Insurers looking to reduce home restoration claims costs should find ways to avoid tearing out walls, flooring, rugs, trim and other major construction components.

One insurers launched a program to do just that. The approach will lead to a 1% reduction in our loss ratio for property, said Vance Somerton, director of claims operations, property at Gore Mutual.

The Cambridge, Ont.-based insurers program emphasizes repair, rather than replacement, of materials during the restoration process.

For now, focus is on damage from clean-water sources. These are Category 1 water sources like ruptured pipes and similar losses from water with no dirt or sediment, Somerton said.

The program breaks with past practices of keeping homeowners in place following a loss on a main level or basement.

We would set up drying equipment [and] affect the drying over three [or] four days. At that point moisture readings will be taken and then we would elect to [if necessary] remove [damaged building] material, said Somerton. Thats how the industry had gone, and us as well.

But the new procedures mean customers move out of their home immediately.

When they experience the loss, we get the customerinto a hotel, unless they need to stay in the home for a specific reason. We provide them alternative living accommodations so that we can bring in sufficient equipment to effectively dry the home.

Traditional approaches, which aimed at making the process less intrusive, meant firms didnt bring in sufficient equipment to dry a house fast enough to prevent mold growth. But with the customers out of the home, insurers no longer have to worry about customers turning off the drying machinery so they can get some sleep.

The equipments incredibly loud to run in a home. Its not a pleasant experience, even if its in a basement and youre trying to sleep on a main floor, Somerton told CU. The easiest way to keep them from shutting off the equipment is to give them somewhere else to sleep and reside for the five or six days it takes to effectively dry the home.

The payoff happens when the clients come home.

When they come back its like, Oh, its dry, you were able to save my carpet and my drywall and my trim and everything else. Thats really where you get the most adoption from the customer, said Somerton.

In terms of insurer costs, Somerton noted firms considering this approach must be willing to spend more upfront on living expenses to reap measurable savings later in the restoration process.

When we look at material replacement, there are significant advantages to saving drywall, which is very costly when it comes to removal, disposal, replacement and making sure that we have all of the other trades come in behind it [painting, trim, etc.], he said.

With clean water losses, Somerton said the pilot program saw a roughly 25% savings on materials.

You look at five days or six days of additional living expenses [but] end up saving that on the back end because you dont need to schedule in drywallers, tapers, painters, etc., he added.

Not having to tear out floors, he said, is particularly cost effective. If we can save the floors in the home, then were not having [those] very difficult conversations with our policyholders about why we cant replace all the flooring in their entire home, he told CU.

Going forward, the firm will explore ways to expand the program to Category 2 and 3 losses that include water intrusion from rain, overland water or watermain breaks.

Feature image courtesy of iStock.com/Jens_Lambert_Photography

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Can higher lodging costs cut restoration losses? - Canadian Underwriter

Regina Hall is endlessly appreciative of her friend Vonda whos become a major part of her support system over the past 15 years. To give back to her longtime confidant, the Scary Movie star joined forces with design duo Drew and Jonathan Scott to give her a life-changing home renovation.

Vonda and I met on Real Husbands of Hollywood, Hall said during a new episode of Celebrity IOU. I think she was the head of the makeup department at that time on the show. And then from there, we just stayed in each other's lives whether we worked together or not.

The pair have been together through all of lifes ups and downs. Hall added: I think it's special when you know someone well and things are going on in your life that you can talk to someone and you know that it's gonna be private. I have that with Vonda. Vonda has that with me.

Based in Carson, California, Vonda is a single mom with two kids. (Her daughter had sickle cell anemia. Vonda was a bone marrow match, so they did the transplant and her daughter is now sickle cell-free but still has a low immune system.) Along with caring for her loved ones, Vonda loves to cook and entertain. So, Hall and the Property Brothers stars formed The Demo Divas, as they named themselves, and got to work to completely transform Vondas home.

