Before you sign a water damage restoration contract in Indiana, check the written scope, the people on site, the certifications they hold and the registrations the job requires. This guide does not claim that any Indiana licence applies to water damage work. Ask for each credential in writing and check it.
Key takeaways
- A contract should name the work, the rooms, the materials and the readings that define the job as finished.
- Ask which person will be on site, and which certification that person holds and from which body.
- Check a certification with the body that issued it, not only from a copy the contractor provides.
- Ask in writing which state or local registrations the job requires and which party holds each one.
- Get the price explained and approved before work begins, and write every change as a change order with its reason.
- Keep the readings, photographs and final file, because they form the homeowner's record of the work.
What should the written scope say?
The written scope should name the rooms, the materials to be removed and kept, the openings expected, the equipment and the readings that define dry. A scope that leaves those out gives the contractor room to decide the job after the contract is signed.
Start with the rooms. A scope should list each room the water reached and the level it reached, so the work is bounded. Then list the materials to be removed, with the reason for each, and the materials to be kept and dried. A reader should look for the lowest level, the cabinets, the subfloor and the wall bases, because those are often left out of a short estimate.
Next, the readings. The scope should say what dry readings will be used, where they will be taken and how many checks will be made before the work is finished. Without that, the homeowner has no measure for when the job is done. Ask what happens if the readings do not hold, and whether that would change the scope or the price.
Who is on site, and what can they show you?
Ask for the names of the people who will be on site and what each of them does. Ask what training or certification each holds and which body issued it. A contractor who can answer those questions plainly is showing the homeowner how the work will be run.
A company may send one person to the first visit and different people later. Ask who will be responsible for the job as a whole, who will take the readings and who will sign off the final check. Those roles should be written into the contract or the scope, so the homeowner knows who to call.
For each person, ask for the certification and the body that issued it. Note the name and the date you checked it with the body. A certification is a sign of training, and checking it is ordinary due diligence. A contractor who resists the question is giving the homeowner a reason to ask more.
Which registrations and certifications should be asked about?
Ask which state or local registrations the work requires, which party holds each one and how the homeowner can verify it. This guide does not claim that any Indiana licence applies to water damage work. The answer should come from the contractor in writing, and it should be checked with the issuing office.
Registrations differ from certifications. A registration is a permission granted by a government office for a type of work, and a certification is a credential granted by a professional body for training. A contractor may hold one, the other or both, and a homeowner should ask which applies to each part of the job.
Plumbing, electrical and structural repairs are often done by different trades from the drying and cleanup. Ask which trade does each part, who holds the registration for that work and whether the cleanup contract covers the repairs or only the drying. The answers decide who is responsible for each step.
How should price and changes be handled in writing?
The price should be explained and approved before work begins, with its basis in the scope. Any change should be written as a change order that states the reason, the new work and the new price, and it should be approved before the extra work starts.
A price that is explained in terms of the scope is easier to compare and to trust than a single figure. Ask how each line of the price relates to the scope, and ask for a copy of the estimate in writing. Check that nothing in the invoice is missing from the estimate.
Changes happen in water work, because readings can show more moisture than expected. A change order protects both sides. It should say what changed, why the readings required it and what it costs. A homeowner should refuse extra work that has not been approved in writing, unless it is needed to stop immediate damage, and then it should be written up the same day it is done.
What insurance and responsibility questions should you ask?
Ask what insurance the contractor carries for the work and ask for a copy of the certificate. Ask who is responsible for damage the crew causes during the job. These are reasonable questions, and the answers should be in writing before work begins.
A contractor on your property can cause damage, such as a dropped fixture or a cut pipe, so it is reasonable to ask how that is handled. Ask whether the contract says who pays for accidental damage during the work, and whether the company's insurance covers it. The homeowner should read the certificate rather than rely on a verbal assurance.
