Restoration Company Question Sheet

This printable sheet helps you ask the right questions about a restoration company—so you understand how they’ll respond, what they’ll do first, and how they protect your home and belongings.

It’s designed for real emergencies like water damage, sewage backup, mold concerns, fire/smoke, and other property disasters. You can use it by phone, email, or in person when pros come to your property.

Steady Restore is a free matching + information service, not a restoration contractor. We can help you find certified, insured pros, and this sheet helps you evaluate them.

In emergencies, damage can spread—especially with water and moisture. Asking the right questions helps confirm they understand the priority steps, like stopping the source, controlling spread, and starting structural drying (removing moisture trapped inside walls and floors).

It also helps you avoid misunderstandings later. Clear answers about the plan, documentation, and safety steps make it easier to track work and communicate with family members.

If you’re not fully comfortable in English, using this sheet (or translating it) can make calls and decisions calmer and more organized.

The sheet is organized so you can compare pros side-by-side. It typically covers:

• Certification and insurance: whether they’re properly licensed/certified for the work and insured for liability.
• Experience with your specific damage type: for example, flooding vs. sewage vs. fire/smoke.
• First steps and safety: what they do immediately when they arrive.
• Drying/containment approach: how they’ll control affected areas and document drying progress.
• Protections for the home: how they reduce secondary damage (like cross-contamination) and handle belongings.

Your answers can help you choose a pro who matches your situation and communicates clearly.

1) Print it (or save it to your phone) and bring it to the first call or on-site visit.

2) Ask questions in the order listed. If you’re short on time, focus first on safety, approach for your damage type, and certification/insurance.

3) Take quick notes on the answers. If anyone in your home is at risk or there’s fire, gas, or live electrical danger near water, leave the area and call 911 before anything else.

When you’re ready, you can also use Steady Restore to get matched with certified restoration pros in your area.

This checklist helps you understand the process and documentation, not give a guaranteed price. Restoration costs vary widely by damage type, severity, your building materials, city/state, and the amount of affected area.

As general planning ranges (not quotes): water damage restoration often runs about $1,300–$5,500 typical; larger floods can cost more. Mold remediation often runs $1,200–$6,000 typical. Fire/smoke restoration can range roughly $3,000–$50,000 depending on severity. Sewage cleanup often runs $2,000–$10,000. Biohazard/trauma cleanup can be roughly $1,500–$5,000+ and varies a lot.

If you have insurance, ask the restoration pros how they handle documentation for claims (general process only).