Provider profile
Restore Pros
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Northeast Georgia homeowners dealing with crawl space mold or water damage who want a locally owned restoration company that handles mitigation through rebuild under one roof.
Best for
- Athens, Jefferson, Watkinsville, and surrounding Northeast Georgia homeowners who need mold removal in a crawl space or basement.
- Property owners who want one company to handle water extraction, mold cleanup, and the full rebuild rather than coordinating multiple contractors.
- Homeowners dealing with insurance claims for water or mold damage who want a contractor that uses insurance-grade estimating software and will advocate on their behalf.
- Commercial property managers needing restoration work, including veterinary hospitals, churches, and nonprofit facilities based on their project history.
- Homeowners who want crawl space moisture solutions without being pushed into a full encapsulation they do not need.
About this company
Restore Pros is a restoration company based in the Athens, Georgia, area that handles water damage, mold removal, fire damage, crawl space work, and storm damage for both homes and businesses. Founded by Ross Kesterson in 2008, they operate as a general contractor, meaning they take a project from the initial water extraction or mold cleanup all the way through structural repairs, drywall, painting, and finish work. That single-point-of-contact model is their main pitch.
What stands out is their crawl space work. Their website makes a point of saying most crawl spaces do not need full encapsulation and that many companies push it as an upsell. They offer vapor barriers, dehumidifier installation, soda blasting, and HEPA vacuuming as standalone options. They also use the same estimating software insurance companies use, and they position themselves as working for the homeowner rather than the insurer. They are not a "program contractor" for any insurance carrier.
Ross Kesterson has over 30 years of construction experience and holds Georgia licenses for both general contracting and electrical work. The company was selected by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) to weatherize homes across Northeast Georgia, which involved blower door testing, air sealing, and insulation work under third-party inspection. They won a 2025 Athens Community Choice Award for basement, foundation, and waterproofing services, and took home Athens Area Home Builders Association awards for basement remodel and whole house renovation.
4.8 stars on Google with 73 reviews is a strong rating for a company this size. The review volume is modest but the consistency is notable: nearly every review is 5 stars, with only 2 recent negatives.
Services
Service area
Restore Pros is based in the Athens/Jefferson area of Northeast Georgia. They serve Athens, Jefferson, Commerce, Watkinsville, Winder, Braselton, and the surrounding region. Their project case studies include jobs in Oconee County, Madison County, Jackson County, Oglethorpe County, Putnam County, Winterville, Colbert, Bethlehem, and Comer.
Review consensus
Jeff Davis is the most frequently named employee, praised by Patricia Bidinger, Leslie Sinyard, Kathi Waters, James Errigo, Meghan Riggs, Annette Jackson, Phillip M, Cheryl Vassiliadis, and others for clear communication, keeping projects on schedule, and being responsive. Ross Kesterson is praised by Rileigh Gamboa, Vicki Sykora, Jared Norton, Joel Harbin, David Forney, Hugh Watson, Leigh Munro, and Jackie Andrusceak for hands-on involvement and attention to detail. David Hankins draws praise from Eli Barnard and James Errigo for fast emergency response and skilled work. Multiple reviewers highlight the company's ability to handle insurance claims smoothly, with Beth Zelley noting her insurer accepted Restore Pros' quote without changes. Reviewers consistently mention strong communication and work completed on schedule.
2 found across 73 total reviews at 4.8★. (2 found across 73 total reviews at 4.8★) John Freeman left a 1-star review in October 2025 with no text. The owner responded saying they could not find any record of his project in their system. Freeman's Google account shows zero other reviews. Kiley Trammell left a 2-star review in January 2026 describing issues with payment communication, being left with tack strips and a messy house, and feeling the company would not advocate with her insurance. The owner responded saying they could not find a project under her name and suggested the review was intended for a different company. Trammell has 2 reviews on her account.
Both negative reviews received owner responses claiming no record of the customer exists. This is a pattern worth noting: it could mean the reviews were genuinely misdirected (the company name "Restore Pros" is generic enough to cause confusion), or it could be a deflection strategy. The owner response rate is 100%, which suggests active reputation management. Across positive reviews, the responses are personalized and reference specific project details, which lends some credibility to the claim that these negatives were misattributed.
Jeff Davis (project coordinator — consistently positive, named in 10+ reviews for communication and coordination). Ross Kesterson (founder/CEO — consistently positive, praised for hands-on involvement and detail). David Hankins (mitigation coordinator — positive, praised for emergency response). Bryan (tile and electrical work — positive, named by Meghan Riggs). Tate (project manager/cabinetry — positive, named by Meghan Riggs). Chris (cabinetry — positive, named by Meghan Riggs).
Restore Pros earns their 4.8-star rating through consistent communication and follow-through, particularly from Jeff Davis and Ross Kesterson. Ask for Jeff or Ross by name when you call. If you are hiring them for mold work, get an independent mold test before or after their remediation to confirm the scope of work is appropriate, since they handle both testing and cleanup.
Keep in mind
- Restore Pros does both mold testing and mold remediation. When the same company tests for mold and then profits from the cleanup, there is a financial incentive to find problems. Ask whether they will accept a third-party test result or recommend an independent testing firm.
- Their address is not listed on their Google Business Profile, which makes it harder to confirm their physical location. Their website and reviews point to Jefferson, GA, as their base.
- Most of their review volume comes from water damage and remodeling projects, not mold-specific work. If you need mold remediation specifically, ask how many standalone mold jobs they complete per month.
- The company describes its service area as Northeast Georgia broadly, covering Athens, Jefferson, Commerce, Watkinsville, Winder, and Braselton. Confirm response time for your specific location before booking.
- Crawl space restoration costs they cite range from $6,000 to $12,000 for an 1,800 sq. ft. home. Get a written scope of work before committing so you understand what is included at that price.