diff --git a/src/common-components/dropdown-question/dropdown-question.vue b/src/common-components/dropdown-question/dropdown-question.vue
index 47dc3ca1..2122bc54 100644
--- a/src/common-components/dropdown-question/dropdown-question.vue
+++ b/src/common-components/dropdown-question/dropdown-question.vue
@@ -8,8 +8,10 @@
 				:aria-disabled="isDisabled" 
 				:disabled="isDisabled" 
 				:aria-required="isRequired"
-				:validationRules="validationRules" 
+				:validationRules="validationRules"
+				:placeHolderText="placeHolderText" 
 			>
+			<option v-if="placeHolderText" value="" selected>{{ placeHolderText }}</option>
 			<option v-for="(value, name, index) in options" :value="name" :key="index">
 				{{ value }}       
 			</option>
@@ -38,7 +40,8 @@ export default {
 		validationRules: String, 
 		cmsWidgetName: String,
 		hasError: Boolean,
-		errors: Array
+		errors: Array,
+		placeHolderText: String
 	},
 	setup(props) {
 		const propsClone = Object.assign({}, props);
@@ -82,7 +85,7 @@ export default {
 		},
 		selectedOption: {
 			get: function() {
-				return this.modelValue;
+				return !this.modelValue ? "" : this.modelValue;
 			},
 			set: function(newValue) {
 				this.$emit("update:modelValue", newValue);
diff --git a/src/layouts/welcome-page/welcome-page.vue b/src/layouts/welcome-page/welcome-page.vue
index 57c3d583..0b411a64 100644
--- a/src/layouts/welcome-page/welcome-page.vue
+++ b/src/layouts/welcome-page/welcome-page.vue
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
                         :options="DamageCauseOptions"
                         disableAutoFill
                         validationRules="loss-cause-required"
+                        placeHolderText="Select an option"
                     />
                 </div>
             </div>
@@ -73,6 +74,7 @@
                         validationRules="loss-state-required" 
                         isRequired
                         disableAutoFill
+                        placeHolderText="Select an option"
                     />
                 </div>    
             </div>