Provider profile
First to Respond
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
San Fernando Valley homeowners dealing with water damage or mold who want the owner, Chris Colbert, answering the phone and managing their project directly.
Best for
- San Fernando Valley homeowners facing water damage or mold who want an owner-operated company where Chris Colbert manages the project personally.
- Buyers who need insurance coordination handled for them — multiple reviewers credit the company with managing the claims process from scope to completion.
- General contractors and plumbers looking for a reliable subcontractor for mold remediation and water damage restoration on client properties.
- Homeowners dealing with sewage backups or slab leaks who need same-day emergency response.
- First-time landlords or homeowners unfamiliar with mold remediation who want someone willing to explain the process and educate them on what's happening.
About this company
First to Respond operates out of Reseda and covers the San Fernando Valley, Greater Los Angeles, and parts of Ventura County. Chris Colbert owns and runs the company, and he answers the phone himself rather than routing calls through an answering service. Multiple general contractors and a plumber use them as their go-to for mold and water damage work, which says something about how the trades view their reliability.
They handle mold remediation, water damage restoration, sewage cleanup, fire and smoke damage, and a handful of niche services like hoarding cleanup and rodent bio cleanup. Their mold process follows IICRC standards: containment, removal of contaminated materials, antimicrobial treatment, and post-remediation clearance by an independent Indoor Environmental Professional. They carry CSLB license #1018174 and an EPA Lead-Safe Firm certification. The website claims 60-minute response times and 24/7 availability.
The company has been operating for over 25 years and describes itself as family-owned and locally operated. They work directly with insurance companies on billing and scope documentation, and several reviewers specifically credit them with navigating the insurance process.
With a 4.8-star Google rating across 52 reviews and a 4.7 on Yelp across 72 reviews, this is a strong track record. Only one review in the last 18 months falls below 4 stars. The volume is modest, but the consistency is notable.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Reseda, California. Serves the San Fernando Valley, Greater Los Angeles, and Ventura County, including Agoura Hills, Burbank, Calabasas, Canoga Park, Chatsworth, Encino, Glendale, Granada Hills, Hidden Hills, North Hollywood, Northridge, Porter Ranch, Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, Van Nuys, West Hills, Westlake Village, Woodland Hills, and Malibu. The claimed coverage area is wide — confirm response times for locations outside the Valley core.
Review consensus
Chris Colbert dominates the review narrative. Reviewers mention him by name in roughly half of all reviews, praising his communication, responsiveness, and willingness to answer the phone directly. Jose appears in six reviews with consistent praise for field work — Steph Wells called him "a hero." Ruben shows up in four reviews tied to mold remediation jobs. Multiple trade professionals — a general contractor (Shel W), a plumber (Phillip Quick-Flo Plumbing), and at least two other contractors — use First to Respond as their regular subcontractor, which is a strong trust signal from people who see restoration companies regularly. Reviewers repeatedly highlight insurance coordination, clean job sites, and fast arrival times.
1 found across 52 total reviews at 4.8★. The single recent complaint comes from Hollymom Productions (May 2025), who felt overcharged for a sewage cleanup that took under two hours after being told it was a "day job." The owner responded with specific details: the customer was charged the minimum of a quoted range, the property had no power (which they weren't told about in advance), and equipment couldn't be placed. The owner also clarified that "one day" means same-day completion, not a full shift onsite. The pricing disagreement is real, but the owner's response provides concrete context rather than a boilerplate deflection.
The contractor and plumber reviews are worth paying attention to. When trade professionals repeatedly choose the same restoration company for their own clients' jobs, it suggests consistent quality that holds up under the scrutiny of people who know the work. Chris Colbert's personal involvement in nearly every reviewed project — from answering the first call to managing the scope — is both the company's strength and a potential bottleneck. The single owner response is detailed and engages with the specific complaint rather than offering a generic phone number, which suggests genuine accountability rather than reputation management.
Chris Colbert (owner/project manager — consistently positive across 25+ reviews). Jose (field technician — positive, called "a hero" by one reviewer). Ruben/Reuben (technician — positive across 4 reviews). Jason (technician — positive, mentioned alongside Jose). Erick (technician — positive, one review). Byron (technician — positive, one review). Davin (technician — positive, water damage work). Kevin (technician — positive, sewer work). Eddie (technician — positive, sewer work).
Ask for Chris Colbert by name — he runs the projects and reviewers consistently credit him with strong communication. For field work, request Jose or Ruben if they're available. The one pricing complaint is worth noting but the owner's detailed response suggests a genuine miscommunication rather than a pattern of overcharging.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold inspection and mold remediation, which creates a conflict of interest. The same company that identifies a mold problem also profits from fixing it. Ask whether they'll accept a protocol from an independent inspector you hire separately.
- The service area claim is broad — San Fernando Valley, Greater LA, and Ventura County. If you're on the edges of that range (Malibu, Glendale, Culver City), confirm response times and whether the 60-minute arrival claim applies to your location.
- With 52 Google reviews over roughly 10 years, the volume is low for a company that's been around 25+ years. This isn't a red flag on its own, but you're working with a smaller sample than you'd get from a high-volume franchise.
- The website mentions COVID-19 disinfection, drug lab cleanup, and other specialty services alongside core water and mold work. Ask specifically about their experience volume on whatever service you need.