Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms and Scope of Agreement

Welcome to the Michigan Water Damage Referral Network (referred to herein as "the Network," "we," "us," or "our"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding contractual agreement between you ("User," "you," or "your") and Michigan Water Damage Referral Network governing your access to and use of the website located at michiganwaterdamage.us (the "Site"), our informational municipal guides, disaster resources, and all telephone routing and referral services provided through our published telephone numbers (collectively, the "Services").

By browsing this Site, clicking on any telephone link, or placing a telephone call to any number displayed on this Site, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be legally bound by these Terms and our [Privacy Policy](/privacy/) and [Referral Disclosure](/disclosure/). If you do not agree to these Terms in their entirety, you are strictly prohibited from using this Site and must disconnect your call immediately.

2. Purely a Referral and Advertising Service

Michigan Water Damage Referral Network operates exclusively as a commercial marketing, advertising, and telephone referral service available 24/7. **We are not a general contractor, property restoration company, disaster mitigation firm, or plumbing repair business.**

We do not perform physical trade labor, deploy emergency crews, operate service vans, hold master plumbing or mechanical licenses, or perform structural drying, water pumping, sewage extraction, mold removal, biohazard cleanup, or plumbing repairs. When you place a call to our routing numbers—including our restoration line at (877) 422-0329 or plumbing line at (866) 487-0556—our telecommunication infrastructure acts solely as a technological switchboard connecting you to an independent third-party contractor who provides services in your Michigan locality.

3. Independent Contractor Relationship

All participating contractors, emergency specialists, and plumbing technicians connected through our Services operate as completely independent commercial business entities. Nothing contained in these Terms or on this Site shall be construed to create an employment relationship, agency, franchise, joint venture, or partnership between Michigan Water Damage Referral Network and any participating service provider.

Participating independent contractors:

• Exercise exclusive control over their business operations, field staff, subcontractors, and equipment.
• Independently establish their own service rates, diagnostic fees, travel charges, and payment requirements.
• Set their own emergency dispatch availability, response times, and working hours.
• Maintain their own trade licensing, municipal registrations, and business permits under Michigan law.
• Procure and maintain their own commercial general liability, workers' compensation, and vehicle insurance policies.
• Issue their own contractual terms, scopes of work, invoices, and service warranties directly to property owners.

4. User Due Diligence and Contracting Responsibilities

You acknowledge and agree that any decision to hire, contract with, or permit an independent contractor onto your property is made at your sole risk and discretion. You are solely responsible for conducting all necessary due diligence prior to authorizing physical demolition, equipment placement, or structural repairs:

• Verifying Professional Trade Licensing: In the State of Michigan, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical trades require licensing issued by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). You are responsible for requesting the responding technician's license number and validating its active status through official LARA public verification databases.
• Confirming Liability Insurance Coverage: You must request a valid Certificate of Insurance (COI) demonstrating active commercial liability and workers' compensation coverage from the contractor before physical work commences.
• Reviewing Written Project Quotes: Ensure the independent contractor provides a comprehensive written estimate itemizing labor categories, equipment run charges, demolition scopes, and waste disposal fees prior to signing any binding work authorization.
• Reviewing Municipal Building Permits: Confirm with the contractor and your local city or township building department whether proposed repairs—such as sewer line excavations or structural rebuilds—require municipal permits and code inspections.

5. Commercial Referral Compensation Disclosure

Michigan Water Damage Referral Network receives commercial advertising fees, referral commissions, or pay-per-call marketing compensation from participating independent contractors when telephone calls are connected through our routing numbers.

This marketing compensation supports the maintenance of our 24/7 telecommunications routing network, research into municipal water infrastructure, and the continuous updating of local disaster resources. You are under no obligation to hire or enter into any business transaction with any independent contractor to whom you are referred.

6. Telephone Call Recording and Quality Monitoring

You explicitly acknowledge, understand, and consent that telephone calls initiated through our published telephone numbers may be monitored or recorded in their entirety by us or our telecommunication partners for quality assurance, personnel training, referral verification, and telecommunications audit purposes. If you object to voice recording, you must end the call immediately.

7. Informational Content and Disclaimer of Professional Advice

All textual guides, municipal sewer profiles, historical flood timelines, cost estimates, and disaster checklists published on this Site are provided strictly for general educational and informational purposes. They do not constitute formal architectural, civil engineering, environmental health, legal, structural, or insurance advice.

Water damage scenarios involve complex structural, electrical, and microbial factors unique to each property. You should not rely on website content as a substitute for an on-site physical evaluation conducted by licensed structural engineers, master plumbers, certified industrial hygienists, or insurance claims adjusters.

8. Disclaimer of Warranties

This Site and all referral services are provided strictly on an "as-is" and "as-available" basis, without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied. To the fullest extent permissible under Michigan law, Michigan Water Damage Referral Network disclaims all warranties, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

We do not warrant the quality, timeliness, licensing, pricing, or completion of services provided by independent contractors, nor do we guarantee that independent contractors will dispatch within specific timeframes.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable Michigan law, in no event shall Michigan Water Damage Referral Network, its owners, directors, or affiliates be liable for direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, or consequential damages resulting from:

• Your use of, or inability to use, this Site or referral services.
• Any interactions, agreements, or disputes between you and any independent contractor.
• Any defective, incomplete, or negligent work performed by an independent third-party contractor.
• Reliance placed on informational guides, checklists, or pricing estimates.

If liability is found despite these limitations, our total aggregate liability for all claims shall not exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00 USD).

10. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Michigan Water Damage Referral Network and its affiliates against all claims, liabilities, damages, and legal expenses arising from your violation of these Terms, your interactions with independent contractors, or property conditions on your premises.

11. Intellectual Property & Permitted Use

All content featured on this Site—including guides, municipal datasets, layouts, software code, and the "Michigan Water Damage Referral Network" brand name—is our protected intellectual property. You may view and print content for personal emergency reference only; commercial reproduction or automated scraping is prohibited.

12. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and all disputes arising from your use of this Site or referral services are governed exclusively by the laws of the State of Michigan. Any legal proceeding must be instituted in the state or federal courts located in Wayne County, Michigan. All disputes must be resolved individually; you waive any right to participate in class actions against Michigan Water Damage Referral Network.

13. Severability and Complete Agreement

If any provision of these Terms is deemed unenforceable, it shall be severed without affecting remaining provisions. These Terms, our Privacy Policy, and Referral Disclosure constitute the entire agreement between you and Michigan Water Damage Referral Network.

14. Revisions and Modifications

We reserve the right to amend or update these Terms at any time by posting the revised version on this page with an updated "Last Reviewed" date stamp. Your continued use of the Site or our telephone referral lines following any modifications constitutes your affirmative acceptance of the revised Terms.

15. Administrative Inquiries

For legal notices, administrative inquiries, or questions regarding these Terms, please contact our administrative team via email at legal@michiganwaterdamage.us or view our [Contact Page](/contact/).