1. Observe and protect
Record the symptoms in detail, contain further damage only where it's safe, and gather the property's recent history.
2. Evaluate the house and site
A Cary-area evaluation weighs water category, elapsed time, hidden cavities, electrical safety, and material porosity before any response is planned -- no emergency response is promised on this site.
3. Define a written scope
Pin down the prep, the protection plan, materials, access, permits, testing, cleanup, finish restoration, what's excluded, and the change-order process.
4. Compare providers
Look past the total on Cary proposals -- verify credentials, and compare the reasoning and boundaries each provider used to get there.
5. Inspect closeout
Closeout means confirming testing, cleanup, documentation, warranty coverage, and what maintenance is still the homeowner's job.