Your own insurer and policy decide what your policy covers. A contractor's insurance does not change your own policy. Ask your insurer what it expects from the contractor and whether it has any preferences for the repair work.
What should the contract say about the final readings?
The contract should say what the final readings are, where they will be taken, how many checks are required and who signs off the job as finished. The homeowner should receive the readings in writing, with the dates and locations.
The final check is the moment that defines the end of the drying. It should be written into the contract with the readings that will show the building is dry, and it should say that the homeowner will receive them. Without that, the job can end on a date rather than on a result.
Ask whether the company will return to check the readings after the building is closed up, and what happens if a problem appears later. A reasonable answer is a written procedure. Keep the final readings with the contract, the change orders and the invoices.
What warning signs should make you pause?
Pause if the company will not put the scope in writing, will not name the people on site, pushes you to sign before you have read the terms, or asks for full payment before work starts. Each of those makes the job harder to check and easier to dispute.
Pressure to sign quickly is a warning sign. A reasonable company gives a homeowner time to read the scope and ask questions. A company that treats the decision as urgent without showing what it will do is asking the homeowner to trust it without the record that would justify that trust.
Be cautious of guarantees that are not written down, of prices that are quoted without a scope and of any statement about insurance outcomes that the company cannot support. No contractor can promise what an insurer will pay, and a company that does so is making a claim the homeowner cannot check.
Who makes the repairs after drying?
The drying contractor and the repair contractor are often different companies. The drying work removes moisture and records the damage. The repairs are a separate scope, which the homeowner chooses and approves with the repair contractor directly.
Once the building is dry, the repairs begin. These can include drywall, flooring, cabinets, framing and any structural work. A repair contractor needs the drying record, including the readings and the list of removed materials, to plan the work and to see what was dried and what was replaced.
Ask the drying company to give the homeowner the complete file at the end of the drying, so it can be passed to the repair contractor. The table below sets out the items a homeowner should check on the contract before signing.
| Item | What to get in writing | Where to check it |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Rooms, materials to remove and keep, expected openings | The scope page of the contract or estimate |
| People on site | Names, roles and the certifications each holds | The certificate, checked with the issuing body |
| Registrations | Which state or local registrations apply, and who holds them | A written answer, checked with the issuing office |
| Price basis | How each price line relates to the scope | The estimate, matched line by line to the invoice |
| Changes | Change orders with reason, new work and approval | Signed change orders kept with the contract |
| Insurance | The contractor's insurance and who pays for accidental damage | A copy of the certificate and the contract clause |
| Final readings | Dry readings, locations, number of checks and sign-off | The final readings sheet, kept with the file |
Frequently asked questions
Does Indiana require a license for water damage work?
This guide does not claim that any Indiana licence applies to water damage work, and it does not say that none does. Ask the contractor which state or local registrations the work requires, get the answer in writing, and check each one with the office that issues it.
Should I pay the whole price up front?
Be cautious about it. A reasonable payment schedule is agreed in the contract and tied to the work, with the final payment made after the readings show the job is complete. Ask the company to explain its schedule in writing before you agree to it.
What if the contractor finds more damage than the estimate covered?
The new work should be explained, shown in the readings and approved in writing as a change order before it starts, unless it is needed to stop immediate damage. The change should state the reason and the new price.
Can I get a guarantee on the drying?
Ask what the company offers, and get the terms in writing. A guarantee on drying is best defined by the readings that show the building is dry and the procedure for a later check. Avoid any promise that is not written down.
Who should I call if the contractor will not answer my questions?
Keep the questions in writing and give the company a reasonable time to reply. If the answers still do not come, look for another contractor before signing. Phones are answered 24/7 on this line, and a crew is sent as soon as one is free for work this line handles.
How do I start if the water is still in the house?
Stop the water if you can do so safely, keep people out of the wet rooms and call. The first visit can start the record while the contract is being reviewed, so the water is dealt with without waiting for the paperwork.
This guide is general information for Madison County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.