Hire a restoration pro: licenses, certifications, quotes, red flags

How do you choose a restoration company you can trust?

Slow the decision down, even in a bad week. The first company at your door is not always the right one. Most people already compare: in a 2026 survey reported by R&R Magazine, 94% of Americans said they would gather multiple quotes before choosing a restorer. Ask each company for a written scope, a price, a timeline and proof of insurance. Our checklist of questions to ask a restoration company gives you the exact questions, and our guide to choosing a mold remediation company adds the mold-specific ones.

How does hiring usually unfold after damage?

Safety and stopping the damage come first. That might mean an emergency crew to extract water or board a window. Next comes documenting the damage and reporting it to your insurer. Only then do most homeowners choose who will do the full repair. Emergency work and the rebuild can be separate contracts with separate companies. Read anything you are asked to sign, especially documents that hand over insurance rights or payments. If the loss is insured, our insurance claims hub explains how the adjuster’s estimate and the contractor’s estimate fit together.

Licenses vs certifications

A license comes from a state and is required by law. A certification comes from a private body and shows training. For mold work, StateCreds lists Florida, Texas, New York and Louisiana as the states that require dedicated mold licenses. Elsewhere, ask for industry certification instead. See mold licensing by state for each state’s rules and lookup links, and IICRC certifications for what the common credentials mean.

Keep testing and cleanup separate

The company that tests for mold should not be the company that profits from removing it. Florida writes this into law: under §468.8419, a mold assessor may not perform remediation on a structure the assessor assessed within the last 12 months, and assessors and remediators may not pay each other for referrals. Even where the law is silent, independence protects you. Read mold assessor vs remediator.

Red flags and your right to cancel

Be wary of anyone who pressures you to sign on the spot, asks for a large cash deposit, offers to waive your deductible, or says they will “handle” your insurance company. Under the FTC Cooling-Off Rule, many sales made at your home for $25 or more can be canceled until midnight of the third business day after the sale. Our guides to restoration scam red flags and storm chaser scams cover the common patterns.

Should you use your insurer’s contractor?

You may be offered a company from your insurer’s network. It can be convenient, but it is your home and your contract. Read using your insurer’s preferred vendor for the trade-offs, and check our cost guides so you can tell whether a quote is in a normal range.