VET BEFORE YOU HIRE
10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Mold Company in Houston
A practical checklist to protect yourself before you hire anyone for mold testing or remediation — including us.
Before you hire any mold remediation company in Houston, ask these 10 questions and watch for the red flags below. Texas law requires a licensed Mold Remediation Contractor (MRC) for jobs over 25 square feet, and generally requires the company that tests for mold to be different from the company that removes it. A legitimate company will answer every question below without hesitation — a company that dodges them is a red flag on its own.
The 10 Questions
- Are you a licensed Texas Mold Remediation Contractor (MRC)? Can I see your license number?
Texas Occupations Code §1958 requires an MRC license for any paid remediation job over 25 contiguous square feet. - Is the company testing my mold different from the company doing the remediation?
Texas generally requires assessment and remediation on the same project to be performed by different licensed parties — a company offering to do both for the same job is a documented red flag. - Will I get a written scope of work and price before any work starts?
No written scope before work begins is a documented red-flag pattern. - What exactly is included in the price, and what could make it go up?
Vague or verbally-only pricing with no itemized scope is how a bait-and-switch (cheap inspection quote, inflated remediation number once they’re in the house) typically starts. - Do you perform an independent clearance test after the work is done?
A same-company test-and-clear with no independent verification is a documented red flag. - Can I see documentation or before/after photos from past jobs?
A company with no documentation practice is harder to hold accountable if something goes wrong. - Is a normal payment method available, or is it cash-only?
Cash-only demands are a documented red flag. - Are you recommending a fogging/spray treatment as a complete fix, without addressing the moisture source?
A “miracle” treatment that doesn’t fix the underlying moisture problem means the mold comes back — a documented, under-communicated red flag across the niche. - Are you using fear-based language (“this WILL make your kids sick”) without a documented inspection first?
Scare tactics with no inspection behind them are a documented red flag. - If you say you’re insured, what type of coverage, and can you confirm it?
A vague “licensed & insured” claim with no specifics is unverifiable badge language — ask for the specifics.
Red Flags to Watch For
- Fear-based scare tactics without a documented inspection.
- Bait-and-switch pricing: a cheap inspection quote followed by a much higher remediation number once the crew is in the house.
- A “miracle” fogging or spray treatment sold as a complete fix, with no attention to the actual moisture source.
- The same company both testing for mold and getting paid to remove it, with no independent clearance test.
- Cash-only payment demands.
- No written scope of work.
- No before/after documentation.
- No post-remediation clearance verification.
Legitimate Company vs. Red Flag
| What to check | Legitimate company | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing | Holds a valid TDLR MRC license, will show the number | Vague “licensed” claim, won’t give a number |
| Assessor/remediator separation | Testing and remediation done by different licensed parties (as Texas law generally requires) | Same company offers to test and remediate the same job |
| Pricing | Written scope and price before work starts | Verbal-only quote, price jumps once work begins |
| Payment | Normal payment methods | Cash-only |
| Documentation | Before/after photos, written scope | No documentation offered |
| Post-job verification | Independent clearance test | No clearance test, or “trust us” |
| Sales approach | Explains findings from an actual inspection | Fear-based pressure with no inspection |
| Fix approach | Addresses the moisture source, not just visible mold | Pushes a spray/fog “miracle fix” alone |
How to Actually Check a TDLR License
- Go to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation’s public license lookup tool.
- Search by the company or individual’s name, or by license number if the company provided one.
- Confirm the license is for Mold Remediation Contractor (MRC), active, and not expired.
- If you can’t find the license, or the company can’t give you a number to search, treat that as a red flag on its own.
This is a quick-reference version of the verification steps — the same public TDLR tool listed above works directly for any company you’re evaluating.
Texas-Specific Rules to Know
- Texas Occupations Code §1958.102 sets a 25-contiguous-square-foot threshold — below that, no remediation license is legally required; at or above it (and always for residential properties with 10+ units), a licensed MRC is required.
- Texas generally requires mold assessment and remediation on the same project to be performed by different licensed parties — the company that tests for mold generally can’t also be paid to remove it on that same job, above the exempt threshold.
- TDLR (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation) publishes a public license lookup any homeowner can use before hiring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to check a company’s license even for a small job?
Below 25 contiguous square feet, Texas doesn’t require a license — but for anything at or above that size, or if you’re unsure how big the affected area really is, checking the license is worth the two minutes it takes.
Is it really a problem if the same company tests and remediates?
Yes, generally — Texas requires those to be different licensed parties above the exempt threshold specifically to avoid the conflict of interest where a company profits from finding (or exaggerating) a problem it then gets paid to fix.
What if a company can’t show me a written scope before starting?
That’s one of the clearest red flags in this checklist — a legitimate company can tell you what they’re going to do and what it will cost before they start.
This checklist applies to any company you’re considering — including us. If you’d like a straightforward mold inspection in the Houston area, we’re happy to help.
Call (346) 584-5885 Schedule an Inspection