Provider profile
First Call Restoration
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Hudson Valley homeowners dealing with mold after water damage who want an owner-operated restoration company with 20+ years in Poughkeepsie and financing through Wisetack.
Best for
- Poughkeepsie and Hudson Valley homeowners who need mold remediation from a company with deep local roots and over 20 years of restoration experience.
- Buyers and sellers dealing with mold found during a home inspection who need a company familiar with New York State mold assessment requirements.
- Property owners facing water damage that has led to mold — First Call handles both the water extraction and the mold remediation under one contract.
- Homeowners who need financing for remediation work, since First Call offers payment plans through Wisetack.
About this company
First Call Restoration is a locally owned restoration company based in Poughkeepsie, New York, serving the Hudson Valley across Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, and Ulster counties. Owner Mike holds a Council-level mold hygienist credential through ACAC. The company handles mold remediation, water damage, fire damage, sewage cleanup, and trauma cleanup for both residential and commercial properties.
On the mold side, they follow New York State's separation requirement: for areas over 10 square feet, a state-credentialed mold assessor writes the remediation plan and performs clearance testing, and First Call carries out the remediation work. Their mold page describes a seven-step process covering containment with negative air pressure, HEPA vacuuming, antimicrobial treatment, and post-remediation drying with dehumidification. The company also offers financing through Wisetack, which is uncommon for restoration work.
They have been in business for over 20 years. The website identifies the company as family-operated, and the owner response on the one recent negative review is signed by Janice, identified as president. Multiple reviewers describe the operation as hands-on — Mike personally handles estimates and site visits, while field crews led by Gary and Howard carry out the remediation.
A 4.8-star rating across 229 Google reviews is strong. The review volume and consistency suggest a company that stays busy and delivers reliably, with only one negative review in the last 18 months.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Poughkeepsie, New York. Serves the Hudson Valley across four counties: Dutchess County (Poughkeepsie, Beacon, Fishkill, Wappingers Falls, Hyde Park, Rhinebeck, and others), Orange County (Newburgh, Middletown, Goshen, Walden), Putnam County (Brewster, Mahopac), and Ulster County (New Paltz, Highland, Kingston, Wallkill). The listed service area is broad — over 80 towns across four counties — so response times may vary for locations far from Poughkeepsie.
Review consensus
Gary is the most frequently named crew lead, appearing in over a dozen reviews for mold and water damage work. Reviewers describe him as calm, reassuring, and consistent about providing progress updates. Mike (the owner) is praised for personally handling estimates, explaining the process clearly, and being accessible. Howard and Keith also receive repeated praise for detailed, clean work. Office staff — including Jen and Michelle — are noted for responsiveness and follow-up. Across the board, reviewers highlight fast response times, clean jobsites, and clear communication about scope and cost.
1 found across 229 total reviews at 4.8★. One reviewer described cut corners on a mold remediation job costing $14,000, multiple calls to the company, and feeling that the employees needed oversight. She said she asked to speak with the owner and never received a call. The owner's response disputed several points: the reviewer was not the direct client, no one was present during the work, a call recording showed no request to speak with the owner, a supervisor returned the same day the complaint was raised, and partial refunds were issued for unused equipment. The disagreement about whether the reviewer asked to speak with the owner is notable — both sides tell a different story.
The single negative review drew a detailed, personalized owner response signed by Janice (president), including specific facts about the timeline, refund amounts, and a reference to a call recording. This is not a template response. With only one negative in 18 months and a direct, fact-based reply, the company appears to take complaints seriously and engage with the specifics rather than deflecting.
Gary (lead technician — positive, named in 15+ reviews for mold and water work). Mike (owner, ACAC-credentialed mold hygienist — positive, handles estimates and site visits). Howard Johnson (technician — positive, praised for detailed and clean work). Keith (technician — positive, noted for workmanship). James/Jamie (technician — positive, praised alongside Gary on multiple jobs). Jen (customer service — positive). Michelle (customer service — positive). Jason (technician — positive). Anthony (technician — positive, fire damage). Ed (technician — positive). Jones/Mr. Jones (technician — positive). Janice (president — identified in owner response, also praised by name in two positive reviews). John (technician — positive).
With 229 reviews and a 4.8-star rating, First Call Restoration has an unusually strong track record for a restoration company. Ask for Gary or Howard if your job involves mold remediation — they are the most frequently praised crew leads. If your project is large, get the scope and pricing in writing before work begins, and confirm that an independent assessor will handle the assessment and clearance.
Keep in mind
- First Call does both mold testing (the owner is a ACAC-credentialed mold hygienist) and mold remediation. New York State law prohibits the same company from performing both the assessment and the remediation on the same project when the area exceeds 10 square feet, but for smaller jobs there is no such separation requirement. Ask upfront whether an independent assessor will be involved in your project.
- The service area spans four counties — Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, and Ulster — with dozens of listed towns. Confirm response times and availability if you are far from their Poughkeepsie headquarters.
- This is primarily a restoration company. Mold is one of several service lines alongside water damage, fire damage, sewage, and trauma cleanup. If your mold situation is not tied to a water or fire event, confirm the team assigned has mold-specific experience.
- The one recent negative reviewer reported difficulty reaching ownership and described feeling that corners were cut on a $14,000 job. The owner's detailed response disputed several claims and documented a same-day return visit with partial refunds.