Provider profile
First Contact Restoration
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Canton Township homeowners dealing with water damage, fire damage, or mold who want a single family-owned company to handle insurance claims, remediation, and reconstruction under one roof.
Best for
- Canton Township, Plymouth, Northville, and western Wayne County homeowners dealing with water damage, fire damage, or mold who want one company to handle the entire project from emergency response through rebuild.
- Insurance claim situations where you want a contractor experienced in working directly with adjusters, writing estimates in insurance language, and managing the claim process on your behalf.
- Homeowners who need both remediation and reconstruction and prefer not to coordinate separate contractors for demolition, mold removal, drywall, flooring, and painting.
- Property owners with fire or smoke damage who need a company that handles mitigation and full structural reconstruction, not just cleaning.
About this company
First Contact Restoration is a family-owned restoration and remodeling company based on Joy Road in Canton Township, Michigan. They claim over 50 years of experience and handle the full arc of property damage: emergency mitigation, remediation, and reconstruction. Their primary Google category is water damage restoration, but mold remediation and fire/smoke damage are core services. They also do general construction work including kitchen, bathroom, and basement remodeling. Owner Don Baumer runs the operation directly and is a member of the Plymouth, Canton, and West Bloomfield Chambers of Commerce.
What stands out is how much of the process they keep in-house. They handle insurance claim coordination, mitigation, and the rebuild, which means one company manages the project from the emergency call through final inspection. Their mold remediation page describes using moisture meters, infrared cameras, HEPA filtration, air scrubbers, negative air pressure containment, and antimicrobial treatments. They also offer a separate emergency line for after-hours calls.
Don Baumer appears personally involved in most projects based on review evidence. Multiple reviewers describe him providing detailed quotes, supervising work, and communicating directly with insurance adjusters. The company is listed as a preferred vendor with at least one insurance carrier (USAA, per one reviewer). They staff IICRC-holding technicians and state that workers are background-checked and drug-tested.
At 4.8 stars across 73 Google reviews with zero negative reviews in the last 18 months, this is a notably strong rating. The volume is modest but the consistency is unusual for a restoration company, where insurance disputes and timeline frustrations typically generate at least some complaints.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Canton Township, Michigan on Joy Road. They list service across Western Wayne County, Oakland County, Washtenaw County, and Livingston County, naming Canton, Plymouth, Northville, Westland, Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Birmingham, Novi, Livonia, West Bloomfield, and South Lyon. That is a broad area for a single-location family company, so confirm availability and response time for locations outside the Canton/Plymouth core.
Review consensus
Don Baumer is mentioned by name in the majority of reviews and praised for clear communication, detailed quoting, honest pricing, and direct involvement in each project. Reviewers repeatedly highlight his insurance knowledge, with multiple customers crediting him for navigating complex claims with their carriers. Jaidin (also spelled Jaiden) and Juston (also spelled Justin) are a frequently named field crew praised for quality finish work on ceilings, drywall, and built-in cabinetry. Joel is named for responsive water damage mitigation work. The team overall draws praise for punctuality, cleanliness, and willingness to address small details beyond the scope of the main job.
0 found across 73 total reviews at 4.8★. No negative reviews (3 stars or below) appear in the last 18 months across 73 total reviews at 4.8 stars. There is no recent complaint data to analyze. One 4-star review from April 2026 was left without text, offering no insight into what fell short.
The absence of recent negatives is itself a pattern worth noting. Restoration work inherently involves stressed homeowners, insurance disputes, and timeline pressure, all of which typically generate at least occasional complaints at scale. With 73 reviews, the lack of any recent negative could reflect genuinely strong service, a small enough operation that Don Baumer maintains personal oversight of every job, or some degree of review management. The company does actively solicit reviews on its website.
Don Baumer (owner/project manager — consistently positive, named in 20+ reviews for communication, insurance handling, and project oversight). Jaidin/Jaiden (field technician — positive, named in 5 reviews for quality ceiling, drywall, and carpentry work). Juston/Justin (field technician — positive, named alongside Jaidin in 5 reviews for efficient, quality work). Joel (technician — positive, named in 1 review for responsive water damage mitigation). Josh (inspector — positive, named in 1 review for prompt inspection after a toilet overflow). Lisa (office/team — positive, named in 1 review alongside Don as part of the team). Mr. Baumer (owner, referenced formally in 1 review for clear project planning).
This is a well-reviewed family operation where Don Baumer stays personally involved. If you hire them, ask for Don to be your point of contact and confirm he will oversee your specific project. Since they handle both testing and remediation, get an independent mold assessment before agreeing to remediation work so you have a neutral baseline.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold testing and mold remediation. This is a conflict of interest: the company that finds mold profits from removing it. Ask whether they will accept a third-party mold assessment, or request an independent inspector before committing to remediation.
- Their website claims service across four counties (Wayne, Oakland, Washtenaw, Livingston) and lists 11 cities plus 'surrounding areas.' That is a broad footprint for a single-location family operation. Confirm response times and availability for your specific location before booking.
- Most reviews reference residential water damage and reconstruction work. Mold-specific reviews are sparse. If your project is primarily mold remediation, ask for references from mold-specific jobs.
- Several reviews mention subcontractors performing the hands-on work. The quality appears consistent, but ask who will actually be on-site for your project and whether Don Baumer will oversee it directly.