Over six weeks, the group worked on the kitchen, dining area, living room, and entry. They knocked down a wall between the kitchen and living room to open up the space, making it better suited for hosting. In the kitchen, they added a long peninsula with dolomite counters and all-new cabinetry. Extra storage was built into the dining room. A light, fresh color palettefeaturing Vondas love of copper accentsmakes all of the spaces feel cohesive. Terrazzo tile flooring in the entry and a new fireplace highlighted by Venetian plaster in the living room play up Vondas artistic style.

To top it all off, the team replaced the home's HVAC. The 30-year-old system was so grimy that it was beyond cleaning. They swapped it out for a hospital-grade system with multiple filters for effectiveness and efficiency, meaning Vonda can use it knowing it's beneficial for her family and especially for her immunocompromised daughter. Vonda was so overjoyed. She said: To know that you chose me for this, and to give me something that I had sleepless nights about, and now I can come in here, bring [my daughter] hereI thank you guys. I really appreciate you for doing it. Im overwhelmed.

Love knowing what your favorite stars are up to? Same. Lets keep up with them together.

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Kelly Allen is the current Associate Editor at House Beautiful, where she covers design, pop culture, and travel for digital and the print magazine. Shes been with the team for nearly three years, attending industry events and covering a range of topics. When shes not watching every new TV show and movie, shes browsing vintage home stores, admiring hotel interiors, and wandering around New York City. She previously worked for Delish and Cosmopolitan. Follow her on Instagram.

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Regina Hall Surprises Her Friend of 15 Years With a Life-Changing Home Renovation - House Beautiful

The owner of a Kansas City remodeling company, often seen and heard in popular commercials in Kansas City, died after a shooting Sunday morning, his sister and two other sources told KMBC 9 Investigates.Officers say they were called to the area of 63rd Street and Prospect Avenue just after midnight Sunday for a medical emergency. When they arrived, they found 46-year-old John Bartrom lying on the ground.EMS took Bartrom to the hospital, where he died. Police later determined he had been shot."We are heartbroken over the loss of our brother," Bartroms sister Nora Schwartz said. "John was loved by those around him. He lived a big life and had so much more to give. Our family will never be whole again."Bartrom founded Jericho Home Improvements and prided his company on the absolute highest standards for craftsmanship and professional service.While everything is under investigation, we have no comment, said a woman who answered the phone at Jericho Home Improvements Monday morning.Detectives are working to learn what led to the 46-year-old's death. KMBC asked for more details surrounding Bartroms death, but, a spokesman said the details are part of the investigation.KCPD says that a person of interest has been taken into custody in connection with the investigation.Anyone who has information that could help investigators is asked to call the Crimestoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

The owner of a Kansas City remodeling company, often seen and heard in popular commercials in Kansas City, died after a shooting Sunday morning, his sister and two other sources told KMBC 9 Investigates.

Officers say they were called to the area of 63rd Street and Prospect Avenue just after midnight Sunday for a medical emergency. When they arrived, they found 46-year-old John Bartrom lying on the ground.

EMS took Bartrom to the hospital, where he died. Police later determined he had been shot.

"We are heartbroken over the loss of our brother," Bartroms sister Nora Schwartz said. "John was loved by those around him. He lived a big life and had so much more to give. Our family will never be whole again."

Bartrom founded Jericho Home Improvements and prided his company on the absolute highest standards for craftsmanship and professional service.

While everything is under investigation, we have no comment, said a woman who answered the phone at Jericho Home Improvements Monday morning.

Detectives are working to learn what led to the 46-year-old's death. KMBC asked for more details surrounding Bartroms death, but, a spokesman said the details are part of the investigation.

KCPD says that a person of interest has been taken into custody in connection with the investigation.

Anyone who has information that could help investigators is asked to call the Crimestoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

Read more:
Founder and owner of Jericho Home Improvements killed in shooting - KMBC Kansas City

Lisa Petrole

Ashley Maddox (left) and Hilary Walker.

