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What Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring a Restoration Company
Hey Central Florida! Jarrett Dixon here, owner of Master Restoration. When you’re staring at a flooded living room or smelling the aftermath of a kitchen fire, your adrenaline is pumping. You want help, and you want it five minutes ago. I see it all the time—homeowners in Clearwater and across the region make a split-second decision that they end up regretting for months.
Before you sign a work authorization and let a crew start tearing into your walls, you need to treat it like a job interview. Not every company with a truck and a fan is a professional restoration firm. To protect your home and your wallet, here are the questions you should ask before hiring a restoration company.
First and foremost: “Are you IICRC certified, and are you licensed for mold remediation in the state of Florida?” The IICRC is the industry’s governing body for standards. If they aren’t certified, they’re just winging it. Furthermore, here in Florida, mold remediation requires a specific state license. If a company tells you they can “clean up” mold but they don’t hold that state license, walk away. You’re looking for pros who follow the science of drying, not just people who move air around.
Next, ask: “Do you provide a detailed, written estimate using industry-standard software like Xactimate?” Most insurance adjusters use Xactimate to determine what they will pay for a claim. If your restoration company uses the same software, it makes the communication between us and your insurance company seamless. It ensures we’re all speaking the same language when it comes to the cost of materials and labor. If a guy gives you a “ballpark” number on a napkin, that’s a red flag.
You also need to know: “What is your emergency response time, and will you be managing the reconstruction as well?” In a water loss, every hour counts. You want a company that can be on-site in hours, not days. But just as importantly, you want to know if they see the job through to the end. Some companies just do the “demo”—they rip everything out and leave you with a skeleton of a house. At Master Restoration, we handle the mitigation and the full reconstruction. You want a single point of accountability from the first gallon of water to the last coat of paint.
Don’t forget to ask about their technology: “What tools do you use to find hidden moisture?” If they say “we just feel the carpet,” call someone else. A professional team should arrive with moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras. These tools allow us to see the water hiding behind your baseboards and inside your wall cavities. If you don’t find the hidden water, you’re just waiting for a mold problem to start.
Finally, ask for proof: “Are you fully insured, including pollution and bailee’s insurance?” Standard general liability isn’t enough in our world. Pollution insurance is what covers them (and you) during mold or biohazard work. Bailee’s insurance protects your personal belongings while they are in their care at a cleaning facility.
Choosing a restoration partner is a big decision made during a stressful time. By asking these questions, you’re moving from a victim of a disaster to a manager of your home’s recovery. You deserve a team that is transparent, certified, and ready to fight for your property’s health.
Until next time, this is Jarrett Dixon reminding you: Got a disaster? Call the Master!