When water is on the floor, it's tempting to sign the first paper someone hands you. A few minutes of checking first is worth it. Washington makes it easy to look up a contractor, and a good restoration company will be glad you did. This guide covers the lookup, the questions to ask and the warning signs.
Step 1: Look Up the Registration
In Washington, construction contractors generally need to register with the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). Registration requires a bond and liability insurance. L&I runs a free online lookup, "Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Inspector," at secure.lni.wa.gov/verify.
Search by the company name or registration number. Check that:
- the registration is active, not expired or suspended
- the business name matches the company you're dealing with
- the bond and insurance are listed as current
- there are no unresolved lawsuits against the bond or serious violations
The registration number should also appear on the company's written scopes, contracts and advertising.
Step 2: Ask for Proof of Insurance
The lookup shows that insurance is on file. You can also ask the company to send you a certificate of insurance showing general liability coverage. If its workers will be in your home for days, that coverage matters.
Step 3: Ask How They Work
Good questions:
- Training. How are technicians trained in water damage and drying? Many companies use IICRC courses; ask what the people on your job have taken.
- Records. Will you get copies of daily moisture readings and photos? Your insurer will want them.
- Scope. Does the company do drying only, or repairs as well? If repairs go to another contractor, who?
- Insurance. How does it work with insurers? Does it bill them directly, and what will you owe?
- Equipment. Whose equipment, and how are days and units counted?
Need a company to check?
Get a Renton restoration company on the line: (425) 584-1660.
Call (425) 584-1660Step 4: Get the Scope in Writing
Before work beyond the emergency extraction, you should have a written scope that lists:
- each room and area, with measurements
- what will be removed, and why
- the drying plan: equipment, monitoring visits and the dry standard
- what's not included (the failed part itself, contents cleaning, rebuild)
- how changes will be handled and approved
See what a cleanup bill is made of for how to read the line items.
Red Flags
- No registration number, or one that doesn't match on the L&I lookup
- Pressure to sign immediately, especially documents you don't understand
- An "assignment of benefits" or "direction to pay" form presented as routine before you've read it. These can hand control of your insurance claim to the contractor. Read it, ask questions and only sign if you understand what it does.
- Large cash payments up front
- Promises about what your insurer will pay. Only the insurer decides that.
- No moisture readings, or drying that stops when things "look dry"
- Door-to-door offers right after a storm or flood
After a Storm: Be Extra Careful
Big storms and floods bring out unregistered operators. Some travel in from other areas; some are local and simply not registered. They may knock on doors, offer a cash discount or say your insurer has already approved them. Take a minute to look them up anyway. If a company pressures you to decide on the doorstep, that's a reason to say no. A registered company will still be there tomorrow.
Keep a Simple File
Whoever you hire, keep a folder with the company's name and registration number, its certificate of insurance, the signed scope, every invoice, the moisture readings and the photos. It takes five minutes to set up, and it answers almost every question an insurer, a future buyer or a dispute might raise.
If Something Goes Wrong
Start with the company itself, in writing. If that doesn't resolve it:
- Your insurer, if a claim is involved
- Washington L&I, for registration issues and claims against a contractor's bond
- Washington Attorney General's Office, Consumer Protection, for consumer complaints
More on the Complaints page.
Questions
Is IICRC certification required in Washington?
No. It's a widely used industry training and certification program, not a state license. It's a reasonable thing to ask about, but the state registration is the legal requirement.
Does the restoration company need a separate license for each city?
Many cities require a business license to work within city limits, separate from state contractor registration. A company working regularly in an area usually has what it needs; it's fair to ask.
Around the Area
These checks apply the same way in Bryn Mawr-Skyway, SeaTac and every other community on this site. How this line works: about this line.
What a Water Damage Cleanup Bill Is Made Of
The line items, and what makes each one bigger or smaller.
Mitigation, Restoration, Repair: The Words on Your Bill
A plain glossary of the terms on a water damage invoice.