A "turnkey home" may be realtor catnip, but true design lovers go for the neither-new-nor-improved originals. When Ashley Maddox moved to Waco, Texas, to work as Magnolias director of styling, she set her sights on finding an unrenovated midcentury home for herself, her husband, Austin, and their two boys. Waco is seeing a lot of growth now, but its been a sleepy town, so there are homes sitting there virtually untouched, she says. She received a tip about one such uncut gem from a friend who noticed a neighbor piling up flooring outside and raced over to investigate. When he told her he was fixing up his home to sell, the pal connected him to Maddox, who begged him to not touch a thing. She did a walk-through with her boss, Joanna Gaines, who agreed it was perfect. Once Jo said it was good, Maddox recalls, it was like, OK, lets do this.

Maddox enlisted the help of interior designer Hilary Walker, her friend and coworker, to transform the outdated layout while preserving its 1950s charm. The pair opened up a wall in the kitchen, replacing it with airy built-in shelving to store what Maddox calls sit-abouts, explaining, Were not minimalists over here; I like to have pretty things to look at. Though other walls were removed, original hidden storage stayed, and built-ins off the den serve as a toy cache for the boys on the bottom and display for more tchotchkes up top. Initially, Maddox wanted to carve an office/guest bedroom out of the kitchen. But it would have been, like, a closet, so I said, Well have grandma and grandpa stay at a hotel, which works out better for everyone, she recalls. The now-spacious kitchen has walnut cabinets and a paneled refrigerator in keeping with the midcentury palette, plus dark stone counters that pair well with the glossy terrazzo tile floors. The kitchen feels like a gentlemans crisp suit to meits the perfect base for the rest of the home, Walker says.

Throughout, bold hues run rampant: rust in the bedroom, green in the boys room, and blue in the bathroom. Furniture from Round Top and Facebook Marketplace was reupholstered using automotive fabric. Its our weirdest budget hackit looks like great nubby tweeds from midcentury offices, but its so inexpensive, Walker says. Nothing in the home is too precious or too bland. After all, Who has time for safe design choices? Walker asks. We want to have fun.

Pictured above.

The homes 1957 architecture shines throughout its central spaces. Sofa: vintage Nicoletti Salotti. Chaise and chairs: vintage. Large painting: Janet Little. Pendant: Etsy. Side table: Good Vintage.

Avocado green walls are in keeping with the midcentury spirit and create a chill mood for movie nights.

Sofa and coffee table: Magnolia. Rug: Loloi. Paint: Savannah Shade, Benjamin Moore. Side tables and chair: vintage. Pillows: Etsy.

Rich walnut cabinetry sets the tone for a classic kitchen. Walnut paneling conceals the fridge. Barstools: CB2. Range: Zline. Faucet: Brizo.

Pendants: Amazon. Sconces: Lulu and Georgia. Counters: Topzstone.

The original kitchen was awkwardly segmented. By removing a wall and cabinets, Walker and Maddox carved out a welcoming corner. Table and pendant: CB2. Banquette: custom. Chairs: vintage.

A pared-down palette keeps the focus on the cantilevered soffit and clerestory windows. Dining table and chairs: vintage. Pendant: Hay. Credenza: IKEA.

Rich earth shades create an immersive sanctuary with a touch of drama, Walker says. Paint: Deep Reddish Brown, Farrow & Ball. Rug: Loloi. Headboard: Anthropologie. Bedding: Target. Pillows: Marion Collection, Etsy.

Painted brick in the boys room provides the perfect backdrop for their artwork. Paint: Castleton Mist, Benjamin Moore. Bed: Crate & Kids. Side table and trunk: vintage. Beanbag: Spaces by Hollie Velten.

Because its a small space for children, this felt like the right moment to have fun, Walker says. Paint: Sydney Harbour, Behr. Fixtures: Delta Faucet. Tile: Wayfair. Shower curtain: Quiet Town.

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Magnolia's Director of Styling Reveals Waco Home Renovation - House Beautiful

Chilling Discovery in Home Renovation Captivates Millions

When a British couple embarked on renovating their newly acquired home, little did they know they would stumble upon an eerie discovery that would send shivers down their spine and captivate millions around the globe. Their abode, a charming edifice erected in 1966, held a secret that lay dormant for decades, hidden behind the mundane faade of an upstairs bedroom wardrobe.

