by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
That 2005 was a slow year for hurricanes hitting Jacksonville might seem like a negative for someone that makes a living restoring damaged homes and offices. But Denise Henderson, president of ServPro, said her business depends more on the hum of an air conditioner than the howl of gale-force winds.
ServPro specializes in disaster restoration. That means pumping flood water out of basements, repairing fire and water damage and, especially, removing toxic mold.
And mold abatement that keeps her busy. Mold thrives in Florida not because of the state’s generally damp conditions but because the millions of airtight, air conditioned homes create an ideal environment for its growth.
“The airtight construction is more efficient from an energy standpoint, but it also prevents air exchange,” said Henderson. “Once moisture gets in, it can’t get out.”
And with a so far seasonably warm winter passing, those air conditioners have continued humming along with Henderson’s business.
Although ServPro bills its service as disaster restoration — its website lists a specialty in “catastrophic storm response” — Henderson said the mundane repairs of everyday life form the foundation for her business. Her fleet of green vans are much more likely to chase clogged plumbing than named storms.
“We don’t really go out storm chasing,” said Henderson. “We couldn’t have a business that was natural disaster-driven. Hurricane season is so cyclical. It’s only a few months out of the year.”
But, in a busy hurricane season, those few months can create almost a full year’s work.
In 2004, when five named storms hit Florida, Henderson said her staff spread out across the state. In addition to restoration work, ServPro assisted insurance companies in assessing damage. Henderson has formed a close working relationship with many of the insurance providers operating locally. When insured property is damaged, ServPro is often their first call, she said.
Henderson also notices an annual uptick in her business every year when the spring rainy season blows through town. Drainage problems around beach developments lead to a lot of flooding during those months.
The nature of ServPro’s business keeps Henderson in common contact with many of the players in Northeast Florida’s real estate industry. Her clients are usually insurance carriers or property managers of residential or commercial developments.
Henderson is trying to foster that same cooperative relationship within the Commercial Real Estate Women of Jacksonville, an organization she leads.
As the group’s new president, Henderson said she wants to bring representatives from all areas of the commercial real estate industry into CREW’s membership.
“It’s a great networking and business opportunity,” said Henderson. “The people that do business in Jacksonville work throughout Florida and across the country in most respects.
“It’s a great way to get some insights on what the trends are statewide and nationally, and it gives our members access to the people that provide the services necessary to put a real estate transaction together.”