Drying starts before the decision, and that is the policy asking, not the contractor.

Your policy asks you to take reasonable steps to stop the loss growing. After a water escape that means extraction and drying, not waiting. An insurer who later argues that damage worsened because nothing was done is relying on that same clause, which is why delay is the expensive option.

Reasonable does not mean unlimited. You are not expected to rebuild at your own risk, only to stop the damage spreading while the claim is decided.

Emergency mitigation — extraction, equipment, moisture readings, removal of material that cannot be saved — is one job. Repair and rebuild is another, and it follows later with different numbers. Keeping them apart makes both easier to settle and makes it obvious what was done under time pressure.

Ask for the mitigation invoice to be itemised by equipment and days. Standing equipment is charged per day it is there, and a vague total is where disputes about drying time begin.

Open the claim as soon as the water is stopped, before the crew arrives if possible. Policies require prompt notice, and while the word is vague, the practical standard is the same day or the next. Say that emergency mitigation is starting and ask them to confirm that in writing.

Nothing about opening a claim commits you to making one. It records the date, which is the part that matters if the damage turns out to be worse than it looked.

A restoration contractor dries buildings. Negotiating your claim, valuing your loss or arguing coverage with your insurer is adjusting, which is a licensed activity in many states and not something a drying crew may do on your behalf.

A contractor documenting their own work — readings, photographs, equipment logs — is ordinary and useful. A contractor offering to handle your claim is offering something different, and it is worth understanding which one is on the table.