As they sifted through the remnants and relics of the past, they stumbled upon a secret crawl space. Nestled within it was a locked cupboard, its contents veiled behind an unassuming exterior. Mustering courage, they prised open the cupboard, revealing a suspicious silver suitcase. The absence of any foul smell or pesky flies quickly dispelled their dread of finding a cadaver. Instead, what they found inside was equally perplexing a smaller suitcase containing a doll.

The doll, strapped securely within the suitcase, sent a chill down their spine. The homeowner mused it might be a collectible item, yet its presence felt oddly unsettling. The doll, seemingly harmless, became the protagonist of their own real-life horror narrative.

The couple took to TikTok to share their peculiar discovery, a decision that soon echoed around the world. The video swiftly amassed over 2 million views, with viewers expressing their horror and fascination in equal measure. Theories ranged from the doll being cursed to the incident marking the beginning of a horror movie.

Since the chilling discovery, the couple has reported strange occurrences within their home. Flickering electrics, noises emanating from the thermostat, and an unsettling air of unease have become common, further fueling speculations. Whether these incidents are tied to the dolls apparition remains uncertain. The couple, torn between fear and intrigue, is now contemplating their next course of action.

The incident, akin to a plot straight out of a horror movie, continues to intrigue audiences, with many eagerly awaiting updates. As the homeowner grapples with the eerie discovery, one thing is clear the story of the secret suitcase and the strange doll has struck a chord, turning an ordinary home renovation into an extraordinary tale that transcends borders and resonates with a global audience.

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Eerie Discovery During Home Renovation Goes Viral - BNN Breaking

Most homeowners would jump at any opportunity to save thousands of dollars on home energy bills. And for anyone with an aging furnace near the end of its lifespan, you might be in luck.

You can cash in on savings by installing a heat pump system, a cost-effective way to heat and cool your home.

Because a heat pump system is so absurdly efficient, around two to four times more than traditional furnaces, youll lower your heating costs by about 50%, according to the Department of Energy.

Now, of course, the actual amount youd save on your energy bills depends on the size of your house, how well-insulated it is, your local climate, and the type of home heating system you already have.

But no matter how old your system is, youre likely to save serious cash. For example, if you have a propane furnace, you could expect savings of close to $855 a year. If you have a natural gas boiler, the annual savings would be closer to $200. And if you have an electric furnace, you could save close to $815 every year.

So, while its clear that youd save thousands of dollars in electricity bills over the life of your heat pump system, it doesnt come without a cost.

Buying and installing a heat pump in a 2,000-square-foot house may cost roughly $14,000, which is no small chunk of change.

However, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, you could get up to $8,000 back if you install a heat pump system in your home. But the savings may not stop there.

Homeowners upgrading to a heat pump system may be able to double dip, receiving both an $8,000 rebate, as well as a 30% tax credit on the remaining amount of the system.

So if a new heat pump system costs you $14,000, you could get up to an $8,000 rebate and a 30% tax credit on the remaining $6,000, equaling $1,800. So now, the price has dropped from $14,000 all the way down to $4,200.

Pair that with a potential savings of $1,000 a year, and the system would pay for itself in just over four years.

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This home renovation could save you thousands of dollars and its easier to install than you might think - Yahoo! Voices

HALLOWELL If it wasnt for Bridget Barrow going door-to-door with a local electrician, businesses in Hallowell might still be without power.

Like other places in central Maine, Hallowells Water Street sustained substantial flood and wind damage from this weeks massive rainstorm, which pushed the Kennebec River to unprecedented levels. The local businesses on the citys main strip were unable to get electricity restored until each building was cleared by an electrician.

It was a fact Barrow, who manages several properties on Water Street through Tenant Solutions, did not know until Thursday night when Hallowell City Manager Gary Lamb posted the notice on the door of one of her properties.

