Free inspection and estimate: a True Day technician inspects the damage, maps moisture and writes up the scope at no charge. If it’s an insurance claim, we bill your carrier directly through Xactimate; for out-of-pocket work, Wisetack financing (soft credit check, 3–24 months, $500–$25,000) is available. Live-answered 24/7.
Is water coming in right now? Skip the form and call (385) 247-9359 — live-answered 24/7.
Effective date: September 23, 2026 · Version 1.0
What “Free Inspection” Actually Means at True Day
Every emergency water damage inspection performed by True Day Water Damage Restoration is free — with no exceptions, no fine print, and no surprise fees added later. Below is our published policy so you know exactly what to expect before you call.
What Is Included at No Cost
- Emergency dispatch to your address — no trip charge, no travel fee, no fuel surcharge
- On-site assessment of the affected area — visual inspection, moisture reading of accessible materials, source identification
- FLIR thermal imaging to map hidden moisture behind walls, ceilings, and floors
- Calibrated penetrating moisture meter readings at multiple monitoring points
- Category assessment under IICRC S500 (Category 1 clean water, Category 2 gray water, or Category 3 black water)
- Verbal scope walkthrough — we explain what we see, what needs to happen, and roughly what it will cost, before you commit to anything
- Written Xactimate estimate — provided within 24 hours of the inspection, prepared in the same platform your insurance carrier uses
- Insurance carrier coordination — if you choose to file a claim, we handle adjuster communication from the start
What Is NOT Included in the Free Inspection
Full transparency — here is what the free inspection does not cover:
- Emergency water extraction (starts when you approve the scope)
- Structural drying setup (starts when you approve the scope)
- Demolition or reconstruction (separate scope, separate approval)
- Laboratory testing for mold species identification (billed at cost when required)
- Post-remediation clearance testing by an independent industrial hygienist (billed at cost when required for Category 3 or mold events)
Anything beyond the initial inspection and estimate is discussed with you before we begin — and nothing starts until you approve it in writing.
Our No-Obligation Guarantee
After we complete the free inspection, you have three options — and none of them cost you anything if you choose not to move forward with True Day:
- Approve our scope and let us begin restoration. We start work immediately and bill your insurance carrier directly under the approved scope.
- Take our written Xactimate estimate to another contractor for comparison. No cost, no hard feelings. Our estimate becomes your baseline for comparing bids. Most homeowners who compare come back to us because our numbers are honest and our documentation is thorough — but that is your choice, not our sales pitch.
- Decide not to file a claim or restore the damage. Some water events are minor enough that a homeowner chooses to handle it themselves. Our free inspection told you what you needed to know to make that decision. Zero cost.
We do not high-pressure you into decisions during a stressful event. We do not tell you the damage is worse than it is to inflate the scope. We do not add unnecessary services. Our reputation depends on treating homeowners honestly — and that includes accepting when the honest answer is “you do not need us for this one.”
Why We Can Afford to Do This
Most legitimate restoration companies offer free inspections. The reason is straightforward: emergency water damage inspections take our technicians roughly 45 minutes to complete, and we pay for that time regardless of whether you hire us. The cost is real — but it is worth it because:
- Homeowners in crisis should not have to pay for the assessment before they know whether they even need service
- Our written estimates give homeowners a fair basis for comparing our scope to any competitor’s scope
- The vast majority of homeowners who receive an honest free assessment choose to work with the company that provided it — trust in the moment of crisis is worth more than a nominal inspection fee
- Insurance carriers prefer working with contractors who do not tack fees onto covered scope
Companies that charge inspection fees are often either lead brokers (charging to make up for lead costs) or lower-volume contractors trying to cover overhead. Neither is a signal you want in a restoration company.
Common Questions About the Free Inspection
Is the inspection really free even at 2 AM?
Yes. There is no after-hours surcharge, no weekend fee, no holiday premium on the inspection. If you call at 2 AM on Christmas morning, the inspection is free.
What if I decide not to file an insurance claim?
