Before a water damage company starts work in Louisiana, ask who will do the work, what credentials apply to the job, how the readings will be taken, and what the written scope will include. A fair scope names the rooms, the materials to be removed, the equipment, the order of work and the readings that show when the work is finished. This guide names no license category for the work.
Key takeaways
- Ask who will actually perform the work and how the company will be reached if something goes wrong.
- Ask which credentials apply to the job, and check them with the authority that issues them rather than relying on any single statement.
- Ask for a written scope with readings before work begins, and compare scopes rather than totals.
- Ask what is excluded from the scope, such as roof, pipe or finish repairs.
- Keep a copy of every signed document and every message about the work.
Who will actually do the work?
Ask whether the company that answers the phone is the company that sends the crew, and who is responsible for the work on site. Some services take the call and send another business to do the work. The homeowner should know the name of the business on site and how to reach it.
A homeowner has the right to know who is in the house, what they are doing and who is answerable for it. Ask for the name of the business that will be on site, and ask how the work will be supervised. Write the answers down, because the details matter if a problem comes up later.
If a company connects a homeowner to another business, ask how that business was chosen, what it is responsible for and how it can be contacted after the work. A clear answer is a good sign, and an unclear one is a reason to ask again.
Which credentials should I ask about?
Ask which credentials apply to the specific work, such as a plumbing repair, an electrical check, a mold assessment or a drying job, and ask to see them. This site does not name a Louisiana license category for water damage restoration, and it does not claim any credential for the business.
Credentials differ by trade and by the work. A plumbing repair, an electrical check and a mold assessment may each need a different kind of qualification. Ask the company which apply to the job, and ask for the details so that you can check them with the authority that issues them.
A homeowner should not accept a general statement that a company is fully qualified for everything. Ask for specifics, and keep a record of what was said and when. If a credential is not required for the work, a fair company will say so and explain what it does require instead.
What should the written scope include?
A written scope should list the rooms and surfaces affected, the materials to be removed and the reason for each, the equipment to be used, the order of work, the readings that will show when each area is dry and the items excluded from the scope. It should be dated and signed, and it should be given before the drying equipment is set.
The scope should state how many visits are expected and when the readings will be taken. It should name the points that will be checked and say how the homeowner can see the results. A scope that is vague about the readings is hard to check, and the readings are the most important part of the paperwork.
The scope should also say what is outside the work. The repair of a pipe, a roof, a finished wall or a cabinet is usually a separate job, and the homeowner should know who will do it. Ask for those exclusions to be written down, so that there is no surprise later.
| Item | What a fair scope states | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Rooms and surfaces | Every room and material affected, with a sketch | Does the sketch match what I showed you? |
| Removals | Each material to be removed and why it cannot be dried | Could any of these be dried instead? |
| Equipment | The types and number of machines and where they go | Where will each machine be placed and for how long? |
| Order of work | The sequence of extraction, reading, removal and drying | Which rooms can I use while this runs? |
| Readings | The points that will be read and when | Can I see the readings at every visit? |
| Exclusions | Repairs and finishes that are outside the scope | Who does the work that is excluded? |
How should I compare two scopes?
Compare the scopes line by line rather than the totals. Two scopes that remove different materials, use different equipment or leave out different steps cannot be compared fairly. A much lower total often means something is left out, and a much higher one may include work the readings do not support.
Ask each company to explain its readings and its removals. A company that can show the readings behind a removal is giving the homeowner something to check. One that cannot should be asked again before the work begins.
Ask what would change the scope if the readings came back higher than expected. A fair answer explains the process for a change and states that the homeowner approves it before the work changes. The price should be confirmed in writing, and no price is published on this site.
What contract terms should I read before signing?
Read the scope, any authorization to work and any release or assignment of insurance benefits before signing. Check what is being authorized, what can be charged, and whether you are agreeing to anything about the insurer. Ask for time to review the documents if you need it.
An authorization that lets the company deal with the insurer on your behalf, or that assigns the insurance payment to the company, changes who is paid and who decides the amount. Read those terms closely and ask what they mean before you sign.
This guide cannot say what any particular contract means, and it does not provide legal advice. A homeowner who is unsure should ask for an explanation in writing or seek advice from someone they trust before signing.
What should I do if the work does not go as described?
Raise the problem in writing as soon as it appears, with the scope in front of you and the readings or photographs that show the difference. Ask the company to explain and to correct the issue. If the problem is not resolved, keep the record and consider the complaint routes that apply to the work.
A written note is more useful than a phone call alone, because it creates a record of what was said. State the date, the scope item in question, what was done and what you expected. Attach photographs and the readings where you have them.
For a claim dispute, the Louisiana Department of Insurance takes complaints about how a claim is handled. For other complaints about the work itself, the homeowner should check which authority applies to the trade involved, and keep the full record in date order.
What is the difference between a call line and the company doing the work?
A call line takes the report and connects the homeowner to a business that does the work. The company doing the work is the one on site, and it should be named and reachable. Asking the question directly prevents confusion about who is responsible for each part of the job.
A homeowner should understand the arrangement before the crew arrives. Ask how the call line and the on-site business are related, and what each is responsible for. This guide does not describe any particular arrangement, and each company should explain its own.
Keep the name and contact details of the on-site business, and the date of the first visit. Those details are part of the record for any claim, complaint or warranty question that arises later.
How should I keep a record of the work?
Keep one folder for the job, with the scope, the readings, the photographs, the invoices, the signed documents and every message about the work, in date order. The record is what makes a claim, a complaint or a later question easy to answer, and it costs nothing to keep.
Write down the name of the business on site, the name of each person who attended and the date and time of each visit. Note what was done, what was left for the next visit and any change to the scope. Ask for copies of the readings and the sketch at the end of each visit, so the record is never only in one person's hands.
Keep the record for as long as the work, the claim or a complaint could be open. This guide does not state deadlines, so check the policy, the company's terms and the authority that handles any complaint, and keep the record until you know the question is settled.
Ask the company to explain each entry on the invoice, and compare the invoice with the scope the company gave you before work began. Any difference should be explained in writing before you pay it, so that the record shows what was agreed and what changed.
Frequently asked questions
Should I hire the first company that calls back?
Not without asking the questions in this guide. Ask who will do the work, which credentials apply and for a written scope before work begins.
Can I see the readings during the job?
You should be able to. Ask for the readings at each visit and for the marked points to be shown to you.
Is a verbal estimate enough?
No. Ask for the scope and the price in writing before work begins, and keep a copy of anything you sign.
What if I want to change companies partway through?
Ask the first company for its readings, scope and photographs in writing before you leave, so the next company can start from the same evidence.
Does this guide name any Louisiana license?
No. This site names no such license, so none is given here. Ask the company what applies to its work and check it with the issuing authority.
Who do I contact about an insurance question?
The insurer on your policy decides the claim. The Louisiana Department of Insurance takes complaints about how a claim is handled.
This guide is general information for Jefferson Parish homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.