Then, she got to work.

I went home and made 20 copies of the notice because I thought, No one down the hall probably knows this, and I got my clipboard, my flashlight and my headlamp and informed everyone I could, she said.

She called Nicholas Electrical Company, which volunteered staff time on Friday and went door to door with her. Barrow was worried that if the street went another day without power, the pipes would freeze.

Because of the flooding, each building on Water Street from the colorful chairs to Lucky Garden had to be individually checked to make sure the power could be safely turned back on. To prevent a fire or a transformer from blowing when the power was restored, Barrow and the electrician had to check the breaker panels and the electric meters to make sure they did not sustain water damage.

The process of going door-to-door took the entire day, but they were able to reach every building and business owner.

With every building clear and a few had to have their meters switched off because of the flood damage, like Maine Local Market Barrow and the electrician from Nicholas Electrical could tell Central Maine Power the news: they did it.

If she did not get to everyone, or clearing each building relied upon unorganized individual efforts, the strip along the water on Water Street still could be without power.

It was 5 a.m., (on Saturday) and I was praying that since every building was cleared and by 7 a.m. Central Maine Power confirmed we got our power back, Barrow said. I called my tenants and they can be home for Christmas and be warm and not have to worry about their pipes freezing.

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A local property manager organized power restoration in Hallowell after this week's flooding - Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel

Move over Larry Ellison, theres a new mogul cutting into your longtime Malibu turf. On exclusive Carbon Beach, where Ellison owns no fewer than 13 houses, two eye-catching contemporary homes recently sold. Back in August, a 5,600-square-foot 1990s build went for $26.7 million, and now a 4,000-square-foot stunner about 12 doors away just closed for $28.5 million.

Records reveal both lavish beach houses were bought by the same man: Gary Friedman, the billionaire chief executive of the high-end furnishings juggernaut formerly known as Restoration Hardware.

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Its not clear why Friedman wants or needs two spacious and vaguely similar-looking houses on the same stretch of sand, but its entirely possible that one will serve as his temporary crash pad while the other is undergoing renovations, or perhaps one is intended to be guesthouse for friends and family.

Whatever the case, Friedmans latest acquisition has a bit of a interesting ownership history. From 2018 until 2021, the house was owned by billionaire Robert F. Smith, who used the place as a high-end income property, frequently renting the place out to short-term tenants. In late 2021, Smith sold the house for $21.8 million to noted property developer Saffron Case and her husband Timothy. The Cases held onto the place for two years, giving it a thorough remodel, before flipping it to Friedman for the aforementioned $28.5 million.

Guarded by an electronic driveway gate, the redwood-sided structure includes an expansive great room adorned with custom rift cabinetry and plaster walls, plus a separate bar area. Fully remodeled, the kitchen includes stone countertops and white oak cabinetry. Three of the homes bedrooms are located on the main floor, while the lavish primary suite rungs the full length of the house and includes a private office, a spa-style bathroom and boutique-style closet.

Story continues

Out back, a 60-foot wooden deck fronts the beach. Ideal for entertaining, the backyard area also includes a built-in barbecue center, a fire-pit and an outdoor shower for hosing off the sand.

With just one brief interruption, Friedman has been CEO of RH, the company formerly known as Restoration Hardware since 2001, and has overseen multiple reinventions of the luxury home furnishings retailer. Today, the San Francisco native sports a net worth that tops $1.6 billion,per Forbes. In addition to his two new Carbon Beach retreats, he also maintains a Beverly Hills mansion, that recently popped up for sale with a $44 million asking price. Last year, the San Francisco native sold a half-builtLos Angelesestate for $24 million to an anonymous buyer.

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Restoration Hardwares CEO Pays $28 Million for His Second Malibu Beach House - Yahoo Singapore News

FIXER UPPERS From left, Lachlan Murdoch, David Zaslav and Bob Iger. (Photo illustration by Dawn Camner; see below for credits)

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From Disney to Amazon, who had the worst and best year?

