About American Response Team
Who We Are
When disaster strikes, it’s important to have more than just a contractor on your side; you need a partner you can trust. That’s where the American Response Team comes in!
We’re a family-owned business with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, and we’re proud to have earned five-star reviews on Google, Yelp, and HomeAdvisor.
Our goal is simple: to make every emergency feel a little easier to handle. From the very first call to the final brushstroke of paint, we’re here to take care of everything so you can relax and breathe easy again.
Our Mission & Values
Integrity
Transparent estimates, honest timelines, no shortcuts.
Reliability
24/7 live answers and a one-hour average arrival time anywhere in San Diego County.
Rapid Response
Advanced equipment is always staged, fueled, and ready to roll.
Respect
We treat your home (and your stress level) as if it were our own.
Professionalism
IICRC-certified technicians who follow industry best practices to the letter.
Why Certification Matters
- Proven expertise in moisture mapping, containment, and structural drying
- Safe asbestos & lead protocols for homes built before 1984
- Precise demo and antimicrobial treatments that meet EPA and local APCD standards
- Documentation your insurance adjuster can trust—photos, drying logs, Xactimate scopes
We are fully licensed, bonded, and insured, so you’re protected from start to finish.
Our Restoration Process, Step-by-Step
1
Emergency Deployment
Immediate containment and placement of commercial-grade drying and filtration equipment.
2
Insurance Coordination
Your lead technician contacts your carrier, providing real-time updates and photos.
3
Safety Testing
Pre-1984 structure? We fast-track asbestos and lead samples—results in ~24 hours.
4
Contents Care
Pack-out, inventory, and secure storage of valuables from affected areas.
5
Targeted Demolition & Treatment
Removal of damaged materials plus EPA-approved antimicrobials to stop microbes cold.
6
Structural Dry-Out
Daily monitoring until every material hits safe, industry-standard moisture levels.
7
Site Cleanup
HEPA vacuuming, wipe-downs, and debris haul-off so the space is reconstruction-ready.
8
Reconstruction Walk-Through
A dedicated reconstruction manager meets you on-site, reviews the scope, and issues an itemized estimate.
9
Build-Back & Completion
Permits, trades, and finish work handled in-house; final walk-through ensures you’re 100 % satisfied.
10
Final Billing & Documentation
We submit itemized invoices, photos, and drying logs directly to your insurer for prompt payment.
The Results You Can Expect
One Point of Contact
Seamless hand-off from mitigation to rebuild
Faster Claims
Adjusters love our thorough documentation and Xactimate estimates
Health & Safety First
EPA-registered products and negative-air containment protect your family
Quality Craftsmanship
Repairs that meet or exceed pre-loss condition—often better
Who do I contact for scheduling my mitigation work and times?
When is my assigned lead technician available?
For further emergencies, your technician’s number is always answered. For non-emergencies, please contact your technician during business hours (8 AM – 5 PM).
If my adjuster tries to persuade me into using their preferred insurance vendor do I have to?
The answer is No. In California, by law, you have the right to choose your own contractor under an insurance claim.
Many times, insurance companies try this tactic, but with our company, you can rest assured that we work for you directly and also use the same pricing as the insurance company vendor, so there is no risk in using us. You will only benefit more by sticking with us, as we will make sure the restoration gets done properly and will not be cutting any corners.
furthermore, the American Response team is also an approved vendor for several insurance companies, and we have been screened and approved through the Contractor Connection program.
My lead technician said that my property needs to be tested due to it being built before 1984. Do we really need to test for asbestos?
The local EPA and APCD require our company by law to have a recent test done if your house was built before 1984, and also for all commercial properties. This will ensure that there is no asbestos or lead present within the house for your safety. This is a standard practice, and insurance companies are required to pay for it.
What if my property turns out to have asbestos or lead?
If it turns out this way, please do not be alarmed, as this is very common in older buildings. The only issue that arises is when the materials are disturbed during a demolition.
If your house contains asbestos or lead, we work with a licensed and bonded asbestos and lead removal company that will safely contain the areas and remove the affected materials. After the job, they will also perform an air clearance test, assuring there are no harmful materials left behind prior to the area being opened up for occupants to return.
How long will the job take?
Every project is different depending on size and obstacles encountered. The average time for the initial mitigation (phase 1) is about 3-7 days, and for reconstruction (phase 2), anywhere from 2-6 weeks or more depending on job size or if special materials are ordered.
Another possible delay can be if your adjuster creates a delay in communication. However, we will work as fast as possible and make every customer a priority.
Can I walk inside the jobsite work area containments during the mitigation?
Why should I use American Response Team for my repairs/ reconstruction and not a contractor I may know?
American Response Team specializes only in insurance restoration. Under insurance reconstruction, most contractors have very little experience in using the Xactimate insurance billing software program, and are also not well-versed in the rules, regulations, and negotiation tactics that come with dealing with an insurance company and adjusters.
With our company we will go to bat for you in making sure all aspects of the repairs portion are covered and will also use the same pricing your insurance company uses so you can avoid the risk of having to either come out of pocket (excluding deductible) or not being allotted the proper funds to repair your house back properly.
Should I have gotten an estimate or a second opinion from another company?
If my adjuster calls asking for a mitigation estimate prior to the job starting, do I need to obtain one?
A standard industry procedure under the mitigation portion (phase 1) is to have the estimate submitted after the work is done and the structure is completely dry. This is because, many times, water damage can travel and the damage can get larger as more items are exposed during the project.
Dry-out times can also take longer than expected. Your insurance company will be provided an itemized estimate of all work that was performed, along with photos and dying logs. The process is for our company to then settle the invoice after it is sent and come to a fair agreement.
Many times, as a formality, you will get an email requesting this, but it is standard for the adjuster to receive it after the mitigation is complete.
What about the repair estimate?
What happens once my dry out and mitigation are complete?
Your assigned lead technician will turn over your project to the repairs department, and our office will reach out to schedule your reconstruction walk-through. They can also be reached at: 858–750- 5923
Frequently Asked Question
Thank You for Trusting Us
Experiencing water, fire, or mold damage is never easy, but choosing the right restoration partner is.
With American Response Team, you get a crew that specializes only in emergencies like yours and has been restoring San Diego homes and businesses for years.
We’re honored to help you reclaim your space and your peace of mind.
