Blogs by Basement Systems Dealers

Job Shadow Day at Basement Systems by Connecticut Basement Systems

The end of high school and the start of college can be a confusing time for students who are unsure of what they want to do as a career. Taking a hobby or something you enjoy doing and turning it into a career can be a difficult task.

Yesterday, five seniors from Seymour High School shadowed Basement Systems employees in the Internet Marketing department to learn more about computer science, programming and web design.

Students sat with Account Managers to learn how they create and maintain websites for Basement Systems' network of dealers. They learned about the programming and coding it takes to be a webmaster.

Other students focused more on the graphic design aspect of creating a website from building a template for a web page to adding the content to a site.

After a pizza lunch, a tour of the Research and Development department, and discussions with managers, the students left with additional knowledge of how a large company like Basement Systems work.

And, hopefully they have a better knowledge of what they want to study in college!

Save Money hiring the Right Waterproofing Company by Tristate Basement Systems

Everyone probably heard of read about a contractor scam horror story.

There are so many of them, and some are so horrifying that many homeowners feel queasy just by thinking about any kind of home remodeling or repair project.

Some will even try to tackle the project themselves so they will not have to go through the hassle of shopping for and hiring a contractor.

However not every job can be handled by the average homeowner and waterproofing is one of them.

Which means, if you want your basement dry and no problems now or in the future you need to shop for a waterproofing contractor.
You need a waterproofing expert that is knowledgeable and trustworthy.

This article offers 10 simple steps to help make sure you are hiring the right company and the right person for the job.

After reading the article, you can save yourself a lot of time by just contacting us for a free estimate. We at Tri-State Basement Systems will offer you all the quality and honesty you are looking for and beyond. After all we are a part of the largest and most reputable waterproofing contractor network in the world, and you don't get to be the #1 with lousy services and shoddy products.

Experience our WOW service philosophy for yourself. You'll be glad you did.

Remodeling to Sell: Not every improvement pays off by Tristate Basement Systems

The recent housing crisis flooded the real estate market with properties. Sellers today are competing with builders desperate to get rid of newly built homes and banks willing to sell foreclosured properties at much less than they are worth as a way to cut their losses.

To make matters worse, a slow economy is causing people to postpone bigger expenses, and the credit crunch made it harder for potential home buyers to qualify for mortgage loans. As a result, there are tons of homes for sale and not nearly enough qualified buyers.

Sellers trying to move the property quicker, and not willing loose the money on the deal, know that they need to make their property appeal to a home buyer, and that means to invest some money in improvements, in order to make the home more "saleable".

However, not every home improvement actually pays off, as this article in the New Hampshire Magazine states:

"Building that large sunroom or installing hardwood floors may seem like a great investment, but if your improvements price your house out of its category, you could be in trouble. Joan Whitebook, a buyerâ��s agent located in Nashua, advises homeowners to instead focus on maintenance and repairs. Bring things up to date, but be conscious of your neighborhood and know what is typical of a home in your market. If you go overboard on upgrades, buyers may not be willing to pay the higher price, especially since they likely wonâ��t be looking for these improvements in the first place. This rings especially true for a property below the $350,000 range."

Basement waterproofing, however, remains being one of the best investments you can make in your home in this difficult market, specially if you are planning to sell. In a normal market, a wet basement is a major deal breaker. In a market with so much competition, it renders your home virtually impossible to sell.

Lets face it: who wants buy a "fixer-upper" when there are so many affordable homes out there in much better conditions?

The good news is that fixing a wet basement with our patented basement waterproofing systems is also very affordable, and with our flexible payment options, you can do it in your own terms in a way that is comfortable for you. In addition, we offer transferable warranty at no charge.

Don't let the wet basement keep you from selling your home. Contact us for a free estimate.

Energy Assistance Programs in NJ by Quality 1st Basement Systems of NJ

In the current economy, many homeowners are struggling to make ends meet and stay afloat.

Things get even more difficult during winter months. Higher fuel and energy prices make the cost of heating a home literally prohibitive for many people.

For New Jersey homeowners, relief might be in sight through energy assistance programs offered by several state and private agencies, and non-profit organizations.

This article published in the My Central Jersey website, lists some of the programs currently available and offers contact information.

Considering the fact that there is usually a budget for such programs and funds are usually allocated in a "first come, first served" basis, homeowners should apply as soon as possible.

5 Home Improvements that will actually save you money by Quality 1st Basement Systems of NJ

A home is usually our most valuable asset, and we tend think of home improvements as a sort of "necessary evil", in the sense that it is a necessary expenditure that will either help us add value to the property or keep it from depreciating.

We rarely think of home improvement as a way to save money but, in truth, some improvements will actually help you do just that.

Upgrades that improve your home's energy efficiency are within the money saving category and are also a great way to help the planet. However some improvements, such as crawl space encapsulation and basement remodeling actually offer more than energy savings alone.

This article will show you 5 of such money saving improvements.

If you are considering any of these projects for your home, contact us. You will find out that besides the economy, they are also pretty affordable compared to many other remodeling jobs.

Check those references. by Midwest Basement Systems

Among all the necessary steps to take when hiring contractors, asking for and checking contractor's references is the one most commonly overlooked by the homeowners.

Some are not comfortable with the idea of bothering a complete stranger, calling someone on phone, to ask about the work performance of another. Others just don't know how to do it, or what to ask.

In our experience, when our customers are really happy with the service , not only they will not feel bothered for having their contact information used as reference, as they will be delighted in providing the information requested.