The inspection stays free. Some water events are minor enough that homeowners choose to handle them without filing. If our assessment tells you that, our inspection did its job — and you owe us nothing.
What if the damage is bigger than I thought and my insurance covers most of it?
We bill your insurance carrier directly under the approved scope. You pay your policy deductible and nothing more, except for any documented owner-approved upgrades outside the covered scope.
What if I get a lower estimate from another contractor?
We do not price-match to win jobs. Our Xactimate estimates use the same regional pricing your carrier uses — if another contractor’s estimate is significantly lower, ask them how they arrived at it. Usually the difference is scope (they left something out) or method (they are using cheaper materials or shortcuts). We will explain any line item in our estimate on request. If a competing bid is legitimately lower for the same scope and quality, you are free to take it — we understand.
What if I want a second inspection from another company before I decide?
Get one. Compare the two written estimates. This is exactly the kind of homeowner decision that our free inspection is designed to enable.
Does the free inspection include mold testing?
We identify visible mold and use FLIR thermal imaging to find likely mold-supporting moisture — both are included. If species identification via laboratory analysis is required for insurance approval or a health-related decision, we coordinate the sample collection but the laboratory fee is billed at cost (usually $150-$400 depending on scope). The lab fee is disclosed upfront before any sample is taken.
How to Request Your Free Inspection
Call (385) 247-9359 — live-answered 24/7/365, no voicemail. Tell us your address, the nature of the water event, and your rough sense of what happened. We will dispatch a technician immediately for emergency events, or schedule an appointment within 24 hours for non-emergency assessments (mold surveys, insurance documentation on known but non-active damage, pre-purchase moisture inspections).
The written 45-minute arrival guarantee applies to every emergency call. See our full response time guarantee for details.
Company Information
True Day Water Damage Restoration
11268 S 2865 W, South Jordan, UT 84095
Phone: (385) 247-9359 — live-answered 24/7/365
Email: info@truedaywaterdamagerestoration.xyz
Credentials:
- Utah Contractor License #960332-3505
- IICRC Certified Firm #927354-5258
- General Liability Insurance: $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate through Liberty Mutual
- Workers’ Compensation: The Hartford, Employer’s Liability $1M/$1M/$1M
Locally owned and operated in South Jordan, UT since 2020 · Owner & Founder: Michael Bass
Free Estimate Policy Version 1.0 · Last updated: September 23, 2026
Related documents:
Written estimate. No bait-and-switch. No surprise invoice.
The number we put in writing before any crew touches your home is the number you work from. Here is exactly how we hold that promise.
- Scope and cost are documented in writing on day one, after the on-site assessment, before anything is torn out or dried.
- Any mid-job scope change — a hidden leak, a wall cavity we need to open, a material swap — stops the clock. Nothing proceeds on that portion until you sign off, in writing, on the supplement.
- If your insurer is involved, every supplement goes to your adjuster at the same time it goes to you. Nobody is working off a copy you haven’t seen.
- The final invoice matches the approved scope plus any approved supplements. Line items we didn’t quote don’t appear on the bill.
If you ever see a charge on a True Day invoice that isn’t tied to a scope line you approved, call (385) 247-9359 and ask Michael directly — we take it off.
What actually happens on the free inspection
The word “free inspection” means different things at different companies. Some are a 5-minute look-around. Ours is a documented 45–60 minute visit that ends with a written Xactimate-format estimate in your hand. Here is the full sequence.
On-site arrival and homeowner walkthrough
A True Day technician walks the affected area with you, asks what happened, when it started, and what you have already done. We take the owner’s version of events first — it’s usually the most useful data for scoping the loss.
FLIR thermal imaging for hidden moisture
Infrared imaging surfaces water tracks the eye misses — behind drywall, under flooring, inside wall cavities. The thermal image shows cold wet zones against warmer dry zones. We photograph the findings for the claim file.
