Provider profile
First Priority LLC
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Gilberts-area homeowners dealing with water damage that has led to mold, where having one company handle extraction, drying, remediation, and reconstruction under a single insurance claim simplifies the process.
Best for
- Homeowners in the Gilberts and northwest suburbs of Chicago who need mold remediation tied to a recent water damage event.
- Property owners who want a single company to handle water extraction, mold removal, and reconstruction under one insurance claim.
- Landlords or commercial property managers needing 24/7 emergency response — multiple reviewers confirm after-hours and weekend availability.
- Buyers whose insurance company has recommended or assigned First Priority for a covered loss.
About this company
First Priority Restoration is a full-service restoration company based in Gilberts, Illinois, with a second location in Odessa, Florida. Mold remediation is one piece of a broader operation that covers water damage, fire and smoke damage, storm damage, reconstruction, and board-up services. Their primary identity is disaster recovery, not mold-only work.
What stands out is the end-to-end model. They handle the water extraction that caused the mold, the remediation itself, and the reconstruction afterward — all in-house. Their mold page describes containment, air scrubber use, antimicrobial treatment, structural drying, and clearance testing. They also coordinate directly with insurance carriers, documenting the loss and managing the claim. For someone whose mold problem traces back to a covered water event, this single-vendor approach can reduce the coordination burden.
The company displays IICRC, ICRA, Indoor Air Quality Association, Haag, and HAZWOPER logos on their about page. They are a BBB-listed business and a member of the Restoration Industry Association. Corporate headquarters sit in Odessa, Florida, with the Illinois office at 114 Industrial Drive in Gilberts.
Their Google rating is 4.1 stars across 42 reviews. That is below the threshold where a rating speaks for itself. The positive reviews are strongly positive — multiple customers name specific project managers and describe months-long reconstruction projects completed well. But the negatives describe real problems with workmanship and follow-through on the construction side, which pulls the average down.
Services
Service area
First Priority Restoration is headquartered in Gilberts, Illinois, with a second location in Odessa, Florida. Their contact page describes serving homeowners and businesses across the Midwest and Florida. For the Illinois location, expect service in the northwest Chicago suburbs and surrounding Kane County area. Confirm coverage for your specific city before booking.
Review consensus
Lou Falco is the most-named staff member, praised across multiple reviews for honest communication, project management, and follow-through on water damage and fire restoration jobs. Mike appears in recent reviews for helpfulness coordinating damage assessments. Rick Becker drew praise for quality reconstruction on fire-damaged homes. TJ was named in multiple older reviews for fast emergency response, including arriving within 30 minutes and managing the aftermath of a house fire. Reviewers consistently highlight quick emergency response, insurance coordination, and clear communication during long-term projects. Several customers describe months-long reconstruction projects that ended with their homes looking as good as or better than before the damage.
3 found across 42 total reviews at 4.1★. Three complaints in the last 18 months describe problems with construction quality and project management. Kubus Ziomalos (October 2025) said the company missed deadlines twice, did poor work, never finished the job, and still demanded payment. Fernando Bedoya (July 2025) described workers who needed Google Translate to communicate, a young foreman who lacked construction knowledge, work that did not meet code, corners being cut, rotting wood covered up, and old mold-contaminated insulation being reused. Joseph Leeper (February 2025) described having to push repeatedly for anything to get done, work being completed incorrectly, and the COO responding to quality concerns by insisting they deserved payment for work performed. Leeper specifically noted the company might be acceptable for emergency services but not for normal contractor work.
All three recent complaints target the construction and reconstruction side of the business, not emergency mitigation. This suggests a split in quality between the emergency response team (which draws consistent praise) and the reconstruction crews. The company has zero owner responses on recent negative reviews, which means there is no public accountability for these complaints. One positive reviewer (Nancy Kramer, May 2025) explicitly asked readers to disregard bad reviews because the company is under new leadership — this suggests internal awareness of past quality issues but also means the negative reviews may reflect a transitional period.
Lou Falco (project manager — positive across multiple reviews for communication, honesty, and thoroughness). Mike (damage assessment coordination — positive in recent reviews). Rick Becker (reconstruction — positive for quality rebuilding after house fires). TJ (emergency response — positive in older reviews for speed and guidance). Alan Yasdick (project manager — positive in one review for coordination with insurance). Rob (project management — positive for insurance claim navigation and responsiveness). Ivan (water damage — positive for attentiveness). Andreas (field work — positive for attention to detail). Elijia (water damage mitigation — positive for professionalism). David Buenzow (restoration — positive). Adam Strojny (restoration — positive). Kim Sizemore (restoration — positive). Denny (roofing — positive for quality concerns). John (fire restoration — positive).
Ask for Lou Falco as your project manager if the job involves anything beyond emergency mitigation — he is the most consistently praised name across reviews. Get a written scope of work with deadlines before reconstruction begins, since the complaints center on unfinished or substandard construction. If your mold problem requires significant rebuilding afterward, consider getting a separate bid from an independent contractor for the reconstruction portion. The company does not respond publicly to negative reviews, so if something goes wrong, you will need to escalate directly.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold testing and mold remediation. This is a conflict of interest — the company that finds the mold also gets paid to remove it. Ask whether they will accept a third-party test or recommend an independent inspector.
- The negative reviews cluster around reconstruction and contractor work, not emergency mitigation. One reviewer specifically said the company may be good for emergency services but not normal contractor work. If your job involves significant rebuilding, scrutinize the crew and foreman assigned to your project.
- At 4.1 stars with 42 reviews, this is a below-average Google rating for a restoration company. Three one-star reviews in the last 18 months describe missed deadlines, unfinished work, and substandard construction quality.
- They operate in both Illinois and Florida. Confirm which crew and office will handle your job, since staff and management differ between locations.
- No owner responses appear on any of the three recent negative reviews. That zero-percent response rate means you cannot see the company's side of those complaints.