Provider profile
The Helping Company LLC
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Berks County homeowners dealing with storm or water damage who want one contractor to handle the insurance claim, mold remediation, and rebuild under a single contract.
Best for
- Homeowners in Berks County and surrounding southeastern PA counties who need mold remediation tied to a water or storm damage insurance claim.
- Property owners who want a single contractor to handle testing, remediation, reconstruction, and the insurance claim process without coordinating multiple companies.
- Homeowners dealing with emergency water damage who need same-day or next-day response with 24/7 availability.
- Residential customers who value working with a locally owned, community-rooted company rather than a national franchise.
- Commercial property managers in the Reading area who need restoration services with Xactimate-based insurance documentation.
About this company
The Helping Company is a family-owned roofing and restoration contractor based in Reading, Pennsylvania. Owner Travis Frees holds an IICRC Master designation — the highest credential in the restoration industry — and has 25 years of experience managing insurance restoration claims. The company started as a roofing outfit and expanded into water damage restoration, fire and smoke damage restoration, and mold remediation. They are primarily a roofing and exteriors company that also handles restoration work.
What stands out is their insurance claims operation. They write estimates in Xactimate (the same software insurance adjusters use), employ HAAG-certified inspectors for storm damage documentation, and handle supplement submissions to recover additional funds from carriers. They describe themselves as managing the entire process from first notice of loss through final payment. Their mold remediation page references IICRC S520 standards, containment with negative air pressure, HEPA filtration, antimicrobial treatment, and third-party clearance testing. They also offer 24/7 emergency service and financing through multiple lenders.
Travis Frees is a 2008 Governor Mifflin graduate who built the company with friends and family. The team includes sales associates Trevor Frees and Chris Heller, production manager Extin Laub, remodeling manager Zack Hadden, and office manager Marissa Frees. The company holds a PA contractor license (#PA149251), BBB A+ rating since 2019, and is a CertainTeed ShingleMaster. They sponsor local youth sports teams, the Governor Mifflin Education Foundation, Girls on the Run Berks, and other Berks County organizations.
At 4.9 stars across 192 Google reviews, this is a notably high rating for a company with this volume. Most of the positive reviews cite fast response times and specific employees by name, which suggests the rating reflects consistent individual performance rather than review solicitation.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania (Berks County). They list service coverage across Berks, Montgomery, Chester, Lancaster, York, Lebanon, Lehigh, Dauphin, and Schuylkill counties. That is a broad footprint for a single-location company — confirm crew availability for locations far from Reading.
Review consensus
Aaron Steenburgh is the most frequently named employee in positive reviews. Reviewers describe him arriving quickly, fixing siding and gutter issues same-day, and often not charging for minor repairs. Extin Laub draws praise for clear communication, detailed timing, and follow-through on production management. Travis Frees is praised for personal involvement, helping customers navigate insurance claims, and going above expectations on emergency timelines. Chris (Chris C / Chris Heller) is praised for thorough inspections and responsiveness. Dawson Kramer gets positive mentions for quick estimates and easy interactions. Jackie (Jaclyn Hackman) is noted for smooth appointment scheduling. Multiple reviewers highlight fast response times — several describe getting same-day or next-day service for storm damage and siding repairs. The insurance claim assistance is a recurring praise theme, with reviewers saying the company handled adjuster meetings and secured higher payouts.
2 found across 192 total reviews at 4.9★. Two 1-star reviews describe a pattern of scheduling delays after deposits are paid. Taryn Skinner paid in full for a roof replacement, then waited seven months for work to begin, filing a BBB complaint before the company showed up. She reports the upper roof was still leaking after partial work, and describes confrontational interactions with the owner including name-calling and a cease-and-desist letter sent to pressure review removal. The owner's response attributes delays to a pandemic shutdown and a production manager quitting without notice. Chris Timmons paid a $5,000 deposit and describes a year of broken scheduling promises with no work completed and no refund. The owner's response claims seven documented outreach attempts went unanswered, and offers a deposit refund if requested in writing. Of the three 2-star reviews, David Doney describes a bait-and-switch where workers completed about 30% of the quoted scope after months of waiting, though the owner waived the remaining balance. Hazem Mansour reports a leak caused by missing caulk during a roof replacement, with weeks of unanswered messages before filing an Attorney General complaint — though the owner says a technician visited within days and the communication gap fell over the holiday week. R.M. says they never received a promised quote and got no follow-up; the owner says they cannot locate this customer in their system.
The negative reviews cluster around a specific failure mode: the company collects payment or a deposit, then scheduling repeatedly slips with little proactive communication. This contrasts sharply with the positive reviews, which consistently praise fast initial response. The gap suggests the company is strong at winning new work and responding to emergencies but sometimes struggles to manage production queues for scheduled projects. The owner responds to 100% of negative reviews with detailed, personalized replies that provide specific dates and counterpoints — this is not template reputation management. However, some responses include defensive elements (cease-and-desist letters, inability to locate customers) that may concern readers.
Travis Frees (owner — praised for personal involvement and insurance expertise in many positives; criticized for confrontational behavior and delays in Taryn Skinner's 1-star review). Aaron Steenburgh (service technician — consistently positive across many reviews for same-day repairs, courtesy work, and responsiveness). Extin Laub (production manager — praised for communication and quality in multiple positives; named in Hazem Mansour's 2-star as the technician who identified a workmanship error). Chris / Chris C / Chris Heller (sales associate — praised for inspections and follow-through in several positives). Dawson Kramer (sales associate — praised for quick estimates in multiple positives). Trevor Frees (sales associate — praised for responsiveness in positives). Jackie / Jaclyn Hackman (social media manager / office admin — praised for appointment scheduling). Zack / Zach Hadden (remodeling manager — praised for window replacement work). Efrain (crew — praised in window replacement review).
Ask for Aaron Steenburgh or Extin Laub if your project involves field work — they have the strongest track records in reviews. Get a written schedule with milestone dates before paying any deposit, and structure payments so the majority is due at completion. If your project involves mold remediation specifically, ask how many mold jobs they have completed in the past year and whether Travis personally oversees the remediation scope.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold testing and mold remediation. Their website says they work with third-party industrial hygienists for testing, but you should confirm that the testing company has no financial relationship with The Helping Company and that you can choose your own tester.
- The most serious complaints involve long delays after deposits are collected. Two separate 1-star reviewers describe waiting months (one waited a year) for work to begin after paying upfront. Consider structuring payments so the bulk is due at completion.
- This is primarily a roofing and exteriors company. Mold remediation and water damage restoration are part of their service offering, but the vast majority of their reviews are for roofing and siding work. Ask how many mold remediation projects they complete per year.
- Their service area claims span 9+ counties across southeastern PA. For locations far from their Reading headquarters, confirm they will send their own crews rather than subcontracting.
- Owner Travis Frees is personally involved in many projects, which reviewers praise. But one detailed 1-star review describes contentious interactions with the owner during a dispute. If a disagreement arises, ask to escalate through the office manager rather than going through Travis directly.