Provider profile
First Choice Restoration
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
North Country homeowners in Clinton, Essex, or Franklin counties dealing with water damage or mold after a basement flood, burst pipe, or fire — Barry Racine's crew offers same-day response.
Best for
- Homeowners in Clinton, Essex, or Franklin counties who need same-day emergency response for water damage or basement flooding.
- Property owners dealing with mold after a water event — the crew handles both water mitigation and mold removal in one engagement.
- Fire and smoke damage recovery where the homeowner wants one company to handle cleanup through rebuild.
About this company
First Choice Restoration is a locally owned restoration company based in Chazy, New York, about 15 minutes north of Plattsburgh. Owner Barry Racine runs the operation with a small crew that handles water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold removal, and general disaster recovery across northeastern New York. Their primary identity is a full-service restoration contractor — they handle both the initial mitigation and the rebuild afterward.
The standout here is dry ice blasting, which they use for cleaning fire damage and getting into tight spaces during water restoration. That is an unusual capability for a small-market restoration company. They also use dehumidifiers and air movers for drying, and they handle insurance billing through Xactimate, the industry-standard pricing software. They explicitly state they will begin work before the adjuster arrives and manage insurance paperwork on the homeowner's behalf.
Barry Racine is the named owner, and his email and phone number are the primary contact points across the entire website. This is a hands-on owner-operator business serving Clinton, Essex, Franklin, and St. Lawrence counties. They advertise 24/7 availability with same-day emergency response.
A 4.9-star rating across 75 Google reviews with zero negatives in the last 18 months is unusually strong. The review volume is modest but consistent over several years, which suggests steady local demand rather than a spike from a single event.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Chazy, New York, about 15 minutes north of Plattsburgh. Serves Clinton, Essex, Franklin, and St. Lawrence counties in northeastern New York. Named cities include Plattsburgh, Lake Placid, Malone, Rouses Point, Dannemora, Elizabethtown, Port Henry, Ticonderoga, Fort Covington, and Tupper Lake.
Review consensus
Barry Racine is named repeatedly for fast response, honest assessments, and handling insurance claims on behalf of homeowners. Rob is praised for mold remediation work and reliability. Jim is mentioned in multiple reviews for hands-on sewage cleanup and water damage response. Reviewers consistently highlight same-day or next-day arrival, compassion during stressful situations like house fires, and willingness to work around homeowner schedules. Several reviewers note that Barry handled all insurance company communication, reducing their burden during emergencies.
0 found across 75 total reviews at 4.9★. No negative reviews found in the last 18 months. The only complaint theme mentioned anywhere in the review data is equipment noise during the drying process, which the company itself acknowledges on its FAQ page as the number one complaint from property owners who stay on-site during restoration.
This is a small owner-operator business in a rural market with limited competition. The consistently high ratings likely reflect both genuine quality and the personal-touch dynamic of a company where the owner shows up personally. Multiple reviewers mention Barry arriving within an hour, on weekends, or late at night. That level of owner involvement is sustainable at 75 reviews but may strain as volume grows.
Barry Racine (owner — praised across dozens of reviews for fast response, insurance handling, honesty, and compassion). Rob (crew member — praised for mold remediation work and reliability). Jim (crew member — praised for sewage cleanup, water damage response, and hands-on work).
Ask for Barry directly — he is the owner and handles initial assessments personally. Confirm the scope of mold remediation work upfront, especially whether they arrange for independent post-remediation testing. For emergencies, this crew has a strong track record of showing up fast, even on weekends and holidays.
Keep in mind
- Mold is not their primary focus. This is a general restoration company that does mold removal as part of water damage recovery. If you have a standalone mold problem unrelated to water or fire damage, ask whether they handle it the same way.
- The four-county service area covers a large geographic region. If you are on the far edges of Essex or St. Lawrence counties, confirm response times before assuming same-day arrival.
- Their website does not describe their mold remediation process in detail. No mention of post-remediation clearance testing or third-party verification. Ask about this before signing a contract.