1. Observe and protect
Take photos of what you're seeing, stop any further damage if it's safe to do so -- moving stored items, running a dehumidifier -- and jot down when it started and anything that might explain it.
2. Evaluate the house and site
What's visible on a wall or joist only hints at what's going on. This step is about tracing where water is actually entering, how humid the space runs, what shape the materials are in, and setting up how the fix will be checked once it's finished.
3. Define a written scope
Get it in writing: what prep and protective measures are included, which materials will be used, how the crew accesses the space, what permits apply, what gets tested, how cleanup and finish work happen, what's excluded, and how a change order would be handled.
4. Compare providers
Check credentials first, then read past the bottom-line number -- look at why each provider is proposing what they're proposing and where their scope stops.
5. Inspect closeout
Before calling it finished, confirm post-work testing results, that cleanup is thorough, that you have documentation in hand, what the warranty actually covers, and what maintenance is still on you going forward.