United Water Restoration Group Franchise: Day in the Life

Because United Water Restoration Group (UWRG) works in the restoration and reconstruction spaces, Franchise Owners and their teams are often seeing clients on some of their most challenging days. Responding 24/7 to the consequences of fire, flooding and mold means UWRG businesses must remain nimble, and owners need to be able to think on their feet. Because of this, owning a leading restoration and reconstruction franchise isn’t always predictable, but there are some consistencies that UWRG Franchise Owners can expect.

“I do a little bit of everything, to be honest,” said Aurelian Ababei, owner of UWRG of Fairfax, Virginia. “I work with people and operations, on the business, in the trucks, in office management … a little bit of everything. I make sure everything is up and running correctly, oversee how we train our team members, do a little bit of marketing and review estimates when I’m in the office.”

Ababei has been able to successfully step away from the specifics of day-to-day operations and focus on larger-scale business development efforts after building a reliable team. With eight water mitigation technicians and an operations manager, he is rarely called out to sites for emergencies, but he still works a rigorous schedule.

Though the business has given Ababei the flexibility to work on initiatives beyond daily operations, he is responsible for a different set of demands that require ongoing attention.

“I have more flexibility and more control of my time during the hours I do work, but I never work a nine-to-five schedule. It’s 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. or 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., depending on the day,” he said.

It is this diligent work that has allowed Ababei to build and maintain trust in his team. During these long hours, he is available for guidance should employees need it, but he focuses a lot of his energy on growing the business and strengthening what’s already there to support employees’ long-term success and satisfaction in their roles.

“You work for them. They don’t work for you,” Ababei said. “I’m doing this to make a better living for myself, but I have to take care of my people, too. I could not do anything without them. The most important thing is you have to treat them right. I’d have to go back to ground zero if I had to go back to doing this by myself. So find the right people for the right position, take care of them, and pay them well. With a good team, you can be successful.”