Alejandro and Jennifer Restrepo are the Stamford couple behind PuroClean of Wilton | Ridgefield. Parents to a 6- year-old daughter, together they run the local, family owned and operated Restoration Company. Learn more about them and their business in our interview!
Tell us about your company, PuroClean of Wilton | Ridgefield and how you got started.
Alejandro: We help the community out with the unexpected damage that comes with Water, Fire, Mold and Biohazard. To illustrate, if you wake up to 2 feet of water in your basement, you call us. If your toilet backs up and contaminate your home, you call us. If you find mold spreading through your home, you call us.
We got started by fulfilling a dream I had for many years. I had been wanting to start this type business for about 14 years. Those 14 years having been spent at Travelers Insurance working as a Catastrophe Response Claims Manager. So we took all the accumulated industry knowledge, took the leap and here we are.
PuroClean is a family business for you, what is the best thing about that?
Jennifer: The best part of a family business is that we work as a family and get to help others put back their home or business back to pre-loss condition. We always keep front-of-mind the families or businesses we are helping. I get to work with people I know and trust every day, there is nothing better!
What do you like about your job?
Alejandro: Helping make our clients’ situations all better. We are usually helping our clients navigate through situations they have never experienced. It’s very rewarding to help people come out at the other side of something as trying as property damage. What people do not realize is that these situations are always unexpected, you don’t say, “oh honey I’m going to call PuroClean tonight when our toilet supply line gives out and runs for 3 hours”.
Jennifer: I think the part of my job that I like the most is seeing and connecting with clients during and after they have experienced a loss. Unfortunately, water damage is something that can surprise anyone in their home. Having personally dealt with a flood, I know that the experience can also be emotionally challenging. While it’s hard to see the damage happen to anyone in the community, I am happy to be a part of a team that understands these challenges and helps to rebuild after these losses. People never know when they will need us but we will be there when they do!
What do you want people to know about what you do?
Alejandro: What we do is serve our community. We respond to property damage, time is of the essence in what we do. Having people know their properties greatly reduces property damage. Act quick and property damage will be less.
What is your advice to folks who want to start their own business?
Alejandro: I compare it to having a kid or planning for one… there is never a right time, just do it. If you have a passion for whatever it is you are doing, or have goals that your business will help you achieve, you will be successful. The hours are long and grueling at first. People will think you are nuts and might even stop talking to you but dedicate yourself and the rewards will be plentiful.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve gotten from another mom/dad?
Jennifer: The best piece of advice I have received from another mom is to remember that the days can be long by the years are short. Take time to enjoy the moments that you will remember when you are old and your child will hold onto as they grow into an independent person.
Alejandro: What is the best piece of advice you’ve gotten from another dad?
They grow up very quick so enjoy the time. As cliché as that might sound, it is very true.
