Merlene Mitigation // Mitigate your water damage

Got a water damage quote that feels too high?

Check the boxes that match what you were handed. These are the seven things I look for first, after twelve years on the other side of that clipboard. Nothing leaves this page.

No written scope before the tear-out starts. Hammers are swinging before you have what is coming out, and why, on paper. Equipment billed for more days than the moisture readings justify. Nobody is taking daily readings, but the fans keep running (and billing). They are reading your insurance policy harder than your house. The first talk was about your coverage limits, not your actual damage. They want you to sign an AOB (Assignment of Benefits) on the spot. That hands your claim to them to bill directly, often with you on the hook for the gap. Full payment up front, or a price with no room-by-room breakdown. You cannot see what each line is actually for. They cannot explain, in plain English, why a thing needs to happen. Jargon and “trust me” are where the padding hides. Nobody offered you the cheaper option. Demo was the only thing on the table, even though a lot of small jobs can be dried in place.

Red flags on your quote

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Check the boxes above and I will tell you straight whether it is worth a second set of eyes.

Get my quote checked

Why would a water-damage guy teach you to catch water-damage guys overcharging? Because the ones doing it right have nothing to hide, and I would rather be the person you call for a straight answer than one more invoice. Send me your quote and a few photos, or have me out to the house. If it is fair, I will tell you to sign it. If it is not, you will know exactly what to push back on.

A real family’s name is on every job. Mine.
Josh Merlene // Merlene Mitigation

For your information only. This does not accuse any company of anything. It flags items worth a second opinion before you sign.