GE Protimeter moisture reading
Thermal says where; the meter says how wet. Penetrating-pin readings on affected materials and non-contact readings on finished surfaces, logged against a dry-benchmark reference material in an unaffected part of the house.
IICRC Category + Class assessment
Category (1 clean / 2 gray / 3 black) and Class (1–4 by extent of saturation) decide the scope. We call it on-site and tell you the reasoning so you know whether you’re looking at dry-in-place or demolition.
Written estimate in Xactimate format
Line-item scope in the format your carrier reads. You get a copy before any work starts. If you want to shop other bids with it, you can — we build it the same way whether you hire us or not.
What our free estimate actually includes — and what to watch for
Not every “free estimate” in the restoration business is actually free. Here is exactly what you get from us, with no asterisks.
What’s included at zero cost
- On-site inspection — walk-through of affected area, visual + moisture assessment
- FLIR thermal scan and GE Protimeter readings documented
- IICRC S500 category + class call written on paperwork with rationale
- Scope + line-item estimate in Xactimate format (same format your adjuster uses)
- Insurance claim consultation — whether we think your loss type is likely covered, what documentation the carrier will want
- Written estimate delivered within 24 hours of inspection
What the free estimate does NOT commit you to
Nothing. No contract, no signature, no deposit. You get the estimate and decide. If you’d rather use a different contractor, you keep the inspection documentation and photos — they’re yours.
• Demanding a signature before they’ll give you the estimate
• Requiring an “emergency work authorization” before any inspection
• Charging an “assessment fee” buried in fine print
• Pressuring same-day commitment with time-limited pricing
• Refusing to leave a written copy of the estimate
What’s not free
Our free estimate is on normal-scope residential water-damage inspection. If your loss requires extensive investigation (opening multiple walls, cavity sampling, mold air testing with lab fees) we’ll say so upfront and quote the investigation fee separately. We don’t do this on standard losses.
Your written estimate — line-by-line
You get a written estimate within 24 hours of inspection. Here is exactly what’s on it so you know what you’re looking at.
Document header
- True Day company info + Utah GC License #960332-3505 + IICRC Firm ID #927354-5258
- Your name + property address
- Date of inspection + lead tech name
- Reference claim number (if applicable)
Scope summary
- Water category per IICRC S500 (Cat 1 / 2 / 3)
- Class per IICRC S500 (1-4)
- Affected square footage + rooms affected
- Source identification + status (stopped / active / under investigation)
Mitigation line items (Xactimate pricing format)
- Equipment setup fees (per unit type, per day)
- Water extraction (truck-mount hours or portable fees)
- Air mover rental (count × days)
- Dehumidifier rental (count × days)
- HEPA negative-air (if applicable, count × days)
- Antimicrobial application (per sq ft, EPA-registered product named)
- Daily moisture monitoring + documentation
- Content manipulation (if any items need moving)
Reconstruction line items (if applicable)
- Demolition of unsalvageable materials (per sq ft of specific material)
- Haul-off + disposal fees
- Replacement materials (specific items with grade/quality)
- Labor for installation (per sq ft or per unit)
- Finish work — paint, trim, caulk
- Final cleaning + walk-through
Insurance billing details
- Whether direct billing authorized
- Expected carrier contact + adjuster name if assigned
- Your deductible
- Estimated split between covered + out-of-pocket
Timeline + warranty
- Estimated mitigation duration + reconstruction duration
- 2-year transferable workmanship warranty + 90-day mold warranty terms
What’s NOT on the estimate
- Hidden fees or “administrative” markup
- Change-order charges (we file supplements, not surprise charges)
- Pressure to sign that day — estimate is yours to review
- Non-disparagement or mandatory-arbitration clauses
Estimate, inspection, quote — three different deliverables often confused
Customers often use these three terms interchangeably, but they’re genuinely different services with different purposes and different limits. Here’s how we distinguish them so you ask for what you actually need:
| Inspection | Estimate | Quote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Find out what’s there and what condition it’s in | Put a number on the scope needed | Lock a price for a defined scope |
| Includes | Visual + moisture-meter check + thermal imaging; written report with findings | Line-item Xactimate scope with pricing; good for insurance submission | Fixed total price with clear scope of work; signed, becomes a contract |
| Timing | 30-60 minutes on site; written report follows within 24 hours | 45-90 minutes on site; written estimate follows within 48 hours | Same visit as inspection + estimate OR separate meeting after estimate is reviewed |
