Those with a basement in their homes understand the complications that one has to face now and then – the musty smell, the damp walls, leaking pipelines, and mold infestation, to name a few!

With people residing in cold or rainy regions, water issues are the most common. These problems cannot be given a blind eye and be postponed for the future. They need immediate fixing, or they can cause more loss than you may ever expect.

While many people consider saving costs by going the DIY route, others may believe in a professional contractor’s expertise more. Getting expert advice is always better because an average individual doesn’t possess the skills and knowledge to handle problems efficiently.

Moreover, for those who have had any wet basement problems or are currently facing leakage issues, getting your basement waterproofed by a professional contractor is a good-to-go remedy.

Here are a few things to consider while hiring a contractor for your basement –

Reviews and Ratings

Word of mouth is highly effective in finding the right basement waterproofing contractor for your home. Nobody can better understand a contractor’s performance than a past client. A successful service provider will have ample references to take feedback from. Contacting these references and asking about their experiences would help you build trust and choose the same contractor for your project.

You can also search online for such service contractors operating in your city and see how well their previous clients rate them.

Expertise and Knowledge

Choosing a contractor with the right skills and knowledge is a must-have for something as important as basement waterproofing. You cannot rely on any contractor operating across the street to get your job done.

Special materials and specific techniques must be applied to stop the water from seeping into your basement, which only the experienced technicians know. Their expertise makes them stand out from the rest of their counterparts and helps you prepare your basement in advance to withstand bad weather and other water problems in the future.

Site Visit

After shortlisting the contractors, you should request them to visit your basement and examine the problem’s root cause. This will also help have a detailed discussion about the project, cost estimation, period, and overall execution.

The site visit is important as there may be a huge difference between narrating your requirements over the call and witnessing the problem. Moreover, an in-person meeting would help you weigh the approach and sincerity of the contractor and help you decide whether to go for it or not.

Credentials and Licenses

Another important thing to consider while hiring any service provider is ensuring they are carrying out legitimate business operations. Choosing a contractor based solely on the low price is not a sensible take; a thorough background check is also required.

So, before making your final call, verify the contractor’s credentials and licenses. The permit indicates ethical business practices carried out by the contractor, and the certificates prove that they have also undergone formal training.

After selecting the contractor, obtain a written contract with your discussed terms and the cost estimations. Make sure you give it a proper reading and understand its content. Take the help of your lawyer if required.