Some Indications you might need to call East Coast Waterproofing.
White Chalky Substance on Walls:
Concrete is made up of limestone, clay and mortar, and aggregate (stone). That white outline or spot you see is the calcium in the block leaching out. Its an indication of water, excessive moisture, and is something you should pay attention to. It's called efflorescence.
Cracked Walls and Floors:
Cracks can come in a variety of shapes, sizes and directions. For example, you may see step-cracks on the wall. You might find vertical cracks, or horizontal cracks. In any of these cases, something is causing this to happen - cracks don't usually appear naturally. It could be from settling, pressure on the walls or under the floor, or any number of other causes.
Damp Spots on Walls:
An unpainted block will turn dark gray when it is wet. A painted wall will show discoloration, or a darkening of the paint. A poured wall might show discoloration. In any case, there might be white or dark outlines surrounding the area, which means that either it has leaked before, or substantial moisture has come through in that area.
Musty Odor:
Musty odors are merely the result of the decay process associated with mold, mildew and dry rot. It is the odor given off by the decaying material. Once you smell it, look for the source, and try cleaning any item that has the smell. If it returns, you'll need to replace it.
If your basement has ever experienced any groundwater seepage at all, then it needs a quality basement waterproofing system. The reality is that basement water problems never get better, they only get worse as the house ages and as the drains and coatings that protected the house fail. Therefore, even if water seepage is a once a year occurance, it needs to be fixed before the basement is finished because the problem will only get worse.