1. Record what you're seeing
Take note of the visible symptoms, stop or limit any ongoing damage if it's safe to do so on your own, and gather whatever history you have -- a past basement flood, a roof leak, a humid summer that never let up.
2. Look past what's visible
Surface staining rarely tells the whole story in a house with an older foundation. A sound plan traces where water is actually getting in, checks humidity levels, assesses how far the material damage extends, sets up containment, and includes a check once work wraps up.
3. Get it in writing
Spell out preparation steps, what gets protected, the materials being used, how the crew will access the space, any permits, post-work testing, cleanup, how finishes get restored, what's excluded, and how change orders are handled.
4. Weigh more than the bottom line
Check credentials and pay attention to why each provider is proposing what they're proposing and where their scope stops -- not just which number is lowest.
5. Confirm the job actually closed out
Make sure post-work testing, cleanup, paperwork, any warranty, and ongoing maintenance responsibilities are all confirmed before you consider the project finished.