Basement repair companies and contractors alike in Rush City, MN, can both help you overcome the stress of a leaky basement. What’s the difference between these two entities, though, and which will better help you protect your home?
Basement repair companies are well-established, historied institutions that will work with you to repair your basement or foundation. However, because these businesses are often on the large size, they may not be able to meet your time table or negotiate their prices.
Comparatively, basement repair contractors typically represent family-owned or smaller companies. They’ll be able to negotiate waterproofing solutions and prices on an individualized basis.
With that in mind, what qualifications should you look for when hunting for a contractor to work with?
- Licensing – Before you look at anything else, you need to make sure the contractor you want to work with has been approved to waterproof homeowners’ basements and foundations. Your contractor of choice must have the appropriate licenses and certificates if you want them to work on your home. If your contractor of choice doesn’t have the legal backing to do the work, you’re putting the security of your home at serious risk. Look for this first, and if you can’t find it, keep looking!
- Insurance – Next, make sure the contractor you’re interested in has insurance protecting themselves, their employees and their machinery. Insurance ensures that a contractor will remain safe while on the job and that your home will be taken care of while it’s in a contractor’s hands. If you can’t find reassurances of insurance, talk to one of the business’s representatives. Without insurance, you can’t be certain that you’ll receive the waterproofing you’re looking for. Working with a contractor who doesn’t have insurance protecting them is a non-starter.
- Experience – Experience in the basement waterproofing industry will vary. Many contractors come from family businesses, while others are still trying to find their feet. With that in mind, you don’t have to rule out all young companies from your search for a contractor. However, do make sure that your contractor has the work history to back up the work they want to do on your home. This can be previous work performing the exact same waterproofing work you’re interested in or a long history of education and apprenticeships. Either way, you should always look for a contractor who’s willing to share how they got their experience as opposed to those who would try to hide their past.
- Reviews – Consumer reviews are excellent tools for contract shoppers. Where a contractor wants you to work with them, previous consumers and clients will be able to tell you all you want to know and more about the work a contractor does. You’ll find the good, the bad and the ugly by looking through third-party review websites for a contractor. That said, some contractors will share their best reviews on their home platforms. Take these into account, but take them – and any hyper-negative reviews – with a grain of salt. You can never tell for sure whether or not a bad review was inspired by shoddy work or an accidental slight. Regardless, keep track of review trends while contract shopping to find the basement waterproofing service with the best customer service record.
- Budget and Pricing Flexibility – Naturally, price and pricing flexibility are some people’s first concerns when shopping for a basement waterproofing contractor. While you should prepare a generous budget for waterproofing installations, don’t be afraid to compare prices and to negotiate with your contractor of choice. Always respect the amount of work a contractor has to put into securing your home but make sure you’re not getting ripped off!
- Installation Schedule – The waterproofing process will vary in the amount of time it takes. Not only that, but different contractors will need different amounts of time to complete the work you’re interested in. With that in mind, reach out to the contractors you’re interested in working with to get a better idea of what their time tables look like. You’ll then be able to choose a contractor to work with based on how well their time table matches up with your own responsibilities and needs.
- Available Warranties – Finally, never underestimate the value of a basement waterproofing warranty. Not all contractors will offer warranties, but if you have the opportunity to take advantage of one, you should. When you do, you’ll be able to reach back out to your contractor of choice if something goes wrong with your waterproofing installation for little to no charge.
Shopping for a basement repair company and contractor is going to take some time. Before you get started, line up your wants and needs. Once you have a better idea of what you’re willing to work with, you’ll be able to find a contractor who’ll take your job to heart. Start your waterproofing journey with a free inspection and estimate.
