about making great hires, spotting bad ones fast, getting out of day-to-day operations, and shifting from manager to true owner.

If you’re a restoration business owner who knows your team could perform better, this conversation will help you understand where to start and how to lead in a way that actually moves the business forward.

Want to grow your restoration brand and generate more water jobs with expert marketing?

Book a free strategy session with our team at Water Restoration Marketing:
https://www.waterrestorationmarketing.net/schedule

In this episode of Restoration Pros Unplugged, Clinton sits down with Ben Justesen, one of the restoration industry’s top minds in estimating and pricing strategy. Ben’s journey, from growing his family’s company, Just Right Cleaning & Construction (JRCC), into an award-winning restoration firm to leading national training programs and now shaping technology at DocuSketch offers lessons every contractor can use.

Ben breaks down the biggest mistakes he sees in estimating and pricing, explains the difference between markup and margin (and why most contractors get it wrong), and shares practical advice for protecting your profits on every job. You’ll hear how better documentation, smarter use of tech, and a disciplined approach to estimating can transform your bottom line.

Whether you’re a small operator trying to tighten up your numbers or a larger firm looking to scale profitably, this conversation is packed with insights that can change the way you run your business.

Get more educational content from Ben and the team at DocuSketch:
https://www.docusketch.com/estimate-accelerator
https://e3drying.com/docusketch-estimating-master-class/

Want to grow your restoration brand and generate more water jobs with expert marketing?

Book a free strategy session with our team at Water Restoration Marketing:
https://www.waterrestorationmarketing.net/schedule

When every minute counts in restoration, getting eyes on the loss fast can make or break a job. In this episode of Restoration Pros Unplugged, Clinton James sits down with James Hatfield, CRO of LiveSwitch, to explore how simple, app-free video links are transforming how restoration companies handle intake, documentation, and customer communication.

James shares how LiveSwitch—originally built for 911 dispatch and live sports—now helps restoration teams see the job before they roll a truck, build instant trust with customers, and cut hours off every claim.

You’ll learn how leading restoration companies are using QR codes for emergency response, live video for better estimates, and recorded walkthroughs for training and accountability—all without downloading an app.

Whether you run a small team or a multi-location operation, this conversation will show you how to:

- Speed up intake calls with “remote eyes on the loss”

- Improve documentation and win more carrier approvals

- Train your team with real-world video examples

- Turn every jobsite into a marketing and retention opportunity

If you want your company to respond faster, look more professional, and build lasting customer trust—this episode is a must-listen.

Learn more about LiveSwitch:
- https://www.liveswitch.com/industry/restoration-services/
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/liveswitch-inc
- https://www.facebook.com/liveswitchinc/

Want to grow your restoration brand and generate more water jobs with expert marketing?

Book a free strategy session with our team at Water Restoration Marketing:
https://www.waterrestorationmarketing.net/schedule

In this episode of Restoration Pros Unplugged, host Clinton James sits down with Scott Miller, founder of The Growth League, to unpack his incredible journey from rookie franchisee to independent restoration owner and now successful business coach.

Scott shares how he built a top-performing restoration business, scaled it, and sold it, all while learning the hard lessons that most owners don’t figure out until it’s too late. 

You’ll learn:

- The financial blind spots that keep owners from true profitability

- How to motivate your team with performance-based pay and shared goals

- Why today’s restoration market demands in-home sales training and strong intake calls

- The top mistakes that kill business value before an owner tries to sell

Whether you’re running a franchise, operating independently, or thinking about an exit, this episode is a goldmine of real-world wisdom for restoration entrepreneurs.

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Learn more about The Growth League:

https://www.thegrowthleague.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmiller1/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-growth-league/

https://www.youtube.com/@TheRestorationCoach

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Want to grow your restoration brand and generate more water jobs with expert marketing?
Book a free strategy session with our team at Water Restoration Marketing:
https://www.waterrestorationmarketing.net/schedule

In this episode of Restoration Pros Unplugged, Clinton James sits down with Jeff Carrier, Co-Founder and CEO of Restoration ERP, to talk about how restoration companies can use technology to win more commercial work and how the new ERP Copilot AI is changing the game.

Jeff breaks down how most restorers have handled commercial disaster planning in the past, why ERPs are key to landing “first call” commercial clients, and how his team built a platform that makes it simple and profitable.

You’ll also hear about ERP Copilot, the industry’s first AI-powered sales trainer and assistant built specifically for restoration professionals. From sales call analysis and role-playing objection handling to email sequencing and disaster plan coaching, ERP Copilot gives restorers 24/7 guidance on how to approach, pitch, and close commercial clients with confidence.

Whether you’re already offering ERPs or just starting to target commercial properties, this episode will show you how to use automation and AI to scale your restoration business, strengthen client relationships, and win more high-value contracts.

Learn more about Restoration ERP and ERP Copilot:
https://restorationerp.com

Restoration ERP LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/restoration-erp/

Restoration ERP Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWTf0r9LXBoSPrg06PAj5Hg

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Want to grow your restoration brand and generate more water jobs with expert marketing?