| Cost | Free for most situations; some mold-sampling scope has lab fees | Free when it’s a loss we’re going to work on; nominal fee for insurance-dispute situations | Free — part of the sales process; signed becomes the contract |
| Who asks for one | Someone noticing a possible issue; buyer in pre-purchase; adjuster wanting independent verification | Someone who already knows they have a loss and needs the numbers for insurance or decision-making | Someone ready to hire; wants a locked price before signing |
What to ask us for by situation
- “There’s a stain on my ceiling and I don’t know what it is” — ask for an inspection
- “Water flooded my basement, I need to file a claim” — ask for an estimate (we scope and give you the Xactimate line items to go with your FNOL)
- “I got three estimates and I want to compare final prices” — ask us to convert our estimate into a quote
- “I’m buying a house and want to know if there’s hidden water damage” — ask for an inspection (we’re not the home inspector, but we can confirm or rule out moisture in specific areas)
Why free matters here
- Charging for an inspection would create a conflict — we’d be motivated to find more than is there
- Charging for an estimate puts a decision ahead of the information — you shouldn’t commit before you know the scope
- Both stay free so you can get information and compare without being locked in
Anatomy of our written estimate — what each section means
Our written estimate is in Xactimate format (what adjusters use) rather than a one-page summary. The detail is deliberate — it’s what makes the estimate reviewable, defensible, and insurance-ready. Here’s what each section is for:
| Section | What it contains | Why it’s there |
|---|---|---|
| Property header | Address, loss date, claim number (if applicable), carrier, adjuster, our firm info | Identifies the specific job for the adjuster’s claim file |
| Loss summary | Description of the loss: what happened, when, water category, affected areas | Sets context for every scope item below |
| Room-by-room scope | Each affected room listed separately with its own line items: dimensions, materials affected, scope needed per material | Adjuster can review each room individually; cross-check with their own notes from a site visit |
| Line items with Xactimate codes | Each specific task: “WTR DRY”, “DRY FLOOR”, “R&R DRYWALL”, with unit measurements and current Xactimate pricing | Carrier approval is based on these codes — they match the carrier’s expected pricing engine |
| Equipment line items | Daily charges for air movers, dehumidifiers, air scrubbers, specialty equipment | Based on equipment type and number of drying days documented in the moisture log |
| Labor line items | Minimum charges for mitigation, labor hours documented | Covers crew time; priced per Xactimate rate |
| Material line items | Any replacement materials for the rebuild side (drywall, flooring, paint, trim) | Priced at current material cost with manufacturer specs noted |
| Overhead and profit (O&P) | 10% overhead + 10% profit markup when 3+ trades are involved | Standard industry practice; carrier pays O&P when scope qualifies |
| Subtotal, tax, grand total | Utah sales tax on materials where applicable; final total | What the carrier will approve or supplement from |
| Scope notes | Specific exclusions, assumptions, pre-existing conditions documented | Protects both sides from “we didn’t agree to that” conversations later |
| Photo documentation | Attached: before, moisture readings, demo progress, equipment placement, after | Visual evidence supporting each scope decision |
What a line item looks like in detail
- Xactimate code (e.g., “WTR DRY” for water drying) — standardized code the carrier recognizes
- Description — what the code means in that context
- Unit of measure — sq ft, linear ft, each, cubic yard
- Quantity — how much
- Unit price — what Xactimate’s current price is for that unit in Utah
- Extended price — quantity × unit price
- Notes if the line has unusual conditions
How to review your estimate
- Check that every affected room from your walkthrough appears
- Check that materials noted match what you remember being wet
- Equipment days should match the drying log once the job is done
- Any line you don’t understand: ask — the explanation should be specific, not generic
What you shouldn’t see
- Generic “mitigation” line items without quantity or specifics
- Pricing above Xactimate standard for the area without a documented reason
- Scope items you didn’t walk through with the lead tech or adjuster
- Vague scope notes that don’t explain what the scope assumption is
How long is our estimate valid + what triggers a revision
Written estimates have a validity window — after which the pricing may need to be revisited because materials, labor rates, or scope conditions may have changed. Here’s how we handle that:
Estimates for emergency mitigation are valid for 30 days from the date on the estimate. Estimates for rebuild work are valid for 60 days. Insurance-approved scope has its own carrier timeline (typically tied to claim status).
