Provider profile
United Water Restoration Group of Pinellas County
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Pinellas County homeowners dealing with water damage or mold after plumbing failures or storms who want a locally owned franchise operation with 24/7 response and direct insurance coordination.
Best for
- Pinellas County homeowners facing water damage from plumbing failures, storms, or appliance leaks who need same-day or overnight response.
- Property owners who want a single company to handle water extraction, structural drying, and mold remediation under one scope of work.
- Commercial property managers in the Clearwater, St. Petersburg, or Largo area who need after-hours emergency restoration with insurance documentation.
- Condo owners dealing with water intrusion from neighboring units who need thermal imaging to map hidden moisture.
About this company
United Water Restoration Group of Pinellas County is a locally owned franchise location based in Clearwater, FL, handling water damage, mold remediation, and fire restoration across Pinellas County. They operate under the national United Water Restoration Group brand, which gives them standardized training and processes while keeping local ownership.
Their mold remediation process includes containment barriers, negative air pressure systems, antimicrobial treatments, and structural drying with dehumidification. They offer free visual assessments for mold and water damage. On the water side, they handle extraction, structural drying, and sanitization. They also do fire and smoke damage restoration including board-up, tarping, soot removal, and rebuild coordination. The website describes this as a newer location, though reviews go back over a year and mention consistent staffing.
The operation appears to run with a small, tight crew. Luis Betancourt serves as operations manager, Doug Littlejohn as field supervisor, and Royce Hollandsworth as lead technician, with Joey rounding out the field team. Multiple reviewers mention the same names handling their jobs from assessment through completion, which suggests you are likely to work with the same people throughout your project.
At 4.9 stars across 161 Google reviews, this is an unusually strong rating for a restoration company. Most of the positive reviews cite specific staff by name and describe particular situations rather than leaving generic praise, which lends credibility to the score.
Services
Service area
Based in Clearwater, FL, serving Pinellas County. The website names Belleair Bluffs, Clearwater, Dunedin, Gulfport, Largo, Oldsmar, Palm Harbor, Pinellas Park, Safety Harbor, Seminole, St. Petersburg, and Tarpon Springs. All listed cities are within Pinellas County, so the coverage claim is reasonable for a single-location operation.
Review consensus
Luis Betancourt and Doug Littlejohn are named in the majority of reviews. Luis is praised for fast response times, clear explanations of the process, and being available by phone at odd hours. Doug is described repeatedly as patient, calming, and willing to walk homeowners through each step. Royce Hollandsworth draws praise for reliable follow-through and technical knowledge, with multiple reviewers noting he checked in regularly and arrived on schedule. Joey is mentioned alongside Royce for efficient fieldwork. Reviewers consistently highlight same-day or next-morning response, clear communication about what to expect, and respectful treatment of their homes. Several reviewers specifically note the team's honesty about costs and willingness to answer repeated questions without impatience.
1 found across 161 total reviews at 4.9★. The sole recent complaint is a billing dispute. Stef initially left a 5-star review praising Luis and Doug for a slab leak response, then changed it to 1 star after receiving a $2,033 invoice for work she says never occurred. The invoice listed heavy cleaning, antimicrobial treatment, negative air filter use, HEPA vacuuming, content manipulation, and hazardous waste removal — none of which she says happened. She also noted the invoice showed 7 days of dehumidifier use when she was told it would be 5. She reported weeks of unreturned calls and texts from the two employees who had previously been responsive. Her original review had praised their communication and fair pricing, making the reversal notable.
The owner's response to Stef's review is telling — it responds to her original positive review text, thanking her for recognizing Luis and Doug, but does not acknowledge the updated billing complaint at all. This suggests the business either has not noticed the review was changed or has chosen not to engage with the negative portion. Given that this is the only negative review in 18 months, it is not a pattern, but the non-response to the update is worth noting as a data point about how complaints are handled when they arise.
Luis Betancourt (operations manager — overwhelmingly positive, named in 25+ reviews for responsiveness and clear explanations). Doug Littlejohn (field supervisor — overwhelmingly positive, praised for patience, kindness, and walking customers through the process). Royce Hollandsworth (lead technician — positive, praised for reliability, punctuality, and technical knowledge). Joey (technician — positive, mentioned alongside Royce for efficient fieldwork).
This is a small, relationship-driven operation where you will likely work directly with Luis and Doug from start to finish. The 4.9-star rating across 161 reviews is backed by detailed, specific praise. The one billing dispute is worth taking seriously — review your scope of work document before authorizing any services, and confirm in writing what will be charged and for how many days of equipment use.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold assessment and mold remediation, which is a conflict of interest — the same company diagnosing the problem also profits from fixing it. Get an independent mold test before and after remediation.
- One reviewer reported receiving a $2,033 invoice for services she says were never performed, including items like heavy cleaning, HEPA vacuuming, and hazardous waste removal. She described weeks of unresolved back-and-forth. Review your scope of work and invoice line items carefully before paying.
- The owner's response to the billing complaint addressed the original positive version of the review, not the updated negative one. This suggests the business may not be monitoring review updates closely.
- As a franchise location, local ownership decisions are made independently, but processes and training come from the national brand. Ask who makes decisions on pricing and scope if questions arise.