Sorry folks. If you think 2023 was bad, wait until you see what 2024 has in store. The big media home renovation project is moving into yet another phase with Warner Brothers Discovery positioning itself as a potential acquirer of Paramount Global. If that happens or other combinations involving Comcasts NBCUniversal or even the Dolan familys AMC Networks expect legions of foot soldiers headed to the unemployment office, as the chase to keep up with the tech giants increasingly winning for time and money from the TV pie gets harder and harder.(Are you in the business of selling dayparts or demos? Your days are numbered.)

There are more walls to be knocked down, archaic practices to be tossed in the giant post-linear dumpster.Everybody even the big tech giants is redoing their 2024 budgets with an eye on caution after a more disappointing year than expected.

We all had six months to stare at our numbers. The part that scares me about it? Were the kind of business when you hack off too much, theres nothing left to create with.

- a top studio boss

Social media viewership is growing up from 33 minutes a day in 2019 to one hour and a minute this year a 17 percent jump while pay-TV households are expected to drop from 66 million to 54 million over the next five years, according to research from Activate CEO Michael J. Wolf.

Efficiency is the buzzword of next year and every smart media executive will be looking for ways to bring AI into the mix. AI is already radically altering how we search for and create content, inevitably reducing labor costs.

As one studio boss pointed out, you can only cut so far before you destroy the potential for creativity. We all had six months to stare at our numbers, this person says, explaining that the pandemic plus the Hollywood strikes turned everyones eyes on the vast sums being spent. The part that scares me about it? Were the kind of business when you hack off too much, theres nothing left to create with.

Today I will:

Tell you about the big macro business trends already underway for 2024.

Examine the strengths, weaknesses and assign a letter grade to the eight big studios and streamers for this year.

Lay out expectations for the next year for each major player.

Originally posted here:
Big Media's Home Renovation Isn't Over - by Claire Atkinson - The Ankler.

COLORADO SPRINGS There's not much Brian Zimkas will say that is positive about Statewide Restoration but he says he made "some" headway after we started asking the company why the repairs to his Colorado Springs home that burned more than year and a half earlier still were not complete. In 2020, his home caught fire as he and his family were sleeping.

"Their intentions on day one when they showed up here on June 10, 2020 was to make me a victim their operation and yet they make me feel 100% at ease," said Zimkas. "They had guys out here boarding up the side of my house, asking if we needed anything, volunteering to take the cars to have them cleaned to get the smoke damage out of it, just these little details that you kind of really think that would be good to be happening when youre in a state like that. It's a faade."

"They did the winterization of the home and they boarded up everything," said Statewide Restoration customer Brian Wynne.

Wynne claims he's one of Statewide's victims, too. He says his home caught fire in 2020 as he was taking a nap. He says as soon as his insurance adjuster showed up to the scene, so did a representative from Statewide.

"(The insurance adjuster) started giving me a list of the contractors I would have to call to clear out the house, and to remove and clean what textiles could be salvaged, and to do the demolition on the home and he walks over, the salesman, Ian, he's like, 'Excuse me but if you hire us you won't have to do any of that.we handle everything.' I thought, 'Well this guy must've been sent from heaven.'"

Heaven...or hell?

"After they got everything cleared out on the home we noticed like for a week or two no one showed up doing anything," said Wynne. "So we called them they said, 'Oh we're sorry it's because of the pandemic, people are afraid to work.'"

Wynne says the excuses just kept on coming for 18 months.

"Then once I got the cold water going they said, 'Okay we're not paying for your living expenses anymore because your home is now habitable.' (I said), Oh really? There's no hot water, there's no heat.' They said, 'Well, it is still summer time you don't really need heat right now.'"

Then in September of 2022 both men claim Statewide Restoration abruptly shut down. Customers told me they were sent an email that said, "We regret to inform you that, due to competitive market dynamics, Statewide Restoration and all affiliated entities have ceased operations. We encourage you to seek out a third-party vendor to complete all ongoing projects. If you have any further inquiries, please contact us directly at this email address: statewiderestoration@gostatewide.com, or reply to this email."

