How to check a water damage or mold contractor
Five checks that take less time than reading a contract, and one federal rule that most people assume protects them here when it often does not.
For homeowners. You will be connected with an independent local contractor. Calls may be recorded.
Look up the license yourself
Licensing for this work is set by each state, and sometimes by the city. Some states license mold work specifically; Texas, for example, licenses mold assessors and mold remediators separately through TDLR. Others rely on a general contractor or home improvement license, or leave it to cities and counties. Find your state’s contractor board, search the company’s exact name, and check that the license is active.
Water Damage Wise does not check licenses, insurance or work history for anyone. That is your step to take, and it takes a few minutes.
Ask for proof of insurance
Ask for a certificate of liability insurance, and of workers’ compensation where the state requires it, sent to you directly by the insurance agent. A photo of a certificate on a phone is not the same thing.
Get the scope in writing
- What is being removed, room by room, and why: readings, not looks.
- What equipment is being set, how many units, and how often it will be checked.
- How dry is defined: the target readings and the dry reference material they are compared with.
- What happens to the price if they find more damage behind the wall.
Keep the drying log
A careful crew records moisture readings at marked points on each visit until the materials reach their dry target. Ask for a copy at the end. It is the evidence that the house was dried rather than just aired out, and adjusters often ask for it.
The three-day cancellation rule may not cover this work
The FTC Cooling-Off Rule gives three days to cancel many sales made at your home. But it does not cover sales needed to meet an emergency, or work done because you asked the seller to come and repair your property. Emergency water mitigation that you called for often falls outside it, so read before you sign rather than counting on cancelling later. Some states have their own rules for home repair contracts.
Warning signs
- Pressure to sign over your insurance benefits before anyone has measured the damage.
- A company offering to test for mold and then remove it, in a state that keeps those jobs separate.
- No written scope, or a scope that says only “water mitigation” with a total.
- Asking you to leave a policy limit or deductible off the paperwork.
Short answers
Does Water Damage Wise check the contractors?
No. The site connects calls and does not check licenses, insurance or work history. Checking them is the homeowner’s step.
Can I cancel an emergency water damage contract within three days?
Not necessarily. The FTC Cooling-Off Rule excludes sales needed to meet an emergency and work you asked the seller to come and do. Read the contract before signing.
What should a drying log show?
Moisture readings at marked points on each visit, compared with a dry reference, until the materials reach their dry target.