You can ask these on the phone in five minutes. Good companies answer plainly. Evasive answers are information too. The list is arranged from the most important to the least, so if you are short on time, use the first five.
The questions that matter most
| Question. | What a good answer sounds like. | A warning sign. |
|---|---|---|
| Do you take moisture readings and share them?. | Yes, at the start and each visit, with photos. | We just run the fans and see. |
| How do you decide when it is dry?. | We compare to a dry reference reading in your house. | It is dry when it feels dry. |
| Will you explain the scope and price before work starts?. | Yes, in writing. | We will figure it out as we go. |
| Do you follow the ANSI/IICRC S500 standard?. | Yes, and I can describe how. | Not sure what that is. |
| Who will be at my house?. | Named technicians and a point of contact. | We send whoever is free. |
Licensing and contractor rules in Maryland
The Maryland Home Improvement Commission says it is a crime to act as a home improvement contractor in Maryland without its license, and it advises verifying a contractor's license with the commission. Water extraction and drying are often considered separately from rebuild work, so ask which license applies to what you are hiring for.
Be careful with statements like licensed and bonded. They should be backed by something you can look up. Ask for a license number and check it with the commission. A company that is happy to give it and to explain what it covers is easy to trust. One that dodges the question is not.
Questions about the work
- How many air movers and dehumidifiers will you use, and for how long?
- What will you remove and why?
- How do you handle contaminated water?
- Will you protect my belongings and move furniture?
- What happens if the readings show more water than expected?
- Do you do the rebuild, or do you hand off?
A clear answer to these tells you the company has done the work before. Our extraction page and structural drying page show what we expect from a job, and you can compare them with any other company's description.
Questions about money and paperwork
- Is the price a fixed amount, a daily rate or time and materials?
- What is billed separately?
- Do you need a deposit and why?
- How will you document the loss for my insurer?
- Will you work directly with the adjuster or send me records?
Pressure tactics are a common warning sign. A company that insists you sign a work authorization before explaining the scope, or that tells you not to call your insurer, deserves caution. You are entitled to read before you sign.
Red flags
Prices over the phone with no inspection.
Water spreads where you cannot see it, so a firm number without measuring is a guess.
No readings or photos.
If a company will not document, you cannot prove what it did.
Pressure to sign immediately.
A legitimate emergency still allows time to read what you sign.
Claims with no proof.
Awards, ratings or certifications should be verifiable, not asserted.
Ask where they are based
Response time depends on distance, and local knowledge matters. Catonsville is an unincorporated community in Baltimore County with a 2020 population of 44,701 and ZIP code 21228. Ellicott City and Elkridge are in Howard County, and Baltimore City is a separate jurisdiction. A company that knows the permit offices and sewer rules for each saves you phone calls.
Ask whether the company knows which office handles permits for your address and whether it can explain who to call about a sewer or water main problem. That is a quick test of local competence.
Source type: U.S. Census 2020 via Maryland Department of Planning, county government sites.
What a good first phone call covers
A short, useful call collects the same facts every time. It asks where the water is, where it came from, how long it has been there, what it has touched and whether anyone is at risk. It tells you what to do while the crew travels, such as closing the main, lifting valuables and staying out of water near outlets.
It also explains what will happen next. The crew will check for hazards, extract water, take readings and talk through the scope before major work. If a company cannot describe those steps, it may not follow them. Write down the answers so you can compare calls.
Ask for the arrival window and who your contact will be. If the company cannot reach you in a reasonable window, it is better to know now. The line here is answered around the clock, and a dispatcher can plan a same-day response when a crew is available.
A fair standard to hold us to
We would be happy to answer every question on this list. We explain scope and price before work starts, share readings and photos and answer plainly if we cannot do something. For different areas, see our pages for Ellicott City and Baltimore.
Want to ask us?
Call the 24/7 line and ask any question on this list.
Catonsville hiring questions
If water is actively spreading, start extraction first, then compare for the larger work. A quick call to two companies is reasonable if you have time.
It is the industry standard for professional water damage restoration, covering categories, procedures and documentation.
The Maryland Home Improvement Commission advises verifying a contractor's license with the commission before you hire.
No. A good company encourages documentation and leaves coverage to you and your insurer.