Zimkas and Wynne were not the only alleged victims. Daniel Hesselius and Becky Navarro say they hired Statewide Restoration to rebuild their homes in Boulder county after the devastating Marshall fire in December of 2021

"We've got to go back, not to square one because we have the design of the house, but we need to go find a builder and go through that whole process again," said Hesselius.

"I felt like I went right back into the emotions right after my house burnt down," said Navarro.

So how can all of these potential victims fight back? Call law enforcement to file a fraud complaint? It's not that easy, say Zimkas and Wynne.

Colorado Springs police told me Zimkas' situation was civil "because work was done, noting the DAO (District Attorney's Office) will not file charges when some level of work has been done."

The El Paso County Sheriff's office said Wynne's case is under investigation and cannot comment.

So I reached out to both the 4th Judicial District Attorney's office and the Colorado Attorney General. Both cancelled interviews with me, the District Attorney's office twice. Instead, they scheduled a news conference to discuss contractor fraud.

Dianne Derby: I hear from a lot of viewers that when they call CSPD, when they call the sheriff's office, they are told specifically because 'some work' was done, the DAO will not investigate that as a criminal complaint. Why is that?

District Attorney Michael Allen: I would have to say one thing is that the investigation actually occurs with the law enforcement agency and then that case is referred to us for potential prosecution. The reason why, if some work is already done but not completed, we have to be able to show evidence that it was intent to permanently deprive somebody of their money or their property.... So if somebody does some of the work but doesn't complete it, that's not necessarily evidence of intent to permanently deprive. That often is a bar to criminal prosecution, which is why it was important to bring in Attorney General Phil Weiser to talk about consumer protection and the avenues that they have available to them that has a slightly lower bar than what the criminal law requires.

Dianne Derby: I think what's difficult is our station has been reaching out to (the Attorney General's) office since March, at least, about a company called Statewide Restoration, which apparently has opened up then shut down, taking money from victims, including the Marshall fire victims, skipping town, and they're left with no option. Yes, they can file a civil complaint, but that takes so much money. Yes, if they win that case, what's the likelihood of them actually getting their money from that contractor? So that's the frustrating part for them. When they go to your office, you say you'll investigate, but they don't know where that's going.

Attorney General Phil Weiser: We do have a constraint as we have investigations proceeding how much we can say. I'll make sure that we are looking at that specific one.

"There are complaints about them everywhere, everywhere," said attorney Heather Marx.

Marx says victims also can sue for both theft and fraud, even if the company claims it shut down because it's out of money.

"So you still sue them," Marx said. "Then if that party doesn't respond to it, you get a default judgment and then you can collect either against that company, you can collect against the people who own the company, the individuals, you can either collect against their home, you can get a judgment against the individuals take anything they have."

What about a class action?

"I think a class action lawsuit is a difficult one, because first of all, you have to certify the class so you have to get a certain number of people together, go to the court and the court has to approve it as being a class that's able to proceed together," Marx said. "Unfortunately, with those kind of cases, the only people that usually end up winning are the attorneys."

In the meantime, both homeowners hired other contractors to finish their projects, leaving them out money and patience for work they say simply was not complete.

"You owe a lot of people money for the crooked operation that you run," said Zimkas.

"The main thing I want really though is to make sure they can't do to anyone else what they did to us," Wynne said.

So who owns Statewide Restoration? Private equity firm RF Investment Partners Home | RF Investment Partners once included Statewide Restoration in its portfolio on it's website but that's been removed. Calls and emails I have sent to the firm have not been returned.

If you believe you are a victim of Statewide Restoration file a complaint directly with your state attorney general's office. In Colorado, you can file a complaint on the office's website.

We will be sure to follow up with Attorney General Weiser to find out if any civil charges could be pending in the case.

Have a story you'd like News5 Investigates to look into? Send an email to News5Investigates@KOAA.com.

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Colorado AG says he will look into Statewide Restoration complaints as fire victims say they were abandoned - KOAA News 5