What triggers automatic revision
- Xactimate pricing update: Xactimate publishes quarterly pricing updates; our pricing on a specific line item moves with it
- Scope change after inspection: hidden damage found during demo that wasn’t visible at estimate; written supplement
- Material backorder: if a specific finish is backordered 4+ weeks, we offer alternative material options with updated pricing
- Labor-rate change: at year-end our Xactimate labor rate may update per the quarterly schedule — applies to estimates not yet converted to signed work
What doesn’t trigger revision
- Day-of-week preference (weekend vs weekday) — our labor rate is the same regardless
- Specific tech requested — same rate across the crew
- Reasonable scope adjustments within the written estimate’s scope language — absorbed within the estimate
- Insurance adjuster questions on the scope that we can defend — no scope change on our side
When an estimate expires
- If more than 30 days (mitigation) or 60 days (rebuild) have passed and you haven’t signed, we re-estimate at current Xactimate rates
- Usually the delta is small (1-3% typical quarterly adjustment); sometimes significant if a specific material has shifted
- We don’t charge for re-estimating if the scope hasn’t changed
Change-order process (after an estimate is signed and work has started)
- Scope change identified (either by us during work or by homeowner request)
- Written change order drafted with specific scope description + Xactimate line items + pricing
- Change order presented to homeowner (and adjuster if claim-involved) before work on the changed portion
- Signed authorization required before the change-order work begins
- Change order added to the final invoice as a documented addendum
What’s never done without written authorization
- Scope beyond the signed estimate
- Material upgrade over Xactimate-standard replacement material
- Additional equipment-day billing beyond what the estimate projected (if drying takes longer than expected, we discuss with homeowner before extending)
- Discretionary services (pack-out, pack-back) beyond estimate scope
What you can expect on revisions
- Revised estimate emailed as PDF within 1-3 business days of trigger
- Change tracked in the invoice as a specific addendum — original estimate + change orders = final invoice
- No surprises on the final invoice — everything on the invoice should match a line item in the estimate or a signed change order
If you want to decline a change order
- You can decline specific change orders — we work within the original scope
- If the declined change-order addresses something that becomes a scope issue (hidden damage that will cause future problem), we document that we flagged it + you declined; work proceeds within original scope
- Nothing is forced through without authorization
Comparing multiple contractor estimates (how to do it objectively)
If you’ve gotten estimates from multiple restoration contractors for the same loss, comparing them objectively is harder than it looks. Just comparing bottom-line totals is misleading. Here’s how to compare like-for-like:
Normalize the scope first
- Are both estimates covering the same scope? Compare line items side-by-side. One may be missing a scope item the other includes.
- Are both scopes written in Xactimate format? Xactimate is the carrier-standard. Non-Xactimate estimates are harder to compare and may indicate the contractor doesn’t write for insurance claims.
- Do line items appear at Xactimate standard pricing? Significantly below might indicate scope-skipping; significantly above might indicate markup.
