Choosing to waterproof your basement is a big decision.
Often times you will spend thousands of dollars, have your basement unusable for days, and a crew of strangers walking in and out of your home. It is normal to feel overwhelmed with these factors.
Before you make your decision, reflect on these 6 steps before you waterproof you basement.
- Research the Industry
- Research Contractors
- Contact 3
- Sleep On It
- Schedule the Installation
- Follow Up
Research the Industry – There is so much information on the internet. Break out your smart phone or grab a cup of coffee and cozy up to your desk for some research. The time you invest here will educate you and help you have a better understanding of the proposed solutions from the contractors. Should you waterproof from the exterior of the interior? What is the warranty? How long will it take? How much should it cost?
Research Contractors – With all the social media and review sites available, word of mouth is no longer a requirement. While referrals from a friend are often a great starting point, make sure you look for the highest rated contractors on Yelp, Google, Angie’s List, Thumbtack, Home Advisor,…the list is endless.
Contact 3 – Get 3 bids. Contractor #1 will tell you they are the best and have a sale that coincidentally expires this evening. Contractor #2 will tell you they are the best and that only their solution will work because of the patented water-flow technology. Contractor #3 will tell you that the other two are inferior and you should trust them. Ugh, what a nightmare.
Sleep on it – Phew, take a breath. When you take a moment before you make your decision, you are bound to make the right one. Refer back to the review sites to verify the contractor’s claims. Did someone get bamboozled by a “last minute sale”? Did they refuse to honor their warranty? Did anyone have issues after the next big rain storm? Did they require a significant down payment?
Schedule the Installation – Now that you have made an educated decision, schedule your basement waterproofing installation when you can be present. You do not have to be present during the install, but you want to be there at the end. Make sure you are completely comfortable with the product. Check your discharge line, make sure your belongings were not damaged, and check dedicated power to your sump pump.
Follow Up – Your contractor should have left you with a signed contract and a warranty. Ensure you keep these in a safe place in case you need to use it. Have the contractor’s phone number save din your phone as well. You should feel good about your investment.
We tell all of our clients to follow these steps. We never allow our customers to sign the same day. We encourage other bids and your own personal research. With over 20 years of experience in the basement waterproofing industry, we have seen every single possible success and failure in a basement. There is a trust factor that weighs heavily on your decision to get your basement waterpfoofed. Above all, you need to trust your contractor.
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