This is why our policy to offer references right away before you ask for them, and even before your ever get to meet our representative in person.
As for exactly what to ask a contractor's reference, the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) website has excellent tips:

"Ask the homeowners:

Would you hire this company again?
Did the remodeler maintain a neat jobsite, provide regular broom clean-up, and haul away debris including personal trash?
Did the remodeler keep labor and materials delays to a minimum so that your job could be started and completed on time and within budget?
Did you find the remodeler easy to work with? Did the remodeler keep you informed as the job progressed?
Did the remodeler supply you with paperwork in a timely fashion?

How well did the remodeler deal with the problems that arose?"

Although those questions were directed to remodeling contractors, we believe they apply to every contractor in the home improvement industry and we strongly encourage you to use them every time you plan on hiring a contractor.

Door to Door Sales Act: know your rights by Midwest Basement Systems

Iowa's Door-to-Door sales act can be consumer's best ally.

Based on the Federal Trade Commission's "Cooling-Off Rule", this law, which seeks to protect homeowners from the overly aggressive and sometimes intimidating sales tactics used by contractors and door-to-door salespeople, give consumers 3 days to cancel any contracts signed or any purchases made outside the seller's place of business.

In other words, if you feel you were pushed into hiring anyone or buying anything while being at home, you have 3 days from the date of the closing to change your mind, while remaining entitled to a full refund and without having to pay any cancellation fees.

In fact, according to the law, the seller should inform you of your rights.
Here's what the Iowa's Attorney General Website has to say about it:

"Under the law, the seller must TELL you of your right to cancel at the time of sale and give you two copies of a written notice of your right to cancel. The contract is void if the seller fails to do this. If you cancel your purchase and request a refund, the seller must refund your money within ten business days and cancel any further financial obligations."

When dealing with a reputable contractor, such as Midwest Basement Systems, you will never have to worry about this, because our sales model does not include scary or intimidating sales pitches. We are so confident about the quality of our products and services that we do not need to use gimmicks.

Instead, we educate our customers. We want to give you the control and tools to make informed decisions within your budget and based on the things you want to accomplish with your basement and crawl space.

No wonder we are part of the world's largest waterproofing contractor network. You don't get to be the #1 in the world with gimmicks.

Contact us for a free estimate and experience the difference.

Local Business Collecting Food for Needy Families by BQ Basement Systems

FLOURTOWN -- The holidays are coming, which means it's time for food, family and fun for many people. However, some families won't have the luxury of a hearty Thanksgiving meal this holiday season. To help everyone have a happy Thanksgiving, BQ Basement Systems and the Carson Valley Children's Aid group are having a holiday food drive to provide meals for needy families.

Carson Valley Children's Aid is a non-profit, child welfare agency that offers a comprehensive continuum of care for children and families including youth development programs, substance abuse prevention, education programs and family support services.
If you want to do your part to help out those less fortunate, purchase a basket at any Dollar Store and fill it with as much food as you can. We are looking for:

Turkey
Boxed stuffing mix
Instant mashed potatoes
Canned sweet potatoes
Canned whole cranberry sauce
Canned applesauce
Canned string beans, corn, etc.
Corn bread muffin mix
Rolls
Cookies
Candy (M&Ms etc.)
Sweet potato pie
Pumpkin pie

For items that need refrigeration, such as turkey or pie, you can purchase a gift card from Acme or Pathmark. Feel free to add any other items you can think of to give these families a bountiful Thanksgiving meal. Do what you can to help those in need so that everyone can have a safe, healthy and happy holiday season!

BQ Basement Systems Inc. is a locally owned and operated basement waterproofing and crawl space repair contractor serving southeastern Pennsylvania and northwestern New Jersey. They are members of the Basement Systems international network of waterproofing and moisture control contractors. They have access to 25 patented basement and crawl space products. BQ specializes in drying wet basements and crawlspaces, foundation waterproofing, and interior basement waterproofing. BQ Basement Systems offers Free Estimates and Inspections for basement and crawl space waterproofing. Schedule your estimate online at http://www.bqbasementsystems.com/ or call 1-800-328-0816.

Dianna Gallen at (215) 233-5107
Charlene at (215) 233-1960 ext. 315 or crogers@cvca-pa.org
BQ Basement Systems
525 Bethlehem Pike
Erdenheim, PA 19038

Marketing in a Bad Economy by Connecticut Basement Systems

Everyone is feeling the crunch of the bad economy, but the important thing for your struggling business is to keep trying new methods for getting your products out there until you find what works for you. Now more than ever, customers want to know that their money will not be wasted on shoddy products and poor workmanship, so they must be educated on the value of your product. Basement Systems understands the difficulties its dealers are facing with keeping business high, so the headquarters provided dealer training this month for marketing in a bad economy.

Basement Systems offers regular training sessions for dealers across the country and globe. Topics vary each time from installation to sales in our various specialties (basements, crawl spaces, foundation repair, etc.). Dealers are able to meet each other and the Basement Systems headquarters team, as well as ask questions and hear information straight from the company president, Larry Janesky.

Last week, a group of dealers learned how to better target buyers by emphasizing the quality of their products and how they can save homeowners money in the end, as well as how to better market their business on the internet through blogs and social networking.

Dealers were able to work together and discuss their concerns while trying to motivate each other throughout the three-day training course. Basement Systems staff members from the marketing and web departments gave presentations to the dealers and took questions.

Remodeling & Energy Expo by Healthy Spaces

Remodeling & Energy Expo

November 14 and 15

This past weekend was an exciting weekend for Healthy Spaces at the Expo. We got to speak with a lot of homeowners that wanted to save money on their energy bills and also have a healthy home. We had a couple of displays set up to show some of the types of work that we can do for them.

Thank you all for coming out to the Expo!

Just in case you didn't get to come out, here are some pictures from the expo and our display.