1. Observe and protect
Write down the symptoms at the Dayton property, note the timing, and limit further damage where it's safe to -- that record matters later.
2. Evaluate the house and site
Dayton basements show the same symptom -- water on the floor -- for very different reasons: gutter overflow, flat-lot grading, river-valley groundwater pressure, a shifted crack, or humid summer air, and the repair depends entirely on which.
3. Define a written scope
A written scope for a Dayton project should cover prep, protection, materials, access, permits, testing, cleanup, restoration, exclusions, and change-order rules.
4. Compare providers
Compare more than the bottom line -- look at how each Dayton proposal reasons through the problem and where its boundaries are drawn.
5. Inspect closeout
Before a Dayton project is considered done, confirm testing, cleanup, documentation, warranty coverage, and any maintenance left to the homeowner.