Provider profile
ServiceMaster Recovery by Restoration Holdings - La Crosse
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
La Crosse property owners dealing with water damage or mold after basement flooding or Mississippi River moisture intrusion who want a franchise operation with 24/7 response and insurance billing help.
Best for
- La Crosse homeowners with burst pipes, sewer backups, or basement flooding who need same-day water extraction and drying
- Commercial property managers in the La Crosse area — especially healthcare, manufacturing, or food processing facilities — needing mold remediation with documentation for compliance
- Insurance-referred jobs where you want a company experienced in working directly with carriers on claims paperwork
- Properties near the Mississippi River or below the bluffs dealing with recurring water intrusion and related mold growth
About this company
ServiceMaster Recovery by Restoration Holdings in La Crosse is a locally owned franchise of the national ServiceMaster Restore network, operating from 2004 Ward Ave. Their primary work is water damage mitigation and restoration, though they also handle mold remediation, fire and smoke cleanup, storm damage, and odor removal for both residential and commercial properties. The franchise brand traces back to 1929, with over 800 locations nationwide.
Their mold page describes containment, air quality testing, mold sampling, and dehumidification for commercial properties. They mention antimicrobial treatments and work across manufacturing facilities, healthcare offices, schools, and food processing plants. Their blog posts focus specifically on La Crosse water issues — bluff runoff, basement intrusion near the Mississippi River, and floodplain code requirements — which suggests genuine local knowledge of the area's moisture problems.
The La Crosse franchise is part of "Restoration Holdings," a multi-location operator within the ServiceMaster system. They offer IICRC-trained technicians, 24/7 emergency response, insurance claims assistance, and managed repair (reconstruction). They also provide continuing education courses for insurance agents on water damage, mold, and fire restoration.
4.8 stars across 46 Google reviews is strong, particularly given that the negatives are detailed and specific rather than vague drive-by complaints. The positives consistently highlight fast response to water emergencies and communicative field crews.
Services
Service area
Based in La Crosse, Wisconsin at 2004 Ward Ave. Their website focuses specifically on La Crosse and references local geography including the Mississippi River floodplain and bluff areas. The franchise likely covers surrounding La Crosse County communities, but specific coverage cities beyond La Crosse are not listed on the site.
Review consensus
Eric is the most frequently named employee, appearing in at least 8 positive reviews as a project manager who communicates well, responds quickly, and oversees crews effectively. Kevin and Rico are praised as a field team for fast water extraction and clear explanations during the drying process. Joe and Daniel get mentioned for efficient furniture removal and cleanup. Chelsea drew strong praise in 2024-2025 reviews for patient communication, insurance coordination, and managing fire damage packouts. Joel, Karen, Leah, John, Mario, and Wes also appear in positive reviews. Repeat customers exist — at least one reviewer noted using ServiceMaster twice. The dominant praise theme is fast emergency response to water damage, often same-day, with crews that explain the process as they work.
3 found across 46 total reviews at 4.8★. Three 1-star reviews describe a pattern of strong initial response followed by poor execution on reconstruction and renovation work. Kastan (June 2026) reports a project still unfinished after 4 months, with a damaged bedframe, a hole in the wall from a doorknob, a dropped signed football, staff turnover mid-project without notification, and being pressured to leave a 5-star review by the project manager. Bridget (November 2025), a Local Guide with 53 reviews, describes a renovation on a deceased father's house where flooring was installed with an unexpected color pattern, closet mirror door tracks were removed without consent, baseboards were skipped until she complained, and ceiling paint was a visible mismatch — she names Matt and a team member Terry. Emma (April 2025) says crews showed up irregularly, worked only a couple hours at a time, created additional damage to areas outside the original claim, and that a billing person called aggressively before insurance had even paid. She notes contacting leadership (Andrew) with no resolution. The 2-star review from Troy (October 2025) echoes the overcharging theme, names Matt as giving inflated bids, and says temps are used without proper training.
The split is striking: mitigation work (water extraction, drying, mold remediation) earns near-universal praise, while reconstruction and renovation work generates almost all the complaints. This is a common pattern in restoration franchises — mitigation crews are trained specialists, but rebuild work may involve subcontractors or less experienced staff. The franchise has a 0% owner response rate on recent negatives, meaning none of the detailed complaints received a public reply. Matt appears in both positive and negative reviews — praised for communication on simpler mold and water jobs, but criticized on longer renovation projects for overcharging and poor oversight.
Eric (project manager/branch role — strongly positive, most frequently mentioned). Kevin (field technician — positive, praised for speed and explanations). Rico (field technician — positive, paired with Kevin). Joe/Joel (field crew — positive, efficient cleanup). Chelsea (project manager/office — positive, strong communication and insurance help, prominent in 2024-2025 reviews). Daniel (field crew — positive). Leah (field crew — positive). Karen (cleaning crew lead — positive). John (field crew — positive). Mario (field crew — positive). Wes (direction/oversight — positive). Matt (branch manager — mixed, positive on smaller jobs, named negatively by 3 reviewers for overcharging, poor communication on renovations, and pressuring a 5-star review). Terry (crew member — negative, associated with flooring mistakes). Andrew (leadership — negative, described as unresponsive to escalated complaints).
For water emergencies — burst pipes, basement floods, sewer backups — this franchise delivers fast, well-organized mitigation work. Ask for Eric or Kevin. If your job extends into reconstruction or renovation, get the full scope of work in writing before they start, confirm who will manage the rebuild day-to-day, and get an independent estimate to compare pricing. The gap between their mitigation quality and their renovation quality is real and documented.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold testing and mold remediation. The same company identifying the problem and selling the fix creates a financial conflict of interest. Consider getting an independent mold assessment before committing to their remediation scope.
- Three recent 1-star reviews describe reconstruction and renovation work that dragged on for months, with sloppy finishes, damaged belongings, and poor follow-through. Their mitigation work (water extraction, drying) gets strong reviews, but their rebuild side appears weaker.
- Multiple negative reviews name branch manager Matt in connection with overcharging, poor communication, and prioritizing revenue over quality. If your job involves reconstruction, ask who will manage it.
- One reviewer reported being pressured to leave a 5-star review with the project manager watching. Even if isolated, it raises questions about their review management practices.
- No owner responses to any of the recent negative reviews. A 0% response rate on complaints suggests the franchise is not actively engaging with public criticism.