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HiringWater Damage Restoration

How do I choose a water damage restoration company?

Call your insurer first, then check each company's Virginia contractor licence on DPOR's lookup, ask for local references and compare at least three written bids on the same scope. Choose one with experience in the kind of water you have, especially sewage, and a written contract. Limit the deposit to 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less.

Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.

By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished

Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.

Step by step

Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.

  1. Step 1: Call your insurer

    Ask what emergency work they will cover, and whether they have preferred vendors or want to see the damage first.[4]

  2. Step 2: Make a short list

    Deal only with established firms or individuals who can provide references and are willing to give you a signed contract.[4]

  3. Step 3: Check the licence

    Look up the company's licence number on DPOR's licence lookup before you let them start.[2]

  4. Step 4: Call references

    Ask the contractor for local references, and call them.[1]

  5. Step 5: Get three written bids

    Ask each company to bid on the same scope so the prices can be compared.[1]

  6. Step 6: Ask about the kind of water

    If the water was sewage or other contaminated water, confirm the company has experience with it.[5]

  7. Step 7: Read the contract

    Check the total price, payment schedule, start and finish dates, licence number and what the company will and will not do.[1]

  8. Step 8: Limit the deposit

    Limit your deposit to 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less.[1]

Choose a licensed company that will put its scope, price and schedule in a signed contract, that has local references, and that has handled the kind of water you have. Check all of that before you sign. A good restoration company starts drying fast and still gives you the paperwork.

Start with your insurance

Before you hire for anything beyond emergency drying, call your insurer. Most homeowners policies cover materials and reasonable labor expenses for temporary and emergency repairs,[4] but the insurer will want to see the damage, and it affects who you can hire and when. Virginia's Bureau of Insurance says do not sign any contracts for major repair until the company representative has determined how much damage there is and how much the company will pay.[4] Emergency water removal and drying should not wait for that; a rebuild contract can.

For what to do in the first hours, read what to do first after water damage.

Verify the licence

Water damage work usually blends cleaning with repairs, and repair work is regulated. DPOR's guide says if the work you are considering is valued at $1,000 or more,[1] a Virginia contractor licence is required for the licence category in which the contractor is to work. Look the company up on DPOR's licence lookup and match the number to the name on your contract. Loclis has a short guide: how to check if a contractor is licensed in Virginia.

Another of DPOR's warning signs reads: "You cannot verify that the contractor is licensed as required by law."[1] Treat that as a stop sign.

Ask for the right experience

Ask what kind of water the company handles every week. If the water and/or mold damage was caused by sewage or other contaminated water, then call in a professional who has experience cleaning and fixing buildings damaged by contaminated water.[5] And EPA's advice for any cleanup: If you choose to hire a contractor (or other professional service provider) to do the cleanup, make sure the contractor has experience cleaning up mold.[5] Check references and ask the contractor to follow the recommendations in EPA guide Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings.[5] Ask whether the company will do that if mold is already present, and see how mold remediation is licensed in Virginia.

A water-stained, crumbling acoustic ceiling tile beside a tiled wall
Photo: Atomicdragon136, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

References and bids

The Bureau of Insurance advises you to make sure that you deal only with established firms or individuals who can provide references and are willing to give you a signed contract.[4] DPOR says to ask the contractor for local references, and call them.[1] DPOR lists this among its warning signs: "The contractor refuses to provide references".[1]

Then compare bids. DPOR advises you to get at least three written bids or estimates using identical plans and specifications so you can compare prices and contractors.[1] It also says: Do not automatically accept the lowest.[1] See what water damage restoration costs in Virginia for what to compare.

The contract and the deposit

Insist on a written contract. DPOR says it should include start and finish dates, and spell out exactly what the contractor will and will not do.[1] Virginia's rules for residential contracts require, among other things, the following: "Contractor's name, address, license number, class of license, and classifications or specialty services",[3] and a statement that any modification to the contract that changes the cost, materials, work to be performed, or estimated completion date must be in writing and signed by all parties,[3] and a notice of the existence of the Virginia Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund.[3]

On payment, limit your deposit to 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less.[1] The Bureau of Insurance says it is highly unlikely that a reputable contractor would request full payment in advance.[4] The contract should specify that payments will be made as the work is completed.[4] Another DPOR warning sign: "You are asked to pay for the entire job in advance, or to pay cash instead of writing a check or money order."[1]

Stop and call a pro if

  • The company will not give a licence number, or you cannot verify it.
  • You are pressed to sign today, or to sign over an insurance check.
  • There is sewage in the water, and the company has no experience with it.
  • Mold is spreading and the company plans to wipe it down and move on.

Getting help in Virginia

Loclis lists DPOR-licensed businesses with their licence number and class. Browse restoration services or read more restoration answers.

When you are ready, describe the damage once and licensed local businesses quote it.

Common questions

Does a water damage restoration company need a licence in Virginia?
The work is regulated as contracting. DPOR's guide says that if the work you are considering is valued at $1,000 or more, a valid Virginia contractor's licence is required for the licence category the contractor works in. Look the company up on DPOR's licence lookup and match the licence number to the name on the contract.
Should I hire the company my insurer recommends?
You can, but you are not required to hire anyone in particular. Ask the insurer what it will cover, then check licence, references and a written scope as you would for any company. Ask the insurer whether it must approve the work before the major repair begins.
What are warning signs of a bad restoration company?
DPOR lists several: you cannot verify that the contractor is licensed as required by law, the contractor refuses to provide references, or you are asked to pay for the entire job in advance, or to pay cash instead of writing a check or money order. High-pressure sales tactics are another.
Should I take the lowest bid?
Not automatically. DPOR says not to automatically accept the lowest bid. Make sure all bids cover the same scope, including drying days, materials removed and whether the rebuild is included, because a low bid often leaves things out.
What if I have a problem with the work?
Raise it with the contractor in writing first. If you cannot resolve it, DPOR's Board for Contractors takes written complaints, and a residential contract in Virginia must tell you about the Virginia Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund and how to contact the board for claim information.

Sources

  1. [1] What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor, Virginia Board for Contractors, DPOR. Checked October 27, 2026.
  2. [2] License Lookup, Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Checked October 27, 2026.
  3. [3] 18VAC50-22-260, Filing of charges; prohibited acts, Virginia Administrative Code, Board for Contractors. Checked October 27, 2026.
  4. [4] When Disaster Strikes: Insured Homeowner's Loss, Bureau of Insurance, Virginia State Corporation Commission. Checked October 27, 2026.
  5. [5] Mold Cleanup in Your Home, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Checked October 27, 2026.

Want a pro to handle it?

Describe the job once. Licensed local businesses send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.