Provider profile
SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove/Lake Zurich
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Buffalo Grove and Lake Zurich homeowners dealing with water damage that has turned into mold, where the same crew can handle extraction, remediation, and rebuild under one franchise.
Best for
- Homeowners in Buffalo Grove, Lake Zurich, Wheeling, or Vernon Hills who need mold remediation tied to water damage from flooding or pipe failures.
- Commercial property owners in food service, healthcare, or retail who need a single contractor to handle water extraction through mold cleanup and rebuild.
- Basement mold situations caused by sump pump failure or storm flooding, where the same crew that dries the space also remediates the mold.
- Homeowners who want contents packout and off-site storage during remediation so belongings are not damaged during the work.
About this company
SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove/Lake Zurich is a restoration franchise based at 1098 Johnson Drive in Buffalo Grove, IL, owned by Richard Pietranek and Jerome Murphy. Mold remediation is one piece of a broader operation that covers water damage, fire damage, storm response, sewage cleanup, and full reconstruction. Their crews hold IICRC training, and the franchise runs 24/7 emergency service.
On the mold side, they describe a process that starts with moisture mapping and containment, moves to HEPA air filtration and surface scrubbing, then removes damaged materials like drywall, carpet, and insulation. They apply antifungal and antimicrobial treatments before cleanup. They also do mold inspections and sampling in-house, and offer contents packout and storage when belongings need to be removed during remediation.
The franchise serves both residential and commercial clients. Their website lists industries including retail, healthcare, property management, hospitality, and food service. Richard Pietranek and Jerome Murphy have run this location for what they describe as decades, and the team appears rooted in the northwest suburbs community.
With a 4.6-star Google rating across 71 reviews, this is a solid score for a restoration company. The overwhelming majority of reviews are 5-star, with only 2 one-star reviews in the last 18 months. That ratio points to a team that delivers consistently, even if the negative experiences reveal some friction in the billing and follow-up process.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Buffalo Grove, IL. They list service coverage across Buffalo Grove, Lake Zurich, Wheeling, Vernon Hills, Mundelein, Lincolnshire, Long Grove, Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer, Deer Park, and Downtown Chicago. The Downtown Chicago claim is a stretch for a northwest suburbs franchise and worth confirming for response time.
Review consensus
Rene Martinez is the most frequently named crew lead, appearing in over a dozen reviews for water damage and basement restoration work. Reviewers describe him as responsive, clear in his communication, and willing to work weekends to reduce downtime. Hector draws similar praise for pipe burst and flooding jobs, with one reviewer calling his leadership a lifesaver during back-to-back hurricanes. Kurt Vanselow shows up in older reviews for sump pump and ejector pump emergencies, with a long-time commercial client praising 15 years of consistent work. Joseph, Matias, and Xavier earned specific praise for going above and beyond. David Cruz is named for mold and water damage jobs with detailed explanations. Speed is the dominant theme: multiple reviewers say crews arrived same-day and had equipment running within hours.
2 found across 71 total reviews at 4.6★. Two complaints stand out. Tim Ries says he was overbilled and that when he disputed the charges with photo evidence showing measurements that did not match his house, the company escalated with threats of legal action and additional fees. He paid under pressure. The owner's response was a brief, generic invitation to continue the discussion without addressing the billing specifics. Susan Katz, a Local Guide, waited nearly two weeks for an estimate that never came. She noted the initial visit felt organized, but the follow-up did not happen. The owner responded with another template message. Both owner responses follow the same format: acknowledge feedback, invite further contact, and do not address the specific complaint.
The owner responds to 100% of negative reviews, but both responses follow the same template structure without engaging with the substance of the complaint. This looks more like reputation management than problem-solving. The positive reviews, by contrast, show a crew that communicates well on-site. The gap between field execution and back-office follow-up (billing accuracy, estimate delivery, dispute handling) is the pattern here.
Rene Martinez (crew lead — positive, named in 12+ reviews). Hector (crew lead — positive, named in 5+ reviews). Kurt Vanselow (crew lead — positive, named in 5+ reviews). David Cruz (crew lead — positive, named in 3 reviews for mold and water damage). Joseph (technician — positive). Jacob (crew member — positive, named in 4+ reviews). Brad (technician — positive). AJ (technician — positive). Jhonny (coordinator — positive). Ben (team lead — positive). Ed (crew member — positive). Angel (crew member — positive). Leslie (crew member — positive). Rob (sales/presentation — positive). Ruben (crew member — positive). Liz (crew member — positive). Matias (technician — positive). Xavier (technician — positive).
Ask for Rene Martinez or Hector by name if you can. The field crews at this franchise deliver consistently fast, communicative work on water and mold jobs. Watch the billing closely: get a written estimate with specific square footage measurements before work starts, and do not let urgency prevent you from reviewing the numbers. If you need mold testing, hire an independent inspector first.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold testing and mold remediation. This is a conflict of interest: the company assessing whether you have a mold problem is the same company that profits from fixing it. Get an independent mold test before committing to remediation.
- One reviewer reported a billing dispute where charges did not match the home's actual measurements. When contested, the company responded with threats of legal action rather than addressing the discrepancy. The owner's public response did not engage with the billing specifics.
- Another reviewer waited almost two weeks for an estimate that never arrived. The emergency response is fast, but the follow-up paperwork may lag behind.
- Their service area stretches from Buffalo Grove to Downtown Chicago. For jobs on the edges of that range, confirm travel time and whether the same local crew handles your job.
- As a franchise, the local ownership and crew quality drive your experience. The named staff in reviews are specific to this location, not the SERVPRO brand overall.