Water in the Basement is Always a Big Deal - 2nd Post in the Buyers/Homeowners Common Link Series

Last week I began a blog series focusing on the disdain for wet basements that owners and buyers share and how we can address issues in a basement quickly to benefit the current homeowner and potential buyer. Both sides of the situation (the homeowner and the buyer) have valid concerns about a wet basement and I can only imagine the fear and influx of thoughts when a buyer finds a home he/she loves yet has a wet basement and also when a homeowner begins having water in the basement. Neither wants the water but for the homeowner it can be tricky to decide when and how to fix this issue.

Repair is good for everyone

So instead of using hindsight alone and thinking people are negligent, let's look at the questions that may confuse a homeowner from making the fix- which would help them and any future buyer. Remember, if the homeowner gets it fixed before listing then it is transparent, done, and trusted. If it comes up during the sale it will be used against the homeowner. So in the end it really does make sense to correct it asap. Nonetheless, I digress, here is the plot that was inspired by some recent leads of ours: 

Scenario

So, say there is a homeowner who has water every year. This is something I am seeing recently coming through our leads. But then the breaking point hits and there's more than just a leak the whole basement is resembling a bath tub. Of course, hindsight is 20/20, so besides just saying, "see, so-and-so should have just fixed that the moment there was a leak." I wonder how many people ever take care of any issue when the issue is just revealing itself. Perhaps the issue even comes and goes and isn't that prominent. I think most people aren't negligent but rather internalizing a conversation about whether the issue is a big deal...and this is what we will cover today: Is water in the basement a big deal?

Water in the basement is always a big deal

I think we all know that the water in the basement is indicative of an even bigger issue- perhaps a crack, a high water table, or something else altogether. When the problem is identified usually we know that it needs fixing otherwise the symptoms will keep progressing. It is just like something we experience emotionally or physically, sometimes when we ignore a symptom the symptom itself may go away but the root cause has not. We may just begin getting other symptoms until one really gets us to make a correction to the problem.

The same is true of the water in the basement. Perhaps the small bit of water only a few times a year doesn't seem a big deal, or the musty smell because doesn't that just come with every basement? But no, the musty smell and the mold in a basement do not need to be there and shouldn't!

Did you know the air being breathed on the first floor of a home is comprised of air from the basement or crawl space? I feel like once I realized that I never looked at basements the same. It's like the whole if everyone is doing it will I do it too without thinking because it is common? Well, now I know that basements may tend to be stinky and dreary but they shouldn't be because these conditions can affect the allergies in a home, the humidity, and of course be just a symptom of a great, big problem. 

So even though we have the idea that a wet basement is the norm, or isn't a big deal until it's 2 inches deep- think again. If water is present it means the water is entering somewhere and if it isn't being fixed it isn't getting better either. We can never guarantee when a basement will get worse, but we know we can fix the problems. 

Give us a call if you have questions about your basement. Our Sales Inspector will come out and evaluate the space and identify the issues and solutions. We will figure out a way that works for you.