Provider profile
SERVPRO of Ames
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Ames and Story County homeowners dealing with basement flooding or post-water-damage mold who want a franchise crew that answers 24/7 and coordinates directly with insurance adjusters.
Best for
- Ames, Boone, Nevada, Huxley, and surrounding Story County or Boone County homeowners who need mold remediation tied to a recent water event.
- Property managers with multi-unit basement flooding who need a single crew to handle water extraction, mold work, and reconstruction under one contract.
- Homeowners filing insurance claims for mold or water damage who want the restoration company to coordinate paperwork directly with the adjuster.
- Commercial property owners in central Iowa who need after-hours emergency mold or water response with 24/7 availability.
About this company
SERVPRO of Ames is a franchise restoration company headquartered on 230th Street in Ames, Iowa, serving Story County and Boone County. Mold is one piece of a broader operation that covers water damage, fire damage, sewage cleanup, storm response, construction, and general cleaning. They do both mold inspection and remediation in-house.
Their mold page describes a seven-step process: inspection, containment, air filtration with air scrubbers and HEPA vacuums, removal of infested materials using antimicrobial treatments, cleaning of structural elements and HVAC systems, and restoration. They mention IICRC certification in applied microbial remediation and offer a free initial mold inspection. The same crew handles water extraction, structural drying, and reconstruction, so they can address the moisture source and the mold growth in a single engagement.
Jeffrey M. Short and Anne M. Ellingson-Short own this franchise. The SERVPRO brand dates to 1967, though the Ames location's specific start date is not listed on the website. They staff a sizable field crew that rotates across projects and occasionally deploys as a storm team to out-of-state disasters.
At 4.8 stars across 109 Google reviews, this is a strong rating for a restoration company handling high-stress emergency work. The overwhelming majority of reviews praise fast response times and named technicians who communicate clearly throughout the process.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Ames, Iowa. Serves Story County and Boone County, including Ames, Boone, Nevada, Huxley, Story City, Madrid, Ogden, Roland, Gilbert, Maxwell, Colo, Cambridge, and Slater. Reviews confirm jobs as far out as Ankeny, Iowa Falls, Lehigh, Belle Plaine, and Rockwell City, plus out-of-state storm team deployments to Illinois.
Review consensus
Joe appears in the most reviews, praised across basement flooding, carpet cleaning, and general cleanup for working hard and communicating well. Gage draws repeated praise for keeping homeowners updated throughout drying projects. Jill, described as a project manager, earns trust for clear upfront explanations and follow-through. Preston Johnson led a renovation after a flood and earned praise for communication and going beyond the scope. James and Dalton handled a mold job that a reviewer described as going above and beyond. Brian Burkle earned a 4-star review for having the homeowner's back throughout a longer-than-expected project. Multiple reviewers highlight same-day or next-day response to weekend and holiday emergencies. Insurance coordination comes up repeatedly as a strength.
3 found across 109 total reviews at 4.8★. Joshua Kyle (Local Guide, 14 reviews) described a remediation job where affected areas were missed while undamaged ceiling shiplap was removed unnecessarily. Workers openly complained about the job and the company. The final cost was nearly double the original quote. After the work, standing water was left in a removed toilet and an exposed sewer drain was not blocked. The owner responded with a generic template offering a phone number but did not address any specific concern. Daman Ardoin reported that after a house fire, SERVPRO had no documentation for recovered items, and valuable merchandise including autographed memorabilia was missing. Kayla Johnson described a move where a pool table was damaged, two workers fought in the driveway, and a lien was placed on the home despite the bill being paid in full. The owner's response to Johnson was the same template used for Kyle.
The three complaints span different service types (remediation, fire contents, moving) and share no single operational thread, suggesting one-off crew issues rather than a systemic problem. The owner response pattern is notable: both visible responses use identical template language that does not engage with specifics. This looks like reputation management rather than genuine problem-solving.
Joe (technician — consistently positive, most-mentioned employee across water damage and cleaning). Gage (technician — consistently positive, praised for updates and knowledge). Jill (project manager — positive, praised for trust-building and clear explanations). Preston Johnson (renovation lead — positive, praised for communication and follow-through). James (technician — positive, praised for mold work and sewage response). Dalton (technician — positive, praised for mold cleanup). Brian Burkle (project lead — positive, praised for advocacy). Dylan (technician — positive, praised for going above and beyond). Cade (technician — positive). Jose/Jose Morales (technician — positive). Alex/Alex Hernandez (technician — positive). Esteban (technician — positive). Terrance (technician — positive). Michael/Michael Galloway (technician — positive). Sando (technician — positive, praised for insurance coordination). Nate (technician — positive, praised for out-of-state storm response). Jaxson (technician — positive). Drissa Pare (technician — positive). Chris/Kris (technician — positive). Carrie (project manager — positive, praised for honest assessments). Don (technician — positive). OJ (technician — positive). Majak (technician — positive). Daqwan (technician — positive). Francisco (technician — positive). Pedro (technician — positive). Rebecca (technician — positive). Zach (technician — positive). Sam (technician — positive). Teotts (technician — positive).
For water damage and basement flooding in the Ames area, this crew has a strong track record of fast response and clear communication. For mold-specific work, ask for a written scope with itemized pricing before work begins, and get an independent mold test given the testing-and-remediation conflict. Request Joe or Gage if they are available, and confirm Jill or another named project manager will oversee the job from start to finish.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold testing and mold remediation. This is a conflict of interest: the same company that tells you whether you have a mold problem also profits from fixing it. Consider getting an independent mold test before committing to remediation.
- One recent 1-star review described a remediation job where the final cost nearly doubled the original quote with little explanation. Get a detailed written scope and pricing breakdown before work starts, and ask how change orders are handled.
- Two of three recent negative reviews mention template owner responses that offer a phone number but do not address the specific complaint. If something goes wrong, persistence in follow-up may be needed.
- Most of their review volume comes from water damage and flood cleanup. Mold-specific reviews are sparse, so their track record is harder to evaluate for mold-only jobs.
- As a franchise, crew composition changes frequently. The technician praised in one review may not be assigned to your project.