Tips for selecting a mold remediation contractor

The Basics

Choosing a remediation contractor is much like selecting a contractor for a home improvement project. You are looking for a professional organization with proof of experience, skill, industry knowledge, reliability and honesty.

Obtain a minimum of three quotations for the project. The quotation must include a detailed scope-of-work. If you do not understand some of the items in the scope-of-work, ask for an explanation. The scope-of-work should include a plan to determine the cause-and-origin of the moisture intrusion and the costs to repair/resolve that issue. Ask whether the contractor will hire subcontractors for any of the work.

Verify that the contractor and all subcontractors carry valid licenses and insurance for the required tasks. All entities must, at a minimum, carry personal liability, workers’ compensation, and property insurance.

Check for information about the company with the Better Business Bureau. This is very easy using the internet. Ask for a minimum of three references. Then follow up and contact them. Be aware, however, that the references provided are likely prescreened and unlikely to provide negative reports. Some of the questions you should ask the references:

Questions for References

Did the contractor perform in accordance with the contract?
Was the work completed on schedule?
Was the work completed to your satisfaction?
Were there any problems and were they easily resolved?
Were there any change orders that resulted in additional costs above the quotation?
If yes, do you believe those additional costs were necessary and reasonable?
Would you hire this contractor again?

Ensure that you procure a written contract that includes all the agreed upon terms and conditions. It’s important that the contract include the procedures that will be followed should a future inspection reveal the necessity of additional work. Agree to pay a deposit amount of a maximum of 33% of the quotation.

Questions and Answers for the Contractor

The following table provides questions to ask the contractor and describes how to respond to the answers.
	Question	Answer	Acceptable?
1.	Do you agree that remediation is warranted?	YES	Absolutely necessary.
1.	Do you agree that remediation is warranted?	NO	Unacceptable. Find another contractor.
2	Do you carry personal liability and property damage insurance?	YES	Absolutely necessary.
2		NO	Unacceptable. Find another contractor.
3.	Do you carry workers’ compensation 3. insurance?	YES	Absolutely necessary.
3.	Do you carry workers’ compensation 3. insurance?	NO	Unacceptable. Find another contractor.
4.	How long have you been in business?	>2 years	This is preferred.
4.	How long have you been in business?	<2 years	Be careful !
5.	How many similar projects did you complete last year?	>12 years	This is preferred.
5.	How many similar projects did you complete last year?	<12 years	Be careful !
6.	Are building permits required and will you obtain the permits?	YES/YES	Absolutely necessary.
6.		YES/NO	Unacceptable. Find another contractor.
7.	Are all your workers professionally trained by an industry association?	YES	This is preferred.
7.		NO	Proprietary training may be acceptable.
8.	Are all your workers certified by an industry association?	YES	This is preferred.
8.	Are all your workers certified by an industry association?	NO	Proprietary training may be acceptable.
9.	Will a foreman or project leader be assigned to the site?	YES	Absolutely necessary.
9.	Will a foreman or project leader be assigned to the site?	NO	Unacceptable. Find another contractor.
10.	Will the foreman or project leader remain on-site throughout the job?	YES	This is preferred.
10.		NO	Depends on training level of workers.
11.	Will containment be installed?	YES	Absolutely necessary.
11.	Will containment be installed?	NO	Unacceptable. Find another contractor.
12.	Will the containment remain in place until the work has been approved?	YES	Absolutely necessary.
12.		NO	Unacceptable. Find another contractor.
13.	Will you notify me before performing any work that results in additional cost?	YES	Absolutely necessary.
13.		NO	Unacceptable. Find another contractor.
14.	Will your equipment remain on-site until after reinspection is complete?	YES	Absolutely necessary.
14.		NO	Unacceptable. Find another contractor.
15.	Do you guarantee your work?	YES	Absolutely necessary.
15.	Do you guarantee your work?	NO	Unacceptable. Find another contractor.

Additional Considerations

After you have selected a contractor, and before you sign a contract, meet with the work crew. If you are uncomfortable (for any reason) with the people who will be working at your home, find another contractor.

Resources

There is a lot of good information available on the internet. Simply use a search engine (ask.com, google.com, search..msn.com, etc) to find tips and instructions. Try entering “How to choose a contractor” in the search criteria dialog box. Below are a few internet sites that you may find useful:

http://homerepair.about.com/od/tutorialindex/a/tu_contractor.htm
http://www.archadeck.com/select.asp
http://capitalaccessproject.startsmart.com/f/How_to_Select_a_Contractor.pdf
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/services/homeimpv.shtm
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airduct.html

Conclusion

The key to a successful remediation project is to select a competent and qualified contractor. This means you must employ due diligence to ensure that you