When your home floods, burns, or is invaded by mold, you have hours (not days) to pick a contractor. Bad choices can void your insurance coverage, extend the repair timeline by weeks, or leave hidden moisture behind that grows mold months later. Use this 8-question vetting checklist before you sign anything.
1. Are You IICRC-Certified?
The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) is the industry standard. Ask for the technician's WRT (Water Restoration Technician), ASD (Applied Structural Drying), and AMRT (Applied Microbial Remediation Technician) numbers, then verify them at iicrc.org. Oklahoma does not license restoration, so certification is your primary quality signal.
2. What's Your Average Response Time?
For water and fire emergencies, on-site response in under 60 minutes is the OKC-metro standard. Every hour of delay allows water to wick further into materials and increases the mold risk. Ask specifically about response time, not "24/7 availability" (which just means a call center picks up).
3. Do You Bill My Insurance Directly?
A reputable contractor handles the paperwork with your insurance company, provides Xactimate-compatible estimates, and doesn't require you to front thousands of dollars. If a contractor demands full payment before working with your insurer, that's a red flag.
4. Can I See Documentation From a Recent Job?
Ask to see a redacted moisture map, drying log, and photo report from a recent water damage job. Legitimate restoration produces daily documentation. If they can't show you what documentation looks like, they're probably not producing it.
5. Are You Local, or a Storm-Chaser?
After every OKC hail or tornado event, out-of-state contractors flood in, do quick work, and disappear before warranty issues surface. Ask how long they've been operating in Oklahoma, whether they have a physical office (not just a P.O. box), and whether their trucks have Oklahoma plates. See our comparison of OKC restoration companies.
6. Do You Subcontract or Use In-House Crews?
Subcontracted crews vary wildly in quality. In-house IICRC-certified technicians ensure consistent standards and clear accountability if something goes wrong.
7. What's Your Warranty?
Reputable restoration companies warranty their water damage and mold remediation work for at least a year against mold regrowth or drying failures. No warranty means no accountability.
8. Am I Required to Use an Insurance Preferred Vendor?
No. Under Oklahoma law, you have the right to choose your own contractor. Insurance preferred vendors are paid to keep claim costs low for the insurer, which sometimes means a lighter scope of work than your home actually needs. If your adjuster pressures you toward a specific vendor, ask for that in writing.
Red Flags to Walk Away From
- Demands full payment or your entire insurance check upfront
- Won't provide certification numbers or a physical business address
- Shows up door-to-door after a storm without being called
- Pressures you to sign an "Assignment of Benefits" before scoping the job
- Refuses to give a written scope of work
Why Homeowners Choose ASAP Pro
ASAP Pro Services is IICRC-certified, locally owned in Oklahoma City, and averages a 47-minute on-site response across the metro. We bill insurance directly, provide daily drying documentation, and warranty every job. Learn more about our certifications or call (405) 992-4111 anytime.