What To Look For In a Basement Waterproofing Company

A basement waterproofing company is a lot like a dandelion in a spring meadow. If you find one, there’s bound to be a few hundred more out there.

Because leaky basements occur in a pretty substantial number of homes, the number of listings under the heading “basement waterproofing company” in the phone book (or the number of search-engine results on the Internet), is pretty high. If you wanted to, you could just close your eyes and point.

But trust us. You don’t want to do that.

So how do you choose the right basement waterproofing company when there are so many out there? Isn’t it like finding the best honey-roasted peanut in the can?

Not really.

There’s a whole list of criteria you can use to determine whether a basement waterproofing company is the right one to work on your home. You can check out their list of services. You can ask for customer testimonials. You can get a feel for them by talking to one of their representatives. And you can see what they charge, and how they work, by getting a free estimate.

(What? No free estimate? Well, cross that guy off the list.)

So, when you’re choosing a basement waterproofing company, make a checklist for yourself:

A basement waterproofing company shouldn’t subcontract.

Subcontractors distance you from the company you hired to do the work. A company that hires subcontractors probably doesn’t have a whole lot invested in interacting with customers – or making sure they’re satisfied.

Research, research, research!

Google is your friend here. Look for testimonials on the web, or reviews of the basement waterproofing company in question. Sites like Angie’s List offer comprehensive reviews of all kinds of contractors.

Your grandpa was right

To get the measure of a man, your grandpa used to say, you gotta shake his hand and look in his eye. It’s the same with contractors. See if the company will send a representative over to assess your problem and provide an estimate. This is the time for you to keep your eyes peeled – if you hire this particular contractor, he and his workers will be in your home for several days or weeks. Is that something you want?

Hard sell doesn’t sell

It’s impressive to see someone who’s determined to make a sale, but ultimately the decision is up to you, and a contractor should recognize that. Anyone who says your house will fall down if you don’t hire him right now isn’t to be trusted.

A good basement waterproofing company is hard to come by. But with a little research and a good eye for quality, you’re sure to get your money’s worth.