The latest in continuing education

Many of you may have questions about whether or not you are able to retake a CE course, even after the two year renewal period. According to NAIC rules, a producer is allowed to repeat a course number, but they cannot take it more than one time per renewal period, nor can they receive credit for a second time. They can however repeat a class each renewal period and count it for credit, if they so choose.

The current rule R590-142 says otherwise, but that rule is currently under major re-construction. Until it's formally in place, the NAIC is allowing us to follow what is currently accepted, which is to allow for repeat courses.

At Advanced Restoration, we offer 11 continuing education courses, including our newest course on ethics, called Ethics Count! Look for this class in our online monthly newsletter. To sign up for our e-newsletter and to get up-to-date information about our CE classes, Please email: Kristin

If you have questions about the courses you've previously taken, Sircon will give you a list of all your continuing education credits.

Summertime Events

Over the last month, Advanced Restoration had the opportunity to attend many industry functions. “We love to be out mingling with our clients. Thank you to all who put in so much time and effort to make these events so successful.” Deon Hahn, Advanced Restoration.

At the UAIIA convention this year, we sponsored a booth with a tropical theme. We had hula music, a tiki hut, tropical treats and plenty of give-a-ways. Saying that our booth was unconventional is an understatement. But, we won everyone over by handing out orange dream ice cream bars. We can’t wait until next year!


The Bear River and Independent Adjusters golf tournaments were held in June as well. We had a great time challenging all the golfers to hit the longest drive. We handed out $150 cash prize to the winners. See if you can find yourself in the slide show below.

Golf Tournament Slideshow

A little help goes a long way

Advanced Restoration recently had the opportunity to donate to a charity of their choice. We felt Shriners Hospital for Children in Salt Lake City was the perfect place to do so because, this little hospital at the top of the hill, gives in a big way.

From Left to Right: Katie, Advanced Restoration LLC; Mike Babcock, Shriners Hospital; Deon, Advanced Restoration LLC

Shriners Hospital restores health and hope for children; a priceless gift. They are equipped to handle nearly all orthopaedic problems, excluding trauma cases, and each surgery performed is designed to improve quality of life. Whether it’s specialized care or financial assistance, these children and their families, get the attention they desperately seek.

Next to the talented health care professionals, they have hundreds of volunteers who help keep the hospital running. We arrived shortly after an Olympic athlete, who came just to spend his time with the children.

In addition to the standard hospital facilities, Shriners Hospital offers a large recreation area, a school and tutoring center, and on-site therapists and technicians who build prosthetic limbs and wheelchairs for the patients. We were able to speak with the wheelchair therapists about the need they see and the care they are able to provide. The therapists tailor every chair to the specific requirements of each child: manual or automatic, shape and size. On average, a new wheelchair with power-steering can cost as much as $20,000! But, last year, Shriners Hospital was able to provide over 200 wheelchairs at no cost to the families in need.

With little room for storage, wheelchairs are placed in the hall-way to accommodate their growth.

The hospital is run from an endowment created by the Shriners fraternity. Because of generous donations to the hospital, Shriners is able to provide quality pediatric care. Shriners need is on-going because health care, as we all know, is extremely expensive.

From Left to Right: Mike Babcock, Shriners Hospital; Kristin and Deon, Advanced Restoration LLC

Upon arrival to the hospital, one of the representatives for Shriners warned, “we’ll really get in your blood!” She was right.

For more information about Shriners Hospital for Children or, details on how you can become a donor, please visit their website.

It's all about who you know

There is power in networking. Advanced Restoration has seen the benefits of this concept through an association they belong to called Business Networks. Deon and Wayne, Advanced Restoration’s two owners, assemble with the owners of 11 other restoration companies around the nation, every 6 months, to critique their peer’s business methods. This ensures each business is analyzed once every 6 years.

Two weeks ago, they flew to San Antonio, Texas for a networking conference. The focus this time was not on an individual company but about two main aspects of any business, finance and marketing. They were able to learn new and more efficient ways to tackle these areas by sharing experiences and gaining knowledge from third party experts.

The red dots on the map represent the diversity of the group

Great friendships have been created within the group and everyone is willing to help share in the success of the industry. With an average of 20 years experience per company, how could they go wrong?

Business networks have several different chapters. They arrange the groups based on certain criteria including, type of industry, overall size, and whether or not you are in direct competition.

Out of several hundred companies in the business networks program, Advanced Restoration has consistently been ranked in the top 15. This year they are in the 13th position. These ranks are based on many circumstances including, finance, knowledge, and how well they follow through with the goals set.

Advanced Restoration sees the value in having an open mind about the aspects of their business. They take away the best practices from the group and implement them directly to be the best company they can be.

To learn more or, if you are interested in participating in a networking group of this kind, please visit their website.

April Showers Bring May... Flooding?!

Picture by Sandi Sabin, ksl.com
Spring time seems to be a magnet for water damage. As the weather warms and the snow melts, flooding is imminent. Utah cities such as Lehi and Springville are preparing themselves for the possible damage. “Sandbags are on standby, and the city has already established three sandbag pick-up locations. Right now, the city says if the snow pack doesn't melt gradually, big problems are ahead in May.” (ksl.com, March 26, 2008)

But, Mother Nature is not the only one responsible for the excess of water. Water pipes in our homes may have frozen due to lack of use and cold temperatures during winter months. Many homeowners find un-wanted water in their basements when they turn on their outside hose in the spring; see below for some tips to prevent this.

Saratoga Springs, UT 2008; picture by Kathy Kinghorn, ksl.com

Here are some helpful tips to keep your home dry:

• Do not use heat to dry closed building interiors; mildew and expanded moisture damage may result.

• The faster you can get the wet areas dry, the better. The first 48 hours are the most critical for mold prevention.

• Before turning on your outside hose, have someone stay inside the home to be sure there is no water coming in (this usually occurs in the basement).

• Do not operate TV's, vacuums or other appliances while standing on wet carpet or floors, especially not on wet concrete floors. Serious injury may result.

For more do’s and don’ts about water damage, please go to: our website. If you do find yourself with water damage, Advanced Restoration is ready to help!

Fired-up about the Flir!

Advanced Restoration is one of the only restoration companies that uses an infrared camera, allowing inspections to be more comprehensive and thorough.

Flir cameras or Thermal Imagers detect variations in temperature. These variations allow our Certified Infrared Thermographers to identify the source and severity of water damage, defects in construction, insect infestations, etc.

Some of the high-tech camera's many uses are employed in warfare and include its capacity to operate at night and to see through smoke and fog. It is also used in combat for its ability to detect heat, which is difficult to disguise. Advanced Restoration's Flir camera is one more tool, allowing us to serve your clients promptly and accurately!

Advanced Restoration Introduces: Easy-Claim

Are you unsure whether or not to file a claim? Our expert estimators will come to your property to asses your damage for free!

This will be an opportunity for property owners to receive a personalized eyewitness opinion of the damage to their home or business. And, the best part? It’s absolutely FREE!

We believe that this informational meeting will reduce confusion and fill the gap that is felt during the claims process, making it oh-so easy!