Provider profile
1-800 Water Damage of Boise
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Boise-area homeowners dealing with water damage that has led to mold, who want a single franchise-backed crew to handle both cleanup and remediation.
Best for
- Boise, Meridian, or Eagle homeowners who discover mold after a water event and want one company to handle the full chain from water extraction through mold removal.
- Property managers and realtors who need a restoration company that bills insurance directly and communicates throughout the process.
About this company
1-800 Water Damage of Boise is a franchise location backed by BELFOR, the global property restoration firm. Doug and Nita Stern run the Boise operation out of North Wildwood Street, serving Boise, Meridian, Eagle, and surrounding areas. Their primary identity is water damage restoration, with mold remediation as a secondary service line.
The mold page references S520 guidelines for remediation and the site displays IICRC certification. They handle both mold testing and removal in-house, plus water extraction, fire and smoke damage, and sewage cleanup. The franchise model gives them access to national training and equipment resources while operating as a family-run local business.
Multiple reviewers describe them as family-operated, and several mention Doug, Nita, and Josh by name as primary points of contact. The company works directly with insurance companies and several reviewers specifically credit them with navigating claims and getting coverage approved.
Services
Service area
Based in Boise, Idaho at 1859 N Wildwood Way. Serves Boise, Meridian, Eagle, and surrounding areas in the Treasure Valley. One reviewer noted the company responded quickly despite being miles from the city.
Review consensus
Doug Stern (owner) appears in the most reviews and draws praise for showing up personally, explaining the full process upfront, and working with insurance. Josh is the most frequently named team member in recent reviews, credited with communication, insurance advocacy, and fast scheduling. Nita Stern handles coordination and follow-up calls. KC and Casey are praised for hands-on field work. Multiple reviewers highlight same-day or within-the-hour response times, and several insurance agents and property managers specifically endorse the company.
1 found across 98 total reviews at 4.9★. One renter described an 8-week timeline for a single laundry room repair, with protective walkway material tearing the hallway carpet. When she tried to reschedule finish work around the holidays, Josh sent a contractor anyway and followed up with a phone call she described as hostile and demanding. The owner Doug reached out to arrange a carpet patch, but the reviewer felt his apology was not genuine and that he was primarily interested in getting the review removed. The owner response from Nita offered to fix remaining issues but did not address the communication complaints.
The single negative review reveals a gap between the mitigation crew (praised even by the unhappy reviewer as "very kind") and the management/scheduling layer. Josh appears in both strong positives and the one negative, suggesting his direct communication style works well for most customers but landed poorly in at least one case. Owner response was brief and generic rather than engaging with the specific complaints about communication and carpet damage.
Doug Stern (owner — consistently praised for hands-on involvement and insurance navigation). Nita Stern (owner/coordinator — praised for responsiveness and follow-up). Josh (project manager — praised in multiple reviews for communication and insurance help; criticized in one review for hostile phone call). KC (technician — praised for field work). Casey (technician — praised for field work). Crystal (technician — praised). Glenn (technician — praised). Mike (technician — praised). Brad (technician — praised). Martha (staff — praised).
With 98 reviews at 4.9 stars and only one negative in the last 18 months, this is a well-regarded operation in Boise. Ask for Doug or Josh when booking, but set clear expectations in writing about timelines and scheduling. If finish work (drywall, trim, carpet) matters to you, ask upfront whether their own crew or a subcontractor handles it.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold testing and mold remediation. The same company identifying a mold problem and selling the fix creates a financial incentive to find mold. Consider getting an independent mold test before committing to their remediation scope.
- This is primarily a water damage company. Mold remediation is a secondary service line, not their core focus. If your mold issue is unrelated to water damage, ask how many standalone mold jobs they handle per month.
- One recent reviewer reported an 8-week timeline for a single-room water damage repair and carpet damage caused during the work. The owner reached out but the reviewer found the follow-up dismissive.
- As a franchise, the local team operates under BELFOR's national brand. Subcontractors handle some finish work like trim and drywall, which may differ in quality from the core crew's mitigation work.