Questions to Ask a Water Damage Restoration Company

Choosing a restoration company in the middle of a water emergency is stressful. Water is spreading, your insurer is waiting for a call and you have no time to research. A short list of questions can tell you a lot in a five minute phone call.

These questions apply to any company, including us. We think you should hear clear answers from everyone you consider.

Questions about the work

1. What will you do first, and what will happen next?
2. How will you decide what is wet and what is dry?
3. Will you use moisture meters and keep daily readings?
4. What equipment will you place, and how long do you expect it to run?
5. What will you remove, and what can be saved?
6. How will you handle contaminated water or sewage?

A good answer is specific. You should hear about meters, readings and a drying goal, not just that fans will run for a few days. See structural drying for what a measured plan looks like.

Questions about price

• How is the price set, and what does it include?
• Will I know the scope and the price before work starts?
• What could change the scope, and how will you tell me?
• Is the equipment priced per day, per job or per room?
• What is not included, such as repairs or replacement?
• Will you provide a written scope?

Be cautious of anyone who says the price cannot be explained until the work is finished. We explain the scope and how the price is set before work starts, and you decide before any equipment goes down.

Questions about documentation and insurance

The Florida Department of Financial Services recommends contacting your insurer before signing a repair contract, so call them first if you can.

Questions about licenses and insurance

Ask whether the company is licensed and insured, and ask for the details that apply to the work. For mold work, Florida licenses assessors and remediators as individuals, so ask for the license of the person who will do the work.

Water mitigation, mold remediation and rebuilding can involve different licenses and different people. Ask who will perform each part.

Questions about response and availability

• Is the line answered at night and on weekends?
• Who will arrive, and how will they identify themselves?
• Do you give estimated arrival times, and what do they depend on?
• What happens if the job is larger than expected?
• Who is my contact during the job?

Be wary of firm arrival promises during a storm or a regional event. Honest companies tell you what they can do and update you as conditions change.

Red flags

• Pressure to sign immediately without explaining the scope.
• No written scope or pricing explanation.
• No mention of moisture readings.
• Claims to do work that requires licenses they cannot show.
• Asking for a large payment up front with no details.
• Refusing to explain what will be removed.

If you are weighing a restoration company against a handyman, the difference is mostly measurement and documentation. See water extraction and burst pipe water damage for examples of what a full response includes.

What a good answer sounds like

You will know a company is serious when answers are specific and honest. They describe how they will find wet areas, what equipment they will use and what readings they will share. They explain what they do not know yet and how the scope could change.

Vague answers, pressure and promises about exact timelines deserve a second look. Take a few minutes to compare, even during an emergency.

According to the published ANSI/IICRC S500 water damage standard, the speed and method of drying decide how much of a structure can be saved, which is why this guide stresses acting early.

Hiring questions Valrico homeowners ask