Before hiring a water damage contractor in Virginia, check the written scope, the drying targets and how readings will be recorded, and ask which credentials apply to each part of the work. This page does not name a Virginia licence for water damage restoration, because none has been identified for this trade, so each credential should be checked directly with the body that issued it.
Key takeaways
- Ask for a written scope that names the areas, the materials to be removed and kept, and the drying targets.
- Ask how moisture readings will be taken, recorded and shared, and ask to see a sample log.
- No Virginia state licence written specifically for water damage restoration has been identified, so ask which credentials the company holds and what each covers.
- Ask for proof of the company's insurance and check it directly with the insurer.
- Approve the price and the scope before work begins, and keep a copy of anything you sign.
Why is the written scope the first thing to ask for?
A written scope names the areas to be worked on, the materials to be removed and kept, the equipment to be used and the drying targets. It is the document that makes the work comparable with other quotes and checkable after the job.
A verbal promise is hard to check and hard to enforce. A written scope that lists each room and each material shows what has been agreed, and it gives the homeowner a basis for questions if the work does not match it.
Ask the contractor to explain the scope in person before you sign. Clear answers to questions about each item are a good sign. Vague answers, or a plan that cannot be explained, are a reason to ask another company.
Drying targets and readings
A contractor should set a drying target for each material, take readings at each visit and show you the log. A company that cannot say what its target is for a material, or how it will know when the material is dry, is not working from measurements.
Ask what the target is for drywall, wood, subfloor and insulation, and how the target was set. A target should be based on an unaffected area of the same material in the same building, not on a general figure.
Ask to see a sample log from a previous job, with the readings and dates. The sample should show the trend over several visits and the point at which the material reached its target.
Credentials: what to ask and how to check
Ask which licence, certification or registration applies to each part of the work, and ask the company to name the body that issued each one. Check each credential yourself with the issuing body, rather than relying on a copy the company supplies.
A homeowner should not assume that a company's credentials cover every part of the job. Drying, mold remediation, plumbing and electrical work are different, and the company should say which of them it does itself and which it refers to others.
No Virginia state licence written specifically for water damage restoration has been identified for this page. The company may still hold certifications from industry bodies, and those should be named and checked too. A certification is not the same as a state licence.
Insurance and what it covers
Ask the contractor for a certificate of its own insurance, and check directly with the insurer that the policy is current and covers the work. A homeowner should also ask whether the contractor will work with the homeowner's insurer.
A contractor's insurance protects the contractor and the homeowner against damage caused by the work and against injury to workers and others. The homeowner should confirm the cover with the insurer named on the certificate, rather than relying on the copy alone.
Ask also whether the company will provide photographs, readings and a written scope for your claim. A company that cooperates with the insurer makes the claim easier to settle.
Price, deposits and approval
A price should be explained and approved on site, in writing, before the work starts. Ask what the price includes and what it excludes, and ask whether any deposit is requested and on what terms.
Be cautious of a company that gives a price before seeing the building. A price given over the phone can be a guess that changes later, and the change may come at a point when you have little choice.
If the scope changes during the work, ask for the change in writing and approve it before the work continues. Keep a copy of every signed document, and do not sign anything you do not understand.
Red flags to watch for
Watch for a company that promises a fixed completion time, refuses to put the scope in writing, pressures you to sign at once or cannot name its credentials. Any of these is a reason to pause and check.
A company that promises the work will be finished by a set time may be promising something the readings do not allow. Drying is measured, and no honest company can promise a completion date before the readings are taken.
A company that asks you to sign a document you have not been able to read, or that asks for a large payment before any work is done, should be treated with caution. Take the time to check the company's details with the relevant body.
What to do if the work goes wrong
Raise the problem with the contractor in writing, and ask for the readings and the log to be reviewed. If the problem is not resolved, keep the records and consider the complaint routes available to you.
Write down what the problem is, when you noticed it and what you asked the contractor to do. A written record makes it easier to resolve the matter and, if needed, to take it further.
If the matter concerns an insurer, the Virginia Bureau of Insurance accepts homeowner complaints. For other disputes with a contractor, take advice from a qualified person before taking formal steps.
Who will actually be in the house?
The crew members who will be in the house matter as much as the company name. Ask who will be on the job, what each person does and how the company supervises the work on site.
Ask whether the company's own employees will do the work, or whether it uses subcontractors. Subcontracted work can be sound, but the company remains responsible for it, and you should know who the people in your house are and whom to call if something goes wrong.
Ask how the company supervises the work on site and who will be your contact during the job. A named contact who answers calls and sends written updates is a good sign of a company that plans to be accountable.
What should the contract protect?
A contract should set out the scope, the price, the payment terms, the timetable as far as it can be stated, the process for changes and the way disputes are handled. Read it fully before you sign, and ask for changes in writing.
Check that the contract matches the written scope and the price you have approved. Look for clauses that let the company change the price without your approval, that waive your rights or that require payment before work is done. Ask for those to be explained or removed.
Keep the signed contract, the scope, the approved changes and every invoice together. If the company asks you to sign anything you have not read, take the time to read it, or ask a qualified person to read it for you before you sign.
What should a company do after the job is finished?
A reputable company should provide a final log, its final readings, a copy of the photographs, an itemized record of what was removed and a clear statement of what remains for other trades. It should also explain the aftercare.
Ask for the final log to show the first and last readings for each material and the target they reached. Ask for an itemized list of what was removed and what was kept, with the reason for each decision. Those records are the homeowner proof that the work was done as agreed.
Ask what should be checked in the weeks after the work and who to call if a stain, a smell or a soft spot appears. A company that gives a clear aftercare plan, and that is willing to return to check its work, is one that expects to be judged by the results.
Frequently asked questions
Does Virginia require a water damage restoration licence?
No state licence written specifically for water damage restoration has been identified. Ask the contractor which credentials apply to each part of the work, and check each one with the body that issued it.
Should I get more than one quote?
Yes, where it is practical. Compare the written scopes line by line, and ask each company for its drying targets and its readings for the job. A quote without a scope is hard to compare.
Can the contractor deal with my insurer?
Many contractors will provide photographs, readings and the scope for the claim, and some will speak with the insurer on your behalf. Ask the contractor how it works with insurers, and remember that the claim decision is the insurer's.
What if I have already signed a contract?
Read it again and keep a copy. If you have concerns, raise them with the contractor in writing. Take advice from a qualified person if you are unsure of your position.
How do I check a company's insurance?
Ask for a certificate of insurance and check it directly with the insurer named on it. Do not rely on a copy alone.
Can I cancel a contract after I sign it?
That depends on the contract and on the law that applies to it. Read the cancellation terms, and take advice from a qualified person if you are unsure of your rights before you act. Do not assume that a signature cannot be undone.
How do I check a contractor references?
Ask for two or three references from recent jobs of a similar size, and call them. Ask whether the work was finished on the agreed scope and price, whether the readings were shared and whether any problem came up afterward.
What if the company stops work before it is finished?
Put the problem in writing, ask for the readings to be recorded in the log and ask for the reasons. Keep a record of what has been paid and what has been done, and take advice from a qualified person before you pay for work that has not been carried out.
This guide is general information for Suffolk (independent city) homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.