When water is spreading, speed matters, but so does choosing a company you can trust. The questions below take a few minutes on the phone and tell you a lot about how the company works. Use them with us or with anyone else.
About the company
- Are you licensed and insured? Ask for proof of insurance.
- Do you have a physical address in the area?
- How long have you worked in Nassau County?
- Do you answer the phone 24 hours a day?
- Who will actually do the work, employees or subcontractors?
A company that answers these directly is a good sign. Be wary of anyone who dodges or pressures you to sign before seeing the damage.
About the process
- What will you do in the first hour on site?
- Do you take moisture readings, and will you show me?
- What standard do you follow? Many professionals follow the IICRC S500.
- How will you decide what can be dried and what must be removed?
- How will you tell me the drying is finished?
You want specific answers. Measured drying with documented readings is a sign of a professional job.
What a good phone call sounds like
A good first call is short and practical. The dispatcher asks your address, what is wet, where the water started and whether it has been stopped. You get safety steps, such as closing a valve or staying out of drain water. You hear what happens next and what the company needs from you.
You should not hear a price quoted before anyone has seen the damage, or a promise of an exact arrival time. You should hear that the scope and the price will be explained before work starts.
After the call, write down who you spoke to and what they said. If the crew arrives and the story changes, you will have a record.
Ready to ask us? Call the 24/7 line and use this list.
Call (516) 845-9582About price and paperwork
- Will you explain the scope and the price before work starts?
- Is the estimate in writing and itemized?
- What could make the price change, and how will I be told?
- Is drying equipment billed by the day?
- What is excluded, such as repairs and contents?
- Will you work with my insurer and provide documentation?
Be careful with any request for a large payment up front, or with a contract that you do not have time to read. You are entitled to read it.
About insurance
Your insurer, not the contractor, decides what is covered. A company should not tell you what your insurer will pay. It can provide documentation such as photographs and readings. You may use any licensed and insured company you choose, though your insurer may suggest vendors. Ask your agent what your policy requires.
Red flags
- Pressure to sign immediately.
- No written scope or a vague scope.
- Refusal to show proof of licensing or insurance.
- A price quoted over the phone with no look at the damage.
- Promises of exact arrival times or exact drying times.
- Knocking on your door after a storm without being called.
We do not promise arrival times, because traffic, weather and call volume vary. We explain the scope and the price before work starts.
For mold, ask extra questions
In New York, licensed assessors and remediators are required for mold projects over ten square feet, and one licensee cannot do both on the same project, according to the state Department of Labor. Ask any mold company for its license, and ask who will assess and who will clear the work. See mold remediation.
Putting it together
Make a short list of three or four of these questions and ask each company the same ones. Compare the answers, not just the price. If you are in Albertson, Williston Park or anywhere nearby, we are happy to answer them.
For a commercial property, add questions about business interruption, access and after-hours work. See commercial water damage restoration.
A local note on checking a company
The Village of Mineola Building Department says permits are required for plumbing, electrical and construction work, so ask any company who pulls the permit for repairs. Mineola, the Nassau County seat, was incorporated as a village in 1906.
For mold work, New York's Department of Labor lists the license types on its mold program page. You can ask a company for its license number and confirm it with the state.
Questions about this topic in Mineola
Should I get several quotes in an emergency?
If water is spreading, start extraction first and compare repair quotes after. Ask each company the same questions.
Can I choose my own company if my insurer suggests another?
Generally yes. Check your policy and ask your insurer.
How do I check a license?
Ask for the license and insurance documents. For mold, the state Department of Labor describes the license types.
Is a lower price always better?
No. Compare scope, equipment and exclusions. A low price may leave out important work.
Who pulls permits for repairs in Mineola?
Ask your contractor. The Village Building Department requires permits for plumbing, electrical and construction work.