Did you know that homebuilders aren't required to waterproof your basement?

In other words, while they can't get away with selling you a new house with a leaky roof, they really don't have to do much when it comes to the basement.

Like thousands of other people, we found this out the hard way recently, after Harvey passed over our state. Our house is about 5 years old, and we assumed that since we have a sump pump in the basement, we were ok.

Well, we were ok for a while, but four inches of rain later, our sump pump couldn't keep up, and we got water leaking in through cracks.

Huge tip: Make sure your basement has been waterproofed before finishing it!

Although we had a headache when we got water in our basement, it could have been far worse. Earlier this year we talked with a contractor about finishing our basement, and didn't go through with it because we are still saving up to afford it.

Well, thank goodness we didn't have a finished basement, because that inch of water we got in our basement would have ruined the flooring and drywall down there, not to mention the mold that surely would have grown.

In other words, a $40k finished basement is toast when it gets flooded!

The basement of most homes gets neglected, because you can afford to ignore it until something goes wrong. However, it's the very foundation of your house, so please consider having a basement waterproofing professional assess your situation.

And, don't just hit the internet to find a company. Waterproofing companies are notoriously slick, and at worst they can be con artists.

I've seen horror stories online about companies who don't even grade the french drains, so the water just sits inside the pipes! In other words, they take your money and subcontract out the work to a bunch of knuckle-draggers who don't even know how to waterproof a basement.

Anyway, Angie's List is probably your best bet for finding a good waterproofing company, as the verified reviews are real, and extremely helpful. You can also ask friends on Facebook for a referral, although if their basement system hasn't been tested, they might not even know if it works!

Also, be sure the company has been around a while, and gives you a lifetime guarantee. Unlike your smartphone, you can't afford for your waterproofing system to be obsolete in 5 years!

Don't be afraid to ask them questions, and don't sign anything on their first visit. They can pressure you, and even try to scare you about mold and your kids.

Anyway, I just wanted to share this helpful tip with new homeowners, as we keep learning things as we screw up!