Provider profile
Absolutely Dry
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Northwest Indiana homeowners dealing with water damage or mold who want a family-owned restoration company with 24/7 emergency response and direct insurance coordination.
Best for
- Northwest Indiana residents who need mold remediation tied to a water damage event, since Absolutely Dry can handle both the water extraction and the mold work in a single engagement.
- Homeowners who want their restoration company to coordinate directly with their insurance carrier rather than managing claims paperwork themselves.
About this company
Absolutely Dry is a restoration company based in Chesterton, Indiana, with a second office in Valparaiso. Mold is one piece of a larger operation that covers water damage, fire and smoke restoration, sewage cleanup, storm damage, biohazard remediation, and contents restoration. They handle both mold testing and mold removal for residential and commercial properties across northwest Indiana and southwest Michigan.
The company holds IICRC certification and claims EPA membership. Their website describes "state of the art drying techniques" but does not name specific equipment models or proprietary methods. They work directly with insurance carriers and handle claims documentation, which multiple reviewers confirm.
Founded in 2004, Absolutely Dry is family-owned and has operated for over 20 years. They run two office locations and staff technicians for 24/7 emergency calls.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Chesterton, Indiana, with a second office in Valparaiso. The company lists 38 Indiana cities across Lake, Porter, LaPorte, St. Joseph, Elkhart, Marshall, Starke, Jasper, and Newton counties, plus 12 Michigan cities in Berrien County and beyond. The website also references the "Chicago-land Area," though no Illinois cities are named. The claimed reach from Fort Wayne to Grand Rapids is wide for a two-office operation.
Review consensus
Nicole stands out across multiple reviews as a project manager who communicates clearly, arrives on schedule, and follows through on commitments. Reviewers from Schererville, the Duneland area, and other parts of northwest Indiana describe same-day response for water emergencies. Several reviewers mention that the company handled insurance engagement directly, reducing their burden. Vic and Nick G each receive single mentions for helpfulness. Holly also receives a positive mention alongside Nicole.
3 found across 47 total reviews at 4.5★. Alan Hill (Local Guide, 47 reviews) described a dispute over insurance assignment-of-benefits paperwork. He warned against signing forms before they are fully filled out, saying the company took all insurance proceeds and he could not pay for other covered damage. He also waited over a week for copies of signed documents. The owner responded with a detailed explanation that the payment assignment language comes from the insurance carrier's standard agreement, not from Absolutely Dry. The other two low ratings (Victoire Michel, 1 star; Patricia Mcclatchey, 2 stars) included no review text, and the owner responded to both by stating no customer record was found.
The owner responds to 100% of negative reviews, but the responses follow two templates: a detailed factual rebuttal (Alan Hill) and a short "we can't find your record" reply (the other two). The no-record responses do not engage with any specifics. Two of three recent negatives came from reviewers the company says it cannot identify, which could indicate fake reviews or customers using different names.
Nicole (project manager — praised in 7+ reviews for communication, follow-through, and same-day response). Vic (staff — praised once for helpfulness). Holly (staff — praised once alongside Nicole). Nick G (staff — praised once for quality work).
Ask for Nicole if your job involves water damage or mold. She is the most frequently named person in reviews and the praise is specific and consistent. Read any insurance assignment paperwork line by line before signing, and ask the company to explain exactly how claim proceeds will be allocated between their work and any other damage you need covered.
Keep in mind
- Absolutely Dry does both mold testing and mold remediation. The same company that tells you whether you have a mold problem also sells the fix. Consider getting an independent test before committing to remediation.
- One reviewer warned about signing insurance assignment-of-benefits forms without reading them carefully. The company assigns insurance proceeds to itself as the contractor, which is standard industry practice but limits your control over claim funds.
- The service area claims are broad: 38 Indiana cities and 12 Michigan cities, stretching from Fort Wayne to Grand Rapids. Confirm response times for locations far from their Chesterton and Valparaiso offices.
- The website is heavy on SEO content and light on specifics about equipment, crew sizes, or remediation methods. You will not learn much about how they actually do the work from the site alone.