Provider profile
First Serve Cleaning and Restoration
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Indianapolis-area homeowners dealing with water damage who also need mold testing and removal handled by the same locally owned crew that has been operating since 2005.
Best for
- Indianapolis metro homeowners who want water damage restoration and mold removal from one local company without coordinating multiple contractors.
- Repeat-use carpet and upholstery cleaning customers in the Avon, Brownsburg, Carmel, Plainfield, and Zionsville suburbs who value consistent crews and easy online booking.
- Commercial property managers needing ongoing maintenance cleaning plus emergency water response from the same vendor.
- Homeowners with water emergencies who need a same-day response -- multiple reviewers confirm the company answered calls at odd hours and arrived quickly.
- Church, office, and multi-unit property owners who need large-area carpet or tile cleaning at scale.
About this company
First Serve Cleaning and Restoration operates out of Indianapolis's west side on W Morris Street, serving the greater Indianapolis metro. Founded in 2005, the company started as a carpet cleaning operation and expanded into water damage restoration and mold work. Their primary Google category is water damage restoration, and that remains their core identity -- mold removal and testing are secondary services they added as natural extensions of water work.
The mold removal page describes a five-step process: inspection, containment using negative air pressure, removal with EPA-registered disinfectants, moisture source correction, and post-remediation air quality testing. They also offer standalone indoor air quality inspections. On the cleaning side, they handle carpet, tile and grout, upholstery, mattress, and pet urine removal for both residential and commercial clients. Commercial customers can sign up for maintenance plans.
Todd, the owner, is named in reviews as someone who shows up personally for estimates and emergency calls. The company is locally owned, carries an A+ BBB rating, and runs a referral rewards program. Several reviewers mention using First Serve repeatedly over multiple years, and long-tenured staff names (Bryce, Austin, Glen) appear consistently across the review history.
4.9 stars across 888 Google reviews is unusually strong for a restoration company. That volume with that rating suggests the bulk of their work -- carpet cleaning and routine water jobs -- goes smoothly. The negative reviews cluster around higher-stakes restoration work where pricing and scope get complicated.
Services
Service area
First Serve is headquartered on W Morris Street in Indianapolis, Indiana. They list ten cities in their service area: Avon, Brownsburg, Carmel, Danville, Fishers, Greenwood, Indianapolis, Mooresville, Plainfield, and Zionsville. These are all within the greater Indianapolis metro, roughly a 30-mile radius.
Review consensus
Punctuality and friendliness dominate the positive reviews. Bryce, Austin, and Glen appear by name dozens of times, praised for being courteous, on time, and willing to explain their process. Todd, the owner, earns mentions for showing up personally on emergency calls and estimates. Several reviewers are repeat customers who have used First Serve for years and describe the company as their go-to for carpet cleaning and water emergencies. Sara Bender noted that the team started drying her two-story water leak almost immediately. Kyle Morrow called them out twice for ice dam damage and described being comfortable enough to leave Bryce, Todd, and Glen in his home unsupervised. Dawn M. singled out Andre and Austin for stain pre-treatment work. Gail Bloom appreciated that the carpet smelled fresh without being over-deodorized. Multiple reviewers mention easy online booking and same-day or next-day availability.
3 found across 888 total reviews at 4.9★. The three complaints each describe a different friction point. James Gray (Jan 2025) said he was told the inspection was free but the technician pushed a $600 air quality test once on-site -- he called it deceptive. The owner acknowledged the miscommunication and said they called to discuss it. Mahesh Karwa (Apr 2025) received a verbal estimate around $2,500 for basement flood drying and was invoiced $3,050; the owner pointed to contract language stating exact quotes are impractical for water work and noted the lien clause Mahesh signed. Wanda Starnes (Oct 2025) said the crew was on time the first couple days but then unreliable, and her insurance company switched to another provider; the owner attributed scheduling challenges to a community-wide surge of jobs.
The three complaints come from three different service categories (mold inspection, water restoration, water restoration scheduling), so there is no single recurring failure. What they share is a gap between initial verbal communication and what actually happens -- the free inspection that becomes a paid test, the ballpark estimate that jumps 25%, the reliable crew that stops showing up on time. The owner responds to every negative review with detailed, personalized replies that reference contract terms and internal records rather than offering template apologies. That suggests active reputation management, but the responses lean toward defending the company's position rather than conceding error.
Bryce (technician -- consistently praised for professionalism, punctuality, and friendliness). Austin (technician -- praised across many reviews for carpet cleaning, upholstery work, and water damage restoration). Glen/Glenn (technician -- praised for carpet cleaning quality and water damage work). Todd (owner -- praised for personal involvement in estimates and emergency calls; named in one negative review regarding pricing dispute). Andre (technician -- praised for carpet cleaning by Dawn M.). Mark (technician -- praised by Meghan Fox for carpet cleaning). Justin (technician -- praised by Mark Pfotenhauer for politeness and carpet work).
For carpet cleaning and routine water damage, First Serve has a track record that is hard to argue with at 888 reviews and 4.9 stars. The risk surfaces on larger restoration jobs where pricing is estimated rather than fixed. Ask Todd or whoever answers to walk you through the work authorization's pricing clause and lien terms before you sign. If you need mold testing, get that done by a separate firm so you have an independent opinion before committing to remediation here.
Keep in mind
- First Serve does both mold testing and mold removal. A company that tests for mold and then sells you the remediation has a financial incentive to find problems. Consider getting an independent test from a firm that does not do remediation.
- One reviewer described being told the initial inspection was free, then learning on-site that a $600 air quality test was needed instead. The owner acknowledged the miscommunication. Ask upfront what the inspection includes and whether air quality testing costs extra.
- Water restoration pricing is estimated, not fixed. The work authorization states that exact quotes are impractical before completion. One reviewer's final invoice came in roughly 25% above the verbal estimate. Get the estimate range in writing and ask what would cause the price to increase.
- The company responded to all three recent negative reviews, but one response cited contract language about liens for non-payment. Understand the payment terms and lien clause in the work authorization before signing.
- Their mold-specific experience is harder to gauge from reviews. The vast majority of reviews mention carpet cleaning or water damage. Few reviewers describe a standalone mold job.