10 Things to Think About Before You Hire a Basement Waterproofer

I have been in business for over 25 years and have seen many companies take advantage of homeowners. Waterproofing is a vital part of your home. If you can take 5 minutes to read my top 10 ways I’ve seen customers get taken advantage of, it could save you money and years of aggravation.

1.“Lifetime Guarantee”

Who’s a lifetime? Many companies have a “Concrete” guarantee; they guarantee their work until their truck leaves your concrete driveway! What they guarantee is that they will be gone when you need them. Most contractors give warranties, but precisely what do they guarantee? Here at Frank’s, we give you a written warranty. We specify precisely what is covered and for how long and put it in writing. If a problem develops that needs to be addressed, you’ll know you have our company to stand behind our work; we guarantee it! Our warranty offers complete care, with no hidden charges for materials or labor in the event of a failure, and we put it in writing. Frank’s offers a 24-hour return call policy, with a 48-hour home visit when necessary. This warranty can also be transferred should you decide to sell your home to a new owner. We leave your house, but we don’t leave you. We stand behind the work we do for you; when you need us, we will be there.

2.“Thousands of Satisfied Customers”

Where? What cities? Are they here in this area or part of a larger franchise or network of companies not represented by the local contractor? Frank’s is a local company serving Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Rochester and the surrounding areas, and we have been in business since 1985! We use no subcontractors or out-of-state workers and don’t offer an out-of-state warranty.

3. “Sure! We have insurance.”

This has to be my personal favorite. What kind of insurance, Auto Insurance? At Frank’s, we have Liability Insurance and an entire suite of coverage, including Worker’s Compensation. Suppose your contractor's family member or friend gets hurt working at your house. In that case, you (the homeowner) are responsible unless the contracting company carries Worker’s Compensation (which is mandatory in New York State for all legitimate contracting companies). Please do yourself a favor and insist not only that the contractor you choose carries insurance but tell them you want a copy of a current policy showing Worker's Compensation and your name listed as Additionally Insured!!!!!!!!!!!!

4.“We leave no mess and clean up.”

This is another good one. No job is considered complete at Frank's until we take care of your property. When we work in your basement, we don’t consider the job complete until we clean up your basement. It will be at least as clean as when we started, and we don’t leave until you are happy.

5.$$$ We will have to dig up your entire basement to waterproof $$$

STOP! Waterproofing is not a Once-Size-Fits-All solution. Frank’s will send out a specialist in system design to expertly evaluate your concerns, and then we will tell you your options. Some basement leaks are simple to repair and would not require extensive and intrusive demolition of your basement. Sure some leaks are more involved. Some may even cause your sump pump or washing machine to back up, but you cannot determine the exact cause without a qualified expert looking at the issues individually. I guarantee that my company will find out your problem, and then we’ll give you options. We will dry out your basement without drying out your wallet!

6. “Financing”

Financing can sound great for low amounts like $99 a month, which some companies promise. If you have to finance your repair, understand that financing usually comes at a premium, like a credit card, and may cost you over 20% interest. At Frank’s, we are NOT the finance company. We work with the right companies to get you the best financing terms, and we often can get you introductory financing with no payments and no interest. We offer that financing at the same terms as if you paid us cash.

7. “Referrals”

“Pick anyone off this list.” Wow! Grandparents. Uncle Louie. Personal friends or paid references. Is the other company you consider a Member in good standing with the Better Business Bureau? Are they members of the appropriate certifying organizations like the National Association of Waterproofing and Structural Repair Contractors, Inc. (NAWSRC) and the Home Improvement Council (HIC)? At Frank’s, we encourage you to look for yourself. Go to the BBB website. We are members in good standing with many fine organizations. We also can provide you with a list of customers to view for references. With over 15,000 satisfied customer names, you will probably find someone you know personally. We will even go farther. You can call our office and get the addresses of jobs we are currently working on in your area. Go to the job site and see how the work looks. Talk to the homeowners. See how we leave job sites. Ask questions. Don’t just take our word for it; see for yourself.

8. Other companies may say, “All our field people wear uniforms, and our trucks are clean.”

That’s great, but what does it mean? At Frank’s, we also have clean trucks and wear safety vests, but ensuring all our people are periodically tested for drugs is more important than our look. We do regular in-house training, reinforcing time-tested techniques and teaching new technology and techniques for our many repairs. We also train our people to succeed with customer service, respecting you and your property. You can be assured of the finest people working at your home.

9. “This job doesn’t need a permit.”

That is like saying, “It’s not going to snow this winter” when you live in Buffalo. Please be careful! Nearly every waterproofing job done in Western New York will require a plumbing permit and must be inspected by a town official upon completion. Don’t just take my word for it; call your local Plumbing Inspector and ask them. At Frank’s, we have on-staff our own licensed Master Plumbers and carry plumbing licenses in every town we work in.

10. “I can save you money if you pay us with cash.”

WARNING!
Please think about this one. Don’t find yourself asking,

“Hey, where’s my warranty?”

“What about permits for this job?”

“What happens if I have a problem later?”

“What if I sell my house?”

“What do I do with all this water?”

Beware of a company that asks you for cash. When a contractor tries to get you to pay with cash, you may have many unanswered questions.

Looking for a price? Get a no cost, no obligation free estimate.