What to ask, and why
Will I be billed for drying equipment that just sits there?
Equipment should earn its place every day. On a Cherry Creek condo job, ask the restoration company for the daily moisture readings that show drying is still progressing; when readings reach their goals, the air movers and dehumidifiers should come out rather than run another billable day.
Who pays when the leak started in the unit above me?
That's decided by the association documents and the insurers involved, not the restoration company. What a restoration company can do is document both units the same way, with photos, readings, and an itemized estimate, so the HOA, your HO-6 carrier, and the upstairs owner's carrier are all looking at one record.
Do I have to sign over my insurance check before work starts?
Read anything you sign carefully. An emergency work authorization lets drying begin; it shouldn't hand over control of your whole claim without a clear scope. Ask the company to walk you through each document and keep copies of everything.
Will they tear out more drywall than necessary?
Moisture readings, not guesswork, should decide what comes out. Ask to see the meter readings on any wall section before it's cut. In stacked condos the goal is targeted openings in ceilings and chases, not whole rooms.
Will a restoration company pick up at 2 a.m.?
Some staff their phones overnight and some don't, so ask before you need it. If you call overnight about water coming through a Cherry Creek ceiling, say whether it's still active and whether building staff have shut off the riser, and ask how soon someone can realistically arrive.