How to Choose a Restoration Company After a Fire or Flood

By Blake Webb, who works with contents restoration crews in Middle Tennessee · Updated November 2026 · 7 min read

Within hours of a fire or flood, you may get calls, door knocks and flyers from companies wanting the job. Some are excellent. Some are not. You're making a big decision on very little sleep, so here's a simple way to sort them out.

Who picks the company?

Your insurer may suggest a company from its "preferred vendor" list. These companies have agreed to the insurer's pricing and rules, and using one can make the claim go more smoothly. But in most cases you're not required to use them. Ask your adjuster: "Am I free to choose my own company, and will the work be paid the same way?" Get the answer in writing, by email or text.

Whichever company you use, the insurer will usually pay for reasonable, necessary work at fair prices. Big differences in price are a reason to ask questions, not panic.

Questions to ask before you hire

• Are your technicians IICRC-certified? The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification trains technicians in water, fire and mold work. Ask which certifications the people doing your job have.
• Are you licensed and insured? Ask for a certificate of insurance showing general liability and workers' compensation. Licensing rules vary by state and type of work.
• How long have you been in business here? A local address and a track record matter, because you may need them for months.
• Can I talk to two or three recent customers?
• Do you handle contents, or only the building? If your belongings need to be packed out and cleaned, ask who does it and where they're stored. See what a packout is.
• Will you work directly with my insurance adjuster? Most good companies write estimates in the software insurers use and send photos and moisture readings.
• What will I owe out of pocket? Usually your deductible plus anything the policy doesn't cover. Ask for it in writing.

Red flags

• High pressure: "You have to sign right now or the mold will spread." Urgent work is real, but a reputable company will explain your options.
• Large payment up front: especially cash, or the full job before work starts.
• "We'll cover your deductible": waiving or hiding a deductible by inflating the bill can be insurance fraud, and in many states it's illegal. You could be the one who gets in trouble.
• No written estimate or contract: or a contract with blank spaces.
• Out-of-town trucks after a big storm with no local office or references ("storm chasers").
• Telling you not to talk to your insurer, or to let them "handle everything."

Read before you sign

You'll usually be asked to sign a work authorization. That's normal: it gives permission to start and explains how the company gets paid. Read it anyway. Look for:

• Exactly what work is included, and what isn't.
• Who pays if the insurer doesn't pay for something.
• Cancellation rights. Some states give a few days to cancel contracts signed at home.
• Storage terms for your belongings, including who insures them while they're in storage.

Assignment of benefits (AOB): some contracts transfer your insurance benefits for the job directly to the company, so they deal with (and sometimes sue) the insurer instead of you. In some situations that's convenient. But you give up control of that part of your claim, and some states have restricted these agreements. Don't sign one unless you understand it, and ask your agent or adjuster first if you're unsure.

During the job

• Keep copies of everything: the contract, estimates, photos, and the list of belongings they take.
• Ask for a written inventory with photos of anything removed from the home.
• Ask for drying logs (moisture readings) on water jobs. They show when the house is truly dry.
• Don't sign a "certificate of completion" until you've walked through and the work is actually done.

The bottom line

You usually get to choose. Choose local, certified, insured and patient. Get it in writing, read before you sign, and be wary of anyone who rushes you, wants a big check up front, or offers to make your deductible disappear.

General information only, not legal or insurance advice. Contract and licensing rules vary by state. If you have questions about a contract, ask your insurance agent, your adjuster or an attorney.