Then compare specific line items
| Line item type | What to compare | What a difference may signal |
|---|---|---|
| Water extraction | Square footage covered; equipment-hour estimate | Lower SF or hours — scope may miss affected areas |
| Flood cut height | Specific height (2 ft, 4 ft) called out | Different heights = different wall-cavity scope |
| Material removal | Specific materials listed (carpet, pad, drywall, insulation) | Different materials removed = different quality of mitigation |
| Drying equipment days | Air movers × days + dehumidifiers × days | Fewer equipment-days = faster-but-maybe-incomplete drying |
| Antimicrobial application | Square footage treated | Minimal antimicrobial may indicate under-scoped Cat 2+ |
| Containment setup | Poly, negative air, HEPA scrubbers for Cat 3 | Missing containment on Cat 3 = incomplete scope |
| Overhead and profit (O&P) | 10% + 10% applied when 3+ trades involved | Missing O&P may indicate inexperienced claim writer |
| Tax | Utah sales tax on materials where applicable | Tax missing = understated total |
Red flags on a specific estimate
- Significantly lower total with no detail on how — usually scope is missing
- Significantly higher total with vague scope — may be marked-up without justification
- No breakdown by line item — opaque totals favor the contractor
- “Scope TBD” or “final cost determined on site” — shouldn’t appear on a written estimate
- Pressure to sign quickly — legitimate estimates are valid for 30+ days
- Deductible waiver offer — illegal in Utah; signals fraud
- Vague scope narrative with lots of marketing language
Green flags on a specific estimate
- Xactimate format with specific line items
- Clear scope narrative explaining what happened and what we’ll do
- Photo documentation attached
- Specific equipment-day pricing matching actual deployment
- Named contractor + license number + insurance info in header
- Written warranty terms referenced
- Specific exclusions clearly noted (what’s NOT in scope)
How to decide if the estimates are similar
- Totals within 10-15% of each other, same scope — contractors agreeing; decide on other factors
- Totals 20-40% apart with same scope — one is likely marked up or marked down; investigate
- Totals 50%+ apart — one or both have scope differences; dig into line items
If one contractor’s estimate differs materially from the other
- Ask the lower contractor what’s not in their scope that’s in the higher contractor’s scope
- Ask the higher contractor what justifies specific line items the lower contractor doesn’t include
- Both should be able to explain specifically; vague answers suggest scope confusion
Decision factors beyond price
- Credentials verified (DOPL + IICRC)
- Response time
- Named lead-tech continuity
- Written warranty terms
- Written moisture-log + documentation standard
- Owner accessibility
- Independent review history (Google, BBB)
If you have our estimate and another contractor’s estimate and the gap confuses you, call us. We’ll walk through the specific line-item differences — and we’ll be straight if the other contractor’s lower scope is actually correct and we were over-scoping.
Questions worth asking during a restoration estimate
An estimate visit lasts about 45 minutes. Here are the questions that tell you more about the contractor than the price does — ask any of them to any firm, including us:
- Who will do the actual work? W-2 employees, subcontractors, or a mix? Which specific technicians will likely be on this job?
- What’s your IICRC Certified Firm number, and will you walk me through verifying it right now? A real firm will show you the IICRC lookup result on the spot.
- How is the scope split between mitigation and rebuild? If one firm is doing both, how are the two phases documented separately for the insurance claim?
- What’s your written warranty, and is it transferable if I sell the home? Ask to see the warranty certificate template, not a verbal description.
- How will moisture readings be documented? Daily visit, same test points, logged in writing? Or spot-checks whenever someone drops by?
- What’s your communication cadence during the job? One point-of-contact, daily update, or we-call-you-with-questions?
- What’s not included in this estimate? Not a trick question — a complete answer here distinguishes a firm that’s thought the job through.
- If the scope needs to grow, how is the change authorized? Written change order signed before work? Verbal update after the fact?
- What happens if I’m not satisfied at the end of the job? Complaint process, dispute resolution, who do I talk to first?
- Can I see your Certificate of Insurance? General liability + workers’ comp. Not a reference to policy numbers — the actual document.
No reputable firm will take offense at these questions. The answers tell you how organized the firm is, how transparent its process is, and how it will behave three days into the job when something unexpected comes up.