Most people know that general contractors overall don’t have a great reputation. As an industry, there seem to be more bad contractors than good ones. Many times, there’s no real way to tell if the contractor’s going to do what they say, until you sign up with them and then hold your breath. They say they’re going to solve your problem and do it right but will they really?

1. Ask for references
Any good basement remodeling contractor will have references. And not one reference from their cousin Sally but good, reliable references. There should be a good number of references from various customers within their service area. This shows that their customers really do like the work they do. Tip: Kamagra jelly make sure the references are proportional to the number of years the company’s been in business. For example, if the business is only 3 years old but they have 3,000 references already, that seems a little fishy. That’s a high number of basements to finish in a very small amount of time and it just doesn’t make sense.

2. Avoid high pressure sales tactics
Many contractors send their salesmen and women to your home and then it begins – the dreaded guilt-tripping and high-pressure sales tactics to make a commission off of you. A respected basement finishing company knows that pressuring you to buy basement finishing products is not the way to gain your trust or business.

Notice if the salesperson answers all of your questions or if they try to gloss over your concerns. Not addressing your concerns tells you that they don’t really have a good answer and they want to hide from the issue. Even if they don’t have the answer, a good salesperson will get an answer for you, even if it’s later that day or week.

3. Licenses and BBB Rating
Ask for the contractor’s building licenses to be sure they have all the paperwork necessary to finish basements in the area. Many hacks can just pick up a hammer and nails but only licensed contractors will have both the necessary paperwork and skills to show they are official.

Asking for their rating with the Better Business Bureau is also vital because it will tell you how the company handles complaints and overall how the company interacts with their customers. Ratings range from A+ to F but in the BBB anything less than a B+ is pretty unsatisfactory and is a warning sign that the company may not be one you want to do business with.

4. Timeliness
Keep an eye on the clock when you have an appointment with your salesperson or technicians. Notice if they’re usually on time or if they saunter in a long time after the promised time window. This shows how much the company cares about your time or not.

5. Written estimates
Getting a written estimate before any work is done is crucial. It is the contract that holds the contractor and you to the work agreed upon. To avoid any confusion or misunderstandings, go through the estimate with the contractor and ask any questions you have. Do not hold back because you’re embarrassed. Chances are the contractor has heard your questions/concerns before and it’s not a big deal to voice your concerns. It’s better to air your questions now than when work has already begun and it’s too late.

6. Transferable Warranties
Many basement finishing contractors feature transferable warranties and these are invaluable when finishing your basement. What this means is that when you sell your home, the warranties on the basement finishing system will be transferred to the new owners. This is a value-added aspect you can offer when selling your home and can be a great leg to stand on to ask for more money during the sale of your home.

Another important thing to check is whether or not the products have warranties at all. Many companies do not offer warranties on their products because they know they may not stand the test of time. This shows little faith and quality of product so why should you put that in your basement? Look for warranties to make sure the materials going into your home are the best around.

7. Waterproof materials
Remodeling your basement is something you want to do once – not two or three times. Finishing the basement with waterproof materials ensures that you won’t have to do it again, like you would have to do if you used drywall. Find out if the materials the contractor is going to use are made of organic materials or if they are inorganic. Inorganic materials resist mold growth so that’s what you want to finish your basement with.

8. Community leaders
Many successful companies are true leaders in their communities. Check if they are regularly featured in local charity events, parades and other events in the area. Many really good companies are involved and are real leaders in their towns. They are less likely to rip you off because they know people talk around town.

These tips will help you get the finished basement you’ve dreamed of, and help you avoid bad contractors.

Author Bio: For great contractors and basement remodeling in Pennsylvania, contact Appleby Systems. They service State College to York, Harrisburg to Allentown and Pottsville to Waynesboro. Get their free basement finishing estimate today.

Category: Home/Home Improvement
Keywords: basement remodeling, basement finishing contractor