Provider profile
SERVPRO of Hawthorne/Lawndale
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Hawthorne and Lawndale homeowners dealing with water-triggered mold who want a franchise-backed crew that also handles the rebuild, under owner Ray Fong's direct oversight.
Best for
- Hawthorne, Lawndale, and Del Aire homeowners who need mold remediation tied to a water damage event and want one company handling cleanup through rebuild.
- HOA-managed condos dealing with pipe leaks or upstairs unit water intrusion — multiple reviewers were referred through their HOA.
- Homeowners who want the owner involved in their assessment, not just a dispatched crew — Ray Fong shows up personally for estimates and inspections.
- Situations where insurance coordination matters — reviewers mention Ray helping navigate insurance claims and dealings.
- Commercial properties needing 24/7 emergency water or mold response with franchise-level resources behind a local team.
About this company
SERVPRO of Hawthorne/Lawndale is a nationally franchised restoration company based at 13750 S Prairie Ave in Hawthorne, serving the South Bay communities of Hawthorne, Lawndale, and Del Aire. Ray Fong took over as owner recently, bringing a background in chemical engineering and 25 years managing large capital projects in the oil and gas industry.
The franchise handles the full water-to-mold pipeline: emergency water extraction, drying, mold remediation, and then reconstruction of drywall, flooring, and painting. Their mold remediation page describes containment procedures, air scrubbers, HEPA vacuums, and antimicrobial treatments. They also offer contents packout and storage at a separate facility. The ability to take a job from initial water damage through finished reconstruction under one contract is the main differentiator here.
Ray runs the franchise hands-on. Multiple reviewers describe him showing up personally for assessments, including on weekends. He holds a degree in chemical engineering, which is unusual for a restoration company owner. The franchise changed hands under him, so this is a relatively new operation under current leadership.
At 4.9 stars across 52 Google reviews, this is an exceptionally strong rating. Only one review in the last 18 months falls below 4 stars, and the owner disputes having any record of that reviewer. The volume is modest but the consistency is notable.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Hawthorne, California at 13750 S Prairie Ave. Their website lists three service cities: Hawthorne, Lawndale, and Del Aire. This is a tight geographic footprint in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County.
Review consensus
Raymond Fong draws the most mentions, praised repeatedly for showing up personally — including on Saturdays — giving transparent quotes, and communicating throughout projects. Alex Aguilar appears in at least eight reviews as a reliable crew lead who stays organized, arrives on time, and keeps job sites clean. Steve is praised by Rosie G and Monique B. for being hands-on and thorough. Reviewers from Torrance and Hawthorne highlight the crew's work ethic, with Scott Aratani specifically crediting Marat for keeping costs down. Brandon gets a callout from Mercedes Gutierrez for detailed mold testing explanations. Kelsey in the back office is named by Danny Quach and Yoli for smooth scheduling. Several reviewers mention fast response times, with Ray arriving within an hour of initial calls.
1 found across 52 total reviews at 4.9★. The sole recent negative is from Eloida Magana, who wrote that she called to make an appointment after a construction company referral. The review text appears incomplete — it cuts off without describing what went wrong. Ray responded the same day, stating they have no record of providing service to this person and suggesting the review may have been intended for another company. With only 4 total reviews on her account and no likes, this reads as a possible misdirected review rather than evidence of a service failure.
The owner-involvement model stands out. Ray Fong personally handles assessments and stays in communication throughout jobs, which is unusual for a franchise operation where owners often delegate entirely. This creates a bottleneck risk — if the business grows, one person cannot sustain that level of involvement. A notable secondary signal: two reviews appear to come from employees or associates (Andres Aguilar, who identifies as "Alex" working in construction, and Kelsea, who shares the name of the office coordinator). These do not change the overall picture given the volume of clearly independent reviews, but they are worth flagging.
Raymond Fong (owner — consistently positive, praised for transparency, communication, weekend availability). Alex Aguilar (crew lead — positive across 8+ reviews, praised for organization and punctuality). Steve (crew — positive, praised for thoroughness and answering questions). Marat (crew/project manager — positive, praised for cost-consciousness and responsiveness). Carlos (crew — positive, praised for hard work on drywall and flooring). Joel (crew — positive, mentioned alongside Carlos for reconstruction work). Freddy (crew — positive, mentioned for painting). Brandon (crew — positive, praised for detailed mold testing). Kelsea/Kelsey (back office — positive, praised for smooth scheduling).
Ask for Ray to handle your initial assessment — that direct owner involvement is the main thing separating this franchise from others. If your job involves both water damage and mold, get the mold testing done by an independent lab before committing to their remediation scope. The crew under Alex and Steve has a strong track record for cleanup and reconstruction, so the field work is solid.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold testing and mold remediation. In California, the same company testing for mold and then billing to fix it creates a financial incentive to find problems. Ask whether they will accept a third-party test result or recommend an independent assessor.
- This is a franchise that recently changed ownership. Ray Fong is a new owner, and while reviews under his leadership are strong, there is limited long-term track record under this specific management.
- The service area is narrow — Hawthorne, Lawndale, and Del Aire. If your property falls outside these cities, confirm they will actually service your location before scheduling.
- Most reviews reference water damage work, not standalone mold jobs. If you have a mold-only situation without a preceding water event, ask about their experience with those cases specifically.