Ask the contractor to identify the observed source, explain why the proposed method fits, separate structural and water work, document Vermont registration and insurance where applicable, identify engineering responsibility, show where water discharges, list demolition and restoration, explain maintenance and warranty exclusions, and define change orders, schedule, payment and cleanup in writing.
What to know
- Ask for evidence supporting the diagnosis, not only a product presentation.
- Verify the exact legal entity, registration and insurance.
- Clarify who provides engineering, permits, electrical and finish restoration.
- Read warranty transfer, maintenance and exclusion terms before signing.
Questions about the problem
1. Where do you believe the water or movement begins, and what evidence supports that? 2. What other causes did you rule out? 3. Is this primarily waterproofing, structural, plumbing, drainage, restoration or more than one scope? 4. What part cannot be confirmed until work begins?
A good answer names observations and uncertainty. A claim that every home needs the same proprietary system is not a property-specific diagnosis.
Questions about the method
5. How does the proposed system collect, block, stabilize or discharge the problem? 6. Where will water go, and how will the outlet operate in winter? 7. What demolition, electrical, permits, engineering and finish restoration are included? 8. Are there lower-disruption or staged alternatives?
Request quantities and a plan or diagram. Confirm whether the method stabilizes a wall in place or is intended to move it, and whether a waterproofing scope also includes structural repair.
Questions about the contractor
9. What is the exact contracting entity? 10. Is its Vermont residential-contractor registration current for covered work? 11. Can it provide current insurance that matches that entity? 12. Who performs the work, employees, subcontractors or a separate network provider, and who is responsible for them?
Registration and insurance are starting points, not proof of performance. Review relevant projects, references and complaint history, and verify specialty experience.
Questions about the contract and future
13. What maintenance is required and who performs it? 14. What does the warranty cover, exclude and require for transfer? 15. How are hidden conditions and change orders priced and approved? Also confirm deposit, payment milestones, start window, cleanup, lien releases and cancellation terms.
Vermont's requirements for covered residential projects can include registration, insurance and written contracts. Use current Secretary of State homeowner guidance and seek legal advice for contract questions.
What a good answer sounds like
Asking the questions is half of it. The other half is recognising when an answer avoids the question. A useful reply is specific to your house, names the cause it found and says what it will not fix.
| Question | A useful answer | A warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| What caused the problem? | Names a source and how it was found | Generic wording that fits any house |
| What will not be fixed? | States limits plainly | Says everything is covered |
| Who does the work? | Names employees or subcontractors | Vague about who will be on site |
| What is in writing? | Scope, materials, warranty terms and exclusions | Only a total price |
| What if it fails? | Explains the remedy and who bears it | Avoids the question |
Sources and Vermont specifics
Four questions the state has already answered
Some of your questions have a standard answer under Vermont's registration rules. For residential work valued at $10,000 or more, the contractor should be registered with the Secretary of State's Office of Professional Regulation, should use a written contract with price, work dates, scope of work and a change order provision, and should carry liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate.
Ask for the registration, the insurance certificate sent by the insurer and a sample contract before you invite anyone to inspect. The remaining questions on this page, about the source of water, the method, discharge and warranty, are where companies differ.
Take the questions on paper. Write each one down, leave space for the answer and ask the same questions of every company you invite. When you compare the sheets, look for the answers that are specific, such as a footage, a model number or a date, and for the ones that are general, such as we do it right. Specific answers can be checked later, and general ones cannot.
Finish by asking what the company would do if you declined the work. A company that can explain a monitoring plan, a smaller repair or a referral to another trade is thinking about your house and not only about the sale.
Sources: Vermont Secretary of State, Residential Contractor FAQs. Checked September 26, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the single most revealing question to ask?
Ask what observation supports the recommendation. A contractor who can point to a specific condition and explain why it leads to this repair is doing diagnosis. One who moves straight to a product and a price is selling a system that may or may not match your house.
Should I get more than one estimate?
For significant or uncertain work, multiple scopes can reveal different diagnoses and methods. Compare evidence and exclusions, not only totals. When structural conclusions differ, consider an independent engineer.
What is a red flag in a waterproofing sale?
Unsupported urgency, refusing a written scope, diagnosing structural failure from a glance, promising insurance coverage, hiding exclusions, or pressuring immediate signature before you can review the contract are reasons to pause.
Sources
General information, not a diagnosis of your property. Editorial policy