Book a free strategy session with our team at Water Restoration Marketing:
https://www.waterrestorationmarketing.net/schedule

In this episode of Restoration Pros Unplugged, host Clinton James (CMO, Water Restoration Marketing) sits down with Chris Nordyke, President & Co-Owner of Floodlight Consulting Group, to unpack the sales and marketing KPIs that separate thriving restoration companies from those just getting by.

Pulled from a powerful live session hosted by WRM and Floodlight, this episode breaks down how to truly “know your numbers” and how tracking the right ones can help you scale smarter, convert more leads, and win more profitable jobs.

You’ll discover:
✅ The top KPIs that drive predictable growth and profitability
✅ How to align sales and marketing for better lead conversion
✅ The biggest lead management mistakes restoration owners make (and how to fix them)
✅ Why tracking performance builds accountability across your entire team
✅ Real-world examples of companies using data to scale faster and smarter

If you’ve ever wondered which numbers actually matter when it comes to growing your restoration business, this episode will give you the clarity and direction you need to take your next leap.

Featuring:
Clinton James – CMO, Water Restoration Marketing
Chris Nordyke – President & Co-Owner, Floodlight Consulting Group

📈 Learn More:
👉 Explore Sales Consulting and Leadership Training from Floodlight Consulting:
https://www.floodlightgrp.com/

👉 Schedule a Free Strategy Call with Water Restoration Marketing:
https://waterrestorationmarketing.com/

Finding and keeping the right people can make or break a restoration business. In this episode of Restoration Pros Unplugged, host Clinton James sits down with Mitchell Riley, Recruiter and Partner at OPS Staffing, to unpack what works and what doesn’t when it comes to hiring in the restoration industry.

Mitchell shares practical recruiting strategies that restoration company owners can use right away, including:

- Low-cost, high-impact tactics like referral programs, local networking, and community outreach

- Where to find the right candidates for different roles from field staff to project managers to executives

- How to use technology and AI wisely without falling into common traps like fake resumes or fast-apply overload

- The candidate experience what makes top talent choose one company over another

- Critical mistakes to avoid when trying to build a strong team

Whether you’re struggling to fill positions or looking to upgrade your recruiting process, this episode is packed with insights to help you hire smarter, save time, and build a team that drives long-term growth.
Visit: https://www.opsstaffing.net/

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Want to grow your restoration brand and generate more water jobs with expert marketing?

Book a free strategy session with our team at Water Restoration Marketing:
https://www.waterrestorationmarketing.net/schedule

Cash flow is one of the biggest challenges restoration companies face. Insurance claims can take weeks or even months to pay out, leaving contractors scrambling to cover payroll, materials, and overhead. For many, this delay means turning down jobs, slowing growth, or dipping into personal funds just to stay afloat.

In this episode of Restoration Pros Unplugged, Clinton James sits down with Ilana Ben-Ezra, PhD, President of National Claims Funding, to reveal how restoration business owners can get paid upfront without waiting on the insurance company.

Ilana breaks down:

- Why delayed insurance payments can stall growth—or even sink a business

- How National Claims Funding’s Approved Scope Advance Program puts cash in your hands upfront

- Real examples of contractors who used this solution to take on more jobs and grow faster

- The simple, no-strings-attached process to start funding your invoices today

If you’ve ever felt the stress of waiting on insurance checks, this episode will show you how to take control of your cash flow, stay competitive, and focus on what matters most—growing your business and serving more customers.

Visit: https://natclaims.com

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Want to grow your restoration brand and generate more water jobs with expert marketing?

Book a free strategy session with our team at Water Restoration Marketing:
https://www.waterrestorationmarketing.net/schedule

In this episode of Restoration Pros Unplugged, Clinton James (CMO, Water Restoration Marketing) sits down with Leah Hanlon (Franchise Sales & Business Development, 1-Tom-Plumber & Icon Property Rescue) to unpack exactly how restoration companies can land more commercial contracts in 2025.

If you’ve struggled to break into the commercial market or you’re ready to scale past residential feast-or-famine work, this conversation gives you the blueprint. Clinton and Leah walk through the traits of successful business development reps (BDRs), why professionalism and persistence win in commercial sales, and how your digital presence can make or break your outreach.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How to hire and train BDRs that build real trust with commercial decision-makers
• Proven sales practices that open doors and keep you top-of-mind
• Why your website, Google Business Profile, and reviews are credibility checks you can’t ignore
• How to feature your BDRs online and build social proof with past commercial work
• The growth system that happens when sales and marketing work together

This isn’t theory it’s the exact playbook top restoration companies are using right now to win long-term, high-value commercial contracts.

Learn More About Adding a 1-Tom-Plumber Franchise with Leah:
https://www.1tpfranchise.com/water-restoration-marketing/

Want Personalized Help?
Schedule a Free Discovery Call with Clinton (Water Restoration Marketing):
https://waterrestorationmarketing.com/discovery-call/