Guide

How to Choose a Mold Remediation Contractor

What to actually check

• HIC registration number, verified in the PA Attorney General's public registry — required for any home improvement job over $500
• Whether their remediation process follows the IICRC S520 standard (containment, removal, cleaning, drying, verification) — see our process page
• A written scope of work and price before the job starts, not a vague verbal estimate
• Proof of general liability insurance, which is separate from HIC registration
• Whether they recommend an independent third-party clearance test after the work, rather than only self-certifying their own job

Red flags

• A quote given over the phone with no inspection, sight-unseen
• Pressure to sign same-day with a large "today only" discount
• Refusal to provide an HIC number or claiming Pennsylvania "doesn't require anything," which is only half true; the HIC requirement still applies
• A price that's dramatically below every other estimate for the same described scope
• No written scope, no containment plan, just a verbal promise to "handle it"

Questions worth asking directly

What's your containment plan for this specific area? Will you test after the work is done, and is that testing done by you or an independent inspector? What happens if the mold comes back within 30 days? A contractor with a real process answers all three without hesitation.