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Hire the right people |
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You’re
looking for a company that is
licensed, bonded, insured and
ethical. |
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Know how you want to enjoy your basement |
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Key to getting a great project
and your enjoyment is thinking about
the following:
- Will I use it for children?
Teenagers?
- Is it the ultimate man cave?
- Will it be used for social
gatherings?
- How luxurious do you want
your bathroom, home theater, or
kitchen?
- How much space would you
like to use for storage?
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Know the condition of your basement |
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- Do you have mold?
- Have you ever had moisture
problems?
- How dry is your basement?
- Do you have cracks?
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Get a professional design |
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We offer professional drawings and
3d design for your basement so you
can visualize the finished project. |
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Know your options in materials |
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Depending on how you want to use
your basement and the dryness of you
walls and floor, some materials are
better than others.
Benefits of
Steel Studs
For your basement, we recommend
steel studs.
Inherent advantages of
steel : Steel has a lot of great
characteristics. With steel you
don’t need to worry about rot,
termites, mold or carpenter ants.
And it won’t warp with age or
changing moisture levels. Steel is
also fire resistant. Steel is also a
manufactured product which means
that every stud is perfectly
straight. You won’t have any bows in
your new basement walls. |
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Know what’s included in your proposal |
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Would you believe that sometimes
standard options are not included in
the proposal? Examples are stair
railings, finished doors, and
painted walls. Here’s what’s
included in a standard Baker Group
Basement:
- Permits
- Electrical rough and finish
work
- Heating and cooling for the
space(s)
- Plumbing rough and finish
work (if applicable)
- Framing
- Wall Board
- Painted Walls
- Finished Doors and trim
- Finished Ceiling
- Flooring (optional)
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Personalize your basement to fit your needs |
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Basements are all about fun, family,
friends, and functionality. Whether
it’s an amazing home theater, dream
bathroom, upgraded finish options,
luxury carpet, custom kitchen,
hidden doors, or anything else you
can think of. We can provide the
solution if you can dream it. |
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Meet the crew |
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A finished basement is a major
undertaking. You’ll want to meet the
foreman in charge of running your
project. This person will be in your
home every day for several weeks or
more. It’s important that you
establish a rapport and get along.
We’re happy to have you meet the
crew assigned to your project during
the sales process before any work
begins. |
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Are you licensed? |
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Most
states require contractors, even
sub-contractors to be licensed in
their respective fields. Make sure
you contractor is properly licensed.
Anyone can say they are licensed.
You can ask for a copy of the
license for proof. The owner of
Baker Group Basements is a Licensed
General Contractor with the City of
Columbus. |
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Do you carry general liabilities insurance? |
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Make sure your contractor carries
general liability insurance. This
type of insurance protects your
property in case of damage caused by
the contractor and/or his employees.
The insurance company will pay for
the cost of replacing, and/or
repairing any damage that occurs. |
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Do you carry worker's compensation insurance? |
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Make sure your contractor carries
workers’ compensation insurance. It
protects you from liability if a
worker is injured while on your
property. Be aware that if a
contractor does not carry workers’
compensation coverage, you may be
liable for any injuries suffered by
the contractor or any of his
employees while on your property. |
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Will you pull all the required building permits? |
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Make sure your contractor pulls all
of the required permits. This
typically consists of a building
permit, electrical permit, heating
and cooling permit, and plumbing
permit (if applicable). When a
contractor pulls the required
permits , you know that things will
be done “to code.” Also, many
homeowners insurance policies
require pulling a permit on any
major remodeling project to keep
your home properly covered. Not all
contractors do this. Many prefer not
to pull permits because of the cost,
time involved, and dealing with
inspectors. Some contractors may ask
you to pull your own permits. This
is a red flag. A reputable
contractor will pull a permit for
every job where a permit is
required. |
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Do you guarantee your work? |
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Your contractor should guarantee his
work for at least one year following
the completion date. They should
also include any warranties from the
material used if applicable. |
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Will you provide me with written references? |
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A good contractor will be happy to
provide you with references. It’s up
to you to call and ask good
questions. |
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Have you or your company ever filed for bankruptcy or been sued? |
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Get the specifics. Many companies
just assume business under another
name after filing for bankruptcy.
You want the company to be around to
honor your warranties. |
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Who will be on-site and in charge of my job each day? |
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Get a name and a phone number. You
want to know who is going to be
running your project. Baker Group
Basements has no problem letting you
meet the project foreman during the
sales process, or before
construction begins. |
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What is your payment schedule? |
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Most professional contractors
work on a pay-as-you-go basis,
receiving partial payments
throughout the process. The payments
are known as draws, and are
typically a percentage of the total
project cost. Avoid any contractor
who wants full payment before
starting the job. |
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What is the project timeframe? |
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You should have a time frame spelled
out before construction begins. The
contractor should do everything in
his/her power to stick to the
timeframe. Imagine your frustration
in thinking a project will take 3
weeks and lasts 4 months. Baker
Group Basements guarantees the
project will be finished by the
completion date or you get paid. |
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