Are you registered with the Attorney General?
Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act requires contractors who do at least $5,000 of home improvement work a year to register with the Office of Attorney General. A registered contractor has a PA# registration number.
Ask for the number and look it up with the Attorney General's contractor search. The office notes that registration is not an endorsement of a contractor's skill.
Will I get a written contract?
Under the same law, home improvement contracts over $500 must be in writing and signed by you and the contractor. The Attorney General lists what they must include, such as a description of the work, approximate start and finish dates and the total price.
You can cancel a home improvement contract without penalty within three business days of signing.
Where is the water coming from?
Ask what's causing the mold and who will fix that. A cleanup that skips the cause tends to come back.
A clear answer names a place: a pipe, a shower, a gutter, a downspout or a basement wall.
What comes out, and what stays?
Ask which materials will be removed and which cleaned in place, and how the work area will be closed off from the rest of the house.
Soaked drywall, insulation and carpet usually go. Hard surfaces can usually be cleaned.
How will I know it's finished?
The area should be clean and dry and ready for repairs, with the cause fixed or scheduled. Ask what you'll see at the end.
If you want lab confirmation, that's a separate test by an independent assessor.
Mold in a Harrisburg-area home?
(717) 949-7454