talk to me about sump pumps please!

[Susan Lisman]

my husband and I considering a brrrrr property and there is water in the basement and nary a sump pump to be found.  All of the other homes I have visited this age have had them in place - but I know little about them and even less about installing them - better yet, having them installed. 

Meanwhile the current tenants were running the drier while we were there, and all I could think of was the liability of have electric components and puddling water.

I have now been to this home twice, the first time there was some dampness and today in a real rain there were actual puddles in the basement  If anyone has any advice on this, I would love to hear it.  I should say that this does not scare me off yet - it is an older home and I get that this is not an abnormal issue, i just want to know what I am getting into.

I am also open to other solutions - sealing the walls and so on... any advice welcome