Getting help · Updated October 2026

How to Choose a Restoration Contractor and Avoid Scams

To choose a restoration contractor safely, confirm their license with your state’s licensing agency, ask for proof of liability and workers’ compensation insurance, check for IICRC certification, and get a detailed written estimate and contract before work starts. Be wary of anyone who knocks on your door after a disaster, demands cash or full payment up front, or asks you to sign over your insurance check. Taking an hour to check these things can save you from paying for work that never gets done.

If you are dealing with fire, a gas smell, electrical hazards, or a structure that may be unsafe, leave the building and call 911 first. Choosing a contractor can wait until everyone is safe.

Step 1: Verify the contractor’s license

Licensing rules vary from state to state, and some work is licensed at the county or city level. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advises checking with your state or county government to confirm a contractor’s license, and treating “I don’t need a license” as a red flag.

1. Ask for the contractor’s license number and the exact business name.
2. Look it up yourself on your state licensing board’s website. Don’t rely on a photo of a license card or a number printed on a flyer.
3. Make sure the license is active and the business name matches the company on your estimate.

In California: Use the CSLB online license check. You can search by license number, business name, or personnel name, and you can also verify a Home Improvement Salesperson registration. The California Department of Insurance also suggests asking to see the contractor’s pocket license and ID, and calling the contractor directly if someone says they represent the company. CSLB warns that contracting without a license in a declared disaster area is a felony in California.

Step 2: Check IICRC certification

The IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) sets widely used standards for water damage, fire and smoke, and mold work. According to the IICRC, an IICRC Certified Firm is a business that employs one or more IICRC Certified Technicians.

• Search the company or technician on the IICRC Global Locator.
• You can also call the IICRC with the company name to verify credentials, as described on its Certified Firm page.

Certification is not the same as a state license. It shows training, while a license shows the business is allowed to do the work where you live. Look for both where they apply.

Step 3: Confirm insurance coverage

An uninsured contractor can leave you exposed if someone is hurt on your property. The California Department of Insurance recommends:

1. Asking whether the contractor carries general liability and workers’ compensation insurance.
2. Requesting a certificate of insurance showing the insurer’s name, policy number, and limits.
3. Calling the insurance company listed to confirm the policy is active.

The FTC gives the same advice nationwide: only consider contractors who are licensed and insured.

Step 4: Get written estimates and a written contract

The FTC recommends getting estimates from more than one contractor and asking about big differences in price rather than automatically choosing the lowest bid. A good written estimate describes the work, materials, timeline, and price.

Before you sign a contract, the FTC says it should include:

• The contractor’s name, address, phone number, and license number (where required)
• Estimated start and completion dates
• A payment schedule
• Any promises made verbally about scope or cost

Also:

• Never sign a contract with blank spaces. Both the FTC and the California Department of Insurance warn against this.
• Know your cancellation rights. If you sign at your home or somewhere other than the seller’s permanent place of business, the FTC says the contract should explain your right to cancel within three business days.
• Keep a job file with contracts, change orders, invoices, and receipts.

Step 5: Be careful with payments

Payment is where many disaster scams happen. The FTC advises:

• Pay by credit card or check. Avoid wire transfers, gift cards, payment apps, cryptocurrency, and cash, which are very hard to get back.
• Walk away from anyone who wants cash up front.
• Make the final payment only when the work is done and you are satisfied.
• Negotiate a reasonable down payment, and check with your state consumer protection agency, since some states limit how much a contractor can ask for up front.

In California: The down payment on a home improvement contract generally may not exceed $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less, according to the CSLB and the California Department of Insurance. CSLB also advises not letting payments get ahead of the work that has been completed.

Step 6: Watch for red flags after a disaster

Scammers often follow storms, floods, and fires. The FTC and CSLB warn about contractors who:

• Show up uninvited or leave flyers, and push you to hire them on the spot
• Say they don’t need a license
• Offer a discount only if you sign right now
• Want full payment, or cash, up front
• Ask you to sign a blank contract
• Ask you to sign over your insurance check
• Suggest you borrow from a lender they know
• Promise FEMA help for a fee (the FTC notes FEMA doesn’t charge application fees)
• Won’t provide copies of their license, insurance, or a written contract

The California Department of Insurance adds that unrealistically low bids and high-pressure sales tactics are warning signs. If you suspect a scam, you can report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state’s contractor licensing board.

You can generally choose your own contractor

Your insurer may suggest a contractor or have a preferred list, and that can be convenient. In most cases, though, you can choose who does the work, so check your policy and ask your insurer how it handles outside estimates. In California, the Department of Insurance’s Top Ten Tips for Wildfire Claimants states that you have the right to rebuild using the contractor of your choosing, and recommends getting at least one licensed contractor’s estimate.

Getting help

When you are ready to talk to someone, Restore Your Property can connect you with a licensed, certified independent local restoration contractor 24/7 at (855) 919-8808. Whoever you hire, use the same checks above: verify the license and insurance, confirm certifications, and get everything in writing before work begins.