How to Hire a Fire Damage Restoration Company
A checklist for choosing a fire damage restoration company: license, insurance, training, written scope and red flags.
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Tell the operator your city, what happened and whether the fire department has cleared the building. You will be connected with a local provider that covers your area.
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- Give your city and ZIP code
- Say what happened and whether the fire is out
- Ask the company about its license and insurance
Quick answer
Confirm license where required, proof of liability insurance, IICRC fire and smoke training, a written scope and a clear explanation of billing. Be cautious of anyone who demands large upfront payment or pressures you to sign immediately.
What to verify
- License. Rules differ by state and city. Ask if a license is required and confirm it with the licensing office.
- Insurance. Request proof of general liability and workers compensation coverage.
- Training. Ask whether technicians hold IICRC fire and smoke damage training and whether the company follows ANSI/IICRC S700.
- References and history. Ask for recent customers you can contact and check complaints with consumer protection offices.
- Written scope. A detailed estimate or work plan before work starts.
Questions to ask
- Who will be on site and who is my contact?
- How will you protect areas that are not damaged?
- Will you work directly with my insurance adjuster?
- How do you handle contents and pack out?
- What is the expected timeline and what could change it?
- What warranty or follow up inspection do you provide?
Red flags
- Unsolicited visits right after a fire with no verifiable details
- Large upfront payment demands
- Reluctance to share license or insurance information
- Vague scopes and no written contract
- Pressure to sign over insurance rights without explaining what that means
About this site
Fire Damage Restoration USA is a referral service, not a contractor. We connect your call to an independent local company, and you should review that company using this checklist before agreeing to any work. See our referral disclosure for how it works.
Sources and further reading
- IICRC: ANSI/IICRC S700 Standard for Professional Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration
- NAIC: Find your state insurance department
Related services
- Fire Damage Repair and Reconstruction
- Commercial Fire Damage Restoration
- Emergency Fire Damage Cleanup
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