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How to Choose the Best Basement Finishing Company in Toronto?

Gone are the days when basements are considered a non-essential part of the home. Before, they were usually left unfinished and abandoned, gathering dust and turning into an inhospitable place. But today, more and more homeowners are starting to see the value of finishing a basement. For one, you can transform them into an additional living space, drastically improving your family’s quality of life. On top of that, it also increases your property’s resale value and even enables you to rent out the area for some extra monthly income.

However, deciding that you want to finish your basement is just half the battle. The harder part comes next, which is choosing the best basement finishing company in Toronto that can turn your visions into reality. To make things even more complicated, there are so many contractors out there, each one promising to be the best. To determine which one is right for you, make sure to do your research and know the qualities you have to watch out for.

 

Related Article: Do You Need to Finish Your Basement and Is It Worth It?

 

HOW TO FIND THE BEST BASEMENT FINISHING COMPANY FOR YOU

Toronto and the rest of GTA are big on home improvement. It is only natural – after all, we only want the best of the best for our families. But aside from the usual bathrooms, kitchens, and bedrooms, basements are now receiving a major overhaul as well. Whether you want to convert and finish your basement into a cozy apartment or a dedicated home office, it is vital to choose a reputable basement finishing company. Specifically, they will need to meet certain criteria to prove that they are up for the task. This way, you can be sure that you’ll get your money’s worth, and that your basement will stand the test of time.

1. CREDIBILITY

There are plenty of basement contractors in Toronto. You do have to make sure that the company you’re hiring is reliable and legitimate. That means they are licensed and registered with the state. Otherwise, you’ll be in a tight spot in case something goes wrong with the project. Instead of going to your state’s licensing board to file for damages, you may have to complain to the civil court instead.

With that said, you’ll need to ask for all the necessary credentials, including licenses, permits, and other papers. Review the information, ensuring that everything is clear, specific, and leaves no room for legal loopholes. Furthermore, the basement finishing company must also be fully insured. Accidents may occur during the renovation. For sure, you don’t want to be held responsible for medical treatment and other costs.

2. EXPERIENCE

After confirming that the basement contractors are indeed licensed, the next step is to look into their industry experience and reputation. Ideally, you want a well-established basement finishing company that has been in business for several years. This assures you of their excellence and overall reliability.

Some basement renovation companies also have showrooms, giving you an idea about the type of work that they do. Alternatively, some may have a portfolio, which can be an online or a physical album containing photos of completed projects. Plus, the gallery can also serve as a design inspiration for your own basement.

If you want, you can also visit some of their past or current job sites. A trustworthy basement finishing company should have no qualms about referring you to their previous clients. Aside from seeing the results with your own eyes, you’ll also be able to talk to the customers and obtain a first-hand account of their experience with the contractors. Finally, consider checking for online reviews to further establish the company’s integrity.

 

Related Article: Top Basement Renovations Ideas 2020

 

3. ONE-STOP SERVICES

To make your life infinitely easier, go for a basement finishing company that offers one-stop services. In other words, they will handle every aspect of the renovation process. This includes the wiring, lighting, flooring, waterproofing, insulation, ventilation, plumbing, and many more.

Thanks to this, there is no need for you to evaluate and hire a different set of contractors for every job. Not to mention, you won’t have to worry about buying the materials as well. Overall, this allows you to save precious time, energy, and money.

4. PRICE RANGE

price range

Let’s get this out of the way. Renovating your basement is not cheap and requires some investment on your part. A reliable finisher should provide you with an estimated price, including a breakdown of the budget. More importantly, they should stick to it. This way, you’ll have a solid idea about your expenses, ensuring that you won’t have to grasp at straws come payment time.

If you’re selecting from several basement finishing companies, it might be tempting to go for the lowest bidder from the get-go – but don’t. If they are selling themselves too low, it speaks volumes about the quality of their work. That is, you can expect a botched job consisting of cheap materials and poor-quality workmanship. This is more likely to happen with obscure contractors that still have not made a name for themselves.

Aside from this, you’ll also want to steer clear of basement finishing companies that are regularly offering huge discounts. If they can mark down the price significantly, they may have been charging too much in the first place.

5. DETAILED PLANNING

It goes without saying: a basement renovation is a complicated, multistep process. Hence, it is best to have a clear picture of the entire procedure from the very beginning. You don’t want to invest large amounts of money on a vague and poorly executed plan, after all. Besides, proper planning also allows you to make the necessary changes early on, helping avoid costly mistakes down the road.

With that said, it is critical to stick to a basement finishing company that has excellent planning skills and is transparent about every single detail. This may include a comprehensive design consultation early in the process, and deciding on the preferred renovation materials. Some companies like Basement Now even go the extra mile and will provide you with 3D drawings, helping you envision your completed basement.

6. TIMEFRAME

Planning what to do is not enough. The basement finishing company should also give you a deadline of completion so that you’ll know what to expect. The timeframe should be realistic – but not too lengthy. Aside from that, they should also stay true to their words. This just goes to show that they value their customer’s time.

Basement Now, for example, typically completes renovation projects in as short as three weeks. Aside from that, we will even offer to pay you if we don’t abide by our promised time.

7. CUSTOMER SERVICE

Communication is key for the success of any home renovation project. This goes hand in hand with transparency. You’ll want to be in on every single detail – particularly updates – concerning the basement renovation progress. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of stories where the project goes awry due to poor communication between the customer and the company. With that said, make sure to stick to a contractor with unparalleled customer service. This means that they should be easy to keep in touch with whenever you have any questions or concerns.

8. PAYMENT OPTIONS

payment options

A basement finishing project can drain a hole in your wallet pretty fast, especially if you don’t have extra money set aside for it. This is why you should go for a company that is compassionate and boasts flexible payment options, giving you peace of mind while the restoration is well underway.

Here at Basement Now, for example, you don’t have to pay the company until you’re fully satisfied with the finished product. If you’re on a tight budget, there are also financing options to help ease your burden.

YOU DESERVE THE BEST

Deciding on which basement renovation project to go for is no easy feat. After all, there are endless options to choose from. It might be overwhelming, but if you know what qualities to keep an eye on, you should be able to find at least one basement finishing company that is a cut above the rest.

Lucky for you, there is no need to spend hours and hours browsing the web. Basement Renovations Now is a one-stop company for all your basement needs. We satisfy all the criteria listed above – and so much more. Rest assured that we will make the entire renovation project as smooth, seamless, and polished as can be. All that is left for you to do is leave the grunt work to our team of experienced and skilled tradesmen, and wait until your dingy basement transforms into the space of your dreams.

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