Provider profile
Restoration 1 Inland NW - Spokane
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Spokane Valley and Inland Northwest homeowners dealing with water damage or mold after pipe bursts or sewage backups, where the same crew handles mitigation through reconstruction under one contract.
Best for
- Spokane metro and North Idaho homeowners who need water extraction, drying, mold removal, and reconstruction handled by one company without coordinating multiple contractors.
- Property owners dealing with sewage backups or category 3 water damage where the scope requires hazmat-level cleanup and insurance documentation.
- Homeowners in neighborhoods like Indian Trail, Five Mile, or the South Hill where seasonal moisture and spring snowmelt create recurring crawl space and basement mold problems.
- Landlords or property managers with multi-unit buildings needing a single point of contact for mitigation through tenant move-back.
- Buyers who want a company that responds after hours and on weekends, with multiple reviewers reporting same-day or next-day arrival including holidays.
About this company
Restoration 1 Inland NW is a franchise location based in Spokane Valley, serving both sides of the Washington-Idaho border from Cheney to Coeur d'Alene. They handle water damage, fire damage, and mold remediation under one roof, including the rebuild phase. The business changed hands in January 2023 under new ownership.
On the mold side, the Spokane-specific page describes a process using moisture meters, thermal imaging, and borescopes to find hidden growth, followed by containment with polyethylene sheeting, negative air pressure, HEPA air scrubbers, antimicrobial treatments, and post-remediation clearance testing. They hold IICRC and IAQA certifications. They also do mold inspection and testing in-house, which creates a conflict of interest worth understanding before you hire them.
The franchise is part of Restoration 1's national network, which the parent company calls the largest independent restoration company in America. The Spokane location runs its own crews and manages its own projects locally, with Scott Whitaker operating as the owner/CEO based on review responses.
4.8 stars across 577 Google reviews is a strong number for a restoration company at this volume. Most of the positive reviews call out individual crew members by name, which suggests the field teams are a genuine strength. The negatives cluster around billing and insurance disputes rather than work quality.
Services
Service area
Based in Spokane Valley, Washington, at 9708 E Montgomery Ave. Serves 14 cities across eastern Washington and North Idaho including Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Cheney, Airway Heights, Mead, Nine Mile Falls, Colbert, Otis Orchards, Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene, Hayden, Rathdrum, and Worley. Also operates separate franchise locations for Central WA, Tri-Cities, and Yakima.
Review consensus
Josh Harty is the most frequently named employee across positive reviews. Multiple reviewers describe him arriving the same day, walking them through the insurance process, and giving honest assessments — including telling homeowners when a job was too small to warrant their involvement. Ron Brooks draws similar praise for free inspections and honest advice. Jessica appears repeatedly as a project manager coordinating crews and communicating with homeowners. Field crew members named across multiple reviews include Eduar, Craig, Haiden, Jordan, Mason, Zack, and Vicky. Reviewers consistently highlight fast response time, with several mentioning arrival within 35 minutes to two hours even on weekends and holidays.
6 found across 577 total reviews at 4.8★. Billing and insurance disputes dominate. Austin Anderson (Local Guide, 11 reviews) said the final cost was more than double what he was told. The owner responded that they use industry-standard pricing software and that the job involved category 3 (hazardous) water. Cheryl J (Local Guide, 267 reviews) wrote a detailed account of an escalating pricing dispute involving a $13K-to-$17K invoice for work she and her insurer valued at $5K-$6K, naming Jessica, Josh, and Scott. The owner response was lengthy and cited the insurer's bad faith, but the disagreement over pricing is clear. Steffen Teichmann described equipment rental lasting longer than needed and issues with a plumbing subcontractor, naming Nick and Tanya. Liza Rule reported waiting over a year for bathroom completion after water damage, though the owner said insurance had paid and the work was completed. Two one-star reviews (Mercury Hendrix, Alicia Haile) had no text. The owner suggested one might be fictitious.
The pricing complaints share a structural root: restoration companies bill using Xactimate (industry-standard software), but insurance companies often cap or dispute line items. This puts the homeowner in the middle. The owner responses are consistently detailed and personalized — not templates — but they also tend to be combative, citing court cases and accusing insurers of bad faith. That transparency cuts both ways: it shows the company engages seriously with complaints, but the adversarial tone toward insurers may signal what your own dispute would look like if costs exceed what your carrier approves.
Josh Harty (project manager/estimator — consistently positive across many reviews). Jessica (project manager — praised in positives for coordination, named in one negative for the Cheryl J billing dispute). Ron Brooks (estimator/inspector — praised for honesty and free assessments). Nick (general manager — praised in 4-star review, named in negative by Steffen Teichmann). Scott/Scott Whitaker (owner/CEO — named in negatives by Cheryl J for confrontational communication, responds to all negative reviews). Mark (project manager — praised for mitigation and communication). Tanya/Tayna (project manager — praised in positives, named in negative by Steffen Teichmann). Travis (rebuild estimator — criticized for declining a job as too small). Jamie (project manager — criticized in 4-star review). Austin Walsh (praised for repeat water damage work). Jason (praised for communication and claim process). Jake and Zach (field crew — praised in multiple reviews). Eduar/Edwar (field crew — praised in multiple reviews). Craig (field crew — praised). Haiden (field crew — praised in multiple reviews). Justin (estimator — praised for honesty about small jobs). Jeremiah (field crew — praised). Jordan, Mason, Gabe, Raul, Isaiah, Adam (field crew — praised). Ben, Robbie, Colin (field crew — praised). Calen Ellis, Dennis Smith (abatement crew — praised). Summer, Kat (contents team — praised). Britney, Manos (field crew — praised). Joe, Drue (rebuild — praised). Vicky (contents/field — praised in multiple reviews).
The field crews and project managers consistently earn high marks for fast response, honest assessments, and clear communication. Your risk is on the billing side — get your insurance company's pre-approval on the scope before work begins, and ask for a written estimate that breaks down every line item. If Josh Harty or Ron Brooks handles your initial assessment, multiple reviewers say you will get a straight answer about whether the job actually warrants their involvement.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold testing and mold remediation. That means the same company that tells you how bad the problem is also profits from fixing it. Consider getting an independent mold test before committing to their remediation scope.
- Several negative reviews describe billing disputes where the final invoice came in higher than the initial estimate, sometimes significantly. The owner attributes this to industry-standard pricing software, but the gap between their invoices and what insurance companies agreed to pay was a recurring friction point.
- The rebuild division has drawn complaints about follow-through. One reviewer was told a job was too small to bother with after mitigation was already complete. The owner acknowledged this was a training issue with a newer estimator, but ask upfront whether rebuild is included and get that commitment in writing.
- Their service area spans eastern Washington and North Idaho, covering 14+ cities across two states. If your property is on the outer edges (Worley, Cheney, Rathdrum), confirm response time expectations before signing a work authorization.
- The business changed ownership in January 2023. Reviews and contractor license numbers from before that date reflect the previous operation.