Fixing Flooded Basements and Giving the WOW! Customer Experience in Owensboro, KY

How to choose the best and the correct contractor for you!

I think that sometimes contractors and service companies get used to the service that they provide and it stops being quite as special to them as it used to be. Why do I say this? I've been dealing with a lot of contractors lately and I'm pulling my hair out!

I'm in the midst of some major remodels in my investment property, an older Owensboro, KY home. My husband and I have been planning on these repairs for a while and we have a budget set up for each repair: refinish the wood floors, paint the exterior of the home, landscape the backyard, waterproof the basement, replace the roof. It's a lot of work and a lot of different contractors to juggle at any given time. Based off of my great and not-so-great experiences so far this month, I have compiled a list of things that I feel make a great company to work with and I was proud to find that my very own employer, Healthy Spaces, met my requirements! Thank goodness that I have them waterproofing my basement!

1. They must have testimonials, reviews, and good information on their website.

I'm a cautious person and I really want to know what I'm signing up for when I decide to move forward on a project. I'm not terribly familiar with most construction trades, or how a project goes from concept to implementation to completion. I want to know before I call a company if, for example, they waterproof basements before I pick up the phone. Once I've determined that they actually offer the best services in the industry, then I'll call for an appointment.

2. They must answer the phone.

I thought this one was pretty much a no-brainer. I've worked for various companies as a receptionist or office worker and I've always answered my phone. I was shocked at how often I left a message that was never returned. I tried out a little experiment on the Healthy Spaces office team and left a message late at night to see when I got a return call and I was amazed how fast Steffany called me back the next morning. Not only that, but I was scheduled with Damon Cheatham for a basement evaluation and I received a packet of information in the mail with a profile of Damon and a book about basement waterproofing prior to his visit.

3. They must communicate.

A good contractor will give you an installation date and show up that day, a great contractor will follow up with you all along the way! I was blown away by the amount of communication that I received from the Healthy Spaces team regarding my basement waterproofing project. Not only did Damon call me before he showed up for my evaluation, but he answered his cell phone on the two different occasions that I had additional questions and he was able to adjust my project specifications accordingly. Once we had agreed on a project scope to meet our goals (a dry basement that we can eventually finish for extra room), the Healthy Spaces staff touched base about installation dates and the foreman even called before they came out. When Steven arrived on site with his crew, he walked me through the basement pointing out where my new sump pump would go, where my SaniDry would be installed, and asked me if I had any questions. Each day, he sent me emails with pictures of how the work was progressing, which was an absolute life-saver because I don't live at the home and wasn't able to be present every day at the job site.

4. They must stand behind their work.

After a couple of not-so-great experiences in the past, I have decided that I will only work with contractors that stand behind their work. I want a guarantee, a warranty, and if possible, annual maintenance. Why? I have a lot on my plate and I will never live down the year that I just completely forgot to get someone to blow out the sprinklers. It was a mess and I ended up finding a company that reminds me every year to schedule a time for them to come out and perform that service. In the same way, I wanted to be certain that my Waterguard system, SuperSump, and SaniDry would be inspected annually and repairs provided if needed. I was surprised to find that Healthy Spaces was the only contractor on my punchlist who offered these services. I was also pleasantly surprised to realize that Healthy Spaces offers a nationally backed warranty, so I can easily sell my Owensboro investment property and transfer the warranty to the new owner's names.

All in all, I learned a lot of valuable information about how to be a good contractor, how to provide great service, and what it means to go above and beyond by studying Healthy Spaces.