How to choose a water damage company

Before anyone pulls carpet or drills a hole in a wall, a few checks will tell you a lot about a crew. We do not rank or rate restoration companies, so what follows is a way to judge any of them yourself. One or more water-damage companies that serve your area may call and text you if you ask through this site.

Do you need a company at all?

Not always. A small, clean leak on tile that you can dry with towels and a fan, inside the EPA's 24 to 48 hour window, is a job you may be able to handle yourself. The first-hour guide covers what you can do on your own.

A crew starts to make sense when the water is still running, the pad is soaked, the water looks like sewage or outdoor flood water, or you cannot reach the breaker from a dry place. HomeAdvisor, updated June 17, 2026, puts the average restoration job at $3,868, with most between $1,383 and $6,369. Those figures are not a bid. Ask for one in writing.

Who is allowed to do the work

Licensing is local. A city may require a building permit for the repair itself, and a separate license for the person who pulls the permit. In Cedar Rapids, the Building Services FAQ says contractors must be licensed to obtain a permit and perform work, while a homeowner who qualifies for the homestead tax exemption may do work on the existing single-family house they live in. Other cities write the rule differently. Check the city page for the house you are in.

A trade certification is separate from a license. The IICRC Global Locator lets you look up firms that hold IICRC certifications. A listing there is not a ranking, and it is not a substitute for the license your city asks for.

Questions to ask before they start

Ask these on the first call or at the door, and ask for the answers in writing.

• What license do you hold here, and what is the license number?
• Who will be in the house, and will that person be an employee or a subcontractor?
• What type of water do you think this is, and what does that change about the work?
• Which rooms, finishes, and how many square feet are in the written scope?
• What will you remove, and what will you try to dry in place?
• How will you measure moisture, and when will you take the equipment out?
• What is the total price, what does it include, and who pays if the insurer pays less?
• Will you pull any building or trade permit this city requires?

Red flags

The first three point back to a source. The last two are our own advice. None of them is a review of a named company.

• They start tear-out before you have a written scope. The EPA mold guide says to fix the water problem, and not to paint or caulk moldy surfaces until the mold is cleaned up and dry. A written scope shows how the crew plans to do both. EPA mold guide
• They say your insurer has already approved a number, but they will not show you the approval. Coverage is the insurer's decision. The III page on a burst pipe describes what an HO-3 often covers. It does not give a crew the right to speak for the insurer. III, Am I Covered?
• They treat sewage or outdoor flood water like a clean supply leak. The CDC says to throw away porous items that stayed wet with flood water and to remove drywall and insulation contaminated with sewage or floodwater. CDC cleanup page
• They will not give a business address or a license number you can check with the city or the state.
• They ask you to pay the full job in cash before extraction starts, with no written receipt.

What a first visit should look like

A careful crew walks the water line, asks when it started, and uses a moisture meter on the pad and the wall. They should tell you what they would extract tonight and what they would leave until morning. How soon mold can start is the reason that first night matters.

If you live in Cedar Rapids, Grand Forks, Terre Haute, or Eau Claire, the city page lists the permit the repair itself may need. The crew that does the work still has to follow that city's rule.

One or more water-damage companies that serve your area may call and text you if you use the form on this page. Use the questions above on that call the same way you would with any other company.