What a proper inspection looks like
- Someone goes into the crawl space or walks the whole basement, with a light, and does not price the job from the doorway.
- Moisture readings are taken on wood or walls, and you are told the numbers.
- The outside is checked as well: gutters, downspouts, the slope of the soil, the access door.
- You are shown photographs of what was found.
- The cause of the water is explained before any product is mentioned.
Be wary of a price that is good only if you sign before the salesperson leaves. A sound proposal is still sound next week.
Questions worth asking every company
- What is causing the water, and how sure are you?
- What is the least work that would solve it, and what would you add if money were no object?
- Who does the work: your own employees or a subcontractor?
- Which permits does the job need, and will you pull them?
- Can you send proof of general liability and workers' compensation insurance from your insurer?
- May I speak with a past customer whose job is at least a couple of years old?
Get it in writing
The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors publishes a short consumer brochure for people hiring a contractor. Its advice is practical: get a written contract that shows the company's name, address and telephone number and an expected start and completion date. Never pay more than one-third down, and do not let payments run ahead of the work. Do not pay in cash. Make sure the contractor obtains the permit.
For waterproofing, add two things. The contract should list what is being installed in enough detail that another company could tell what you bought. And the warranty should be a document you can read before signing: what it covers, what voids it, whether it passes to a buyer if you sell, and who honors it if the installer closes.
Check the license yourself
Tennessee licenses contractors through the Board for Licensing Contractors. A full contractor's license is required once a job's total price reaches the threshold the state sets, and smaller remodeling jobs need a separate home improvement license in the counties that have adopted that law. Robertson County, which includes Adams, is one of them. Montgomery and Cheatham counties are not on the Board's list.
Ask the company which license it holds and under what name, then look it up at verify.tn.gov. The search shows whether the license is active. For complaint history, the Board answers at (615) 741-8307.
Do this check on any company, including one you reached through this website. We do not vouch for licenses or insurance. The lookup takes two minutes and is the only way to know.
Permits: city or county
Montgomery County Building and Codes says a permit is needed whenever someone wishes to construct, alter, repair, enlarge or move a structure. Outside the city limits, that office is the one to ask, at 931-648-5718. For an address inside Clarksville, the county directs people to City Building and Codes at (931) 645-7426. A two-minute call tells you whether your job needs a permit and who should apply.