5 Tips for Choosing a Foundation Inspector
Choosing a foundation inspector is as important as choosing a foundation repair company. Since the inspector will be the one to let you know if your foundation needs repair, they will likely be the first company to give you a quote if necessary. It’s essential that your inspector comes from a reputable company with a track record for honesty about foundation inspections. Here are 5 tips to help you in selecting a great foundation inspector.
1) Make sure they check the entire foundation, including under the home
It may seem obvious after you hear it, but your foundation inspector should always check the entire foundation for damage, including under the home or in the crawl space. Many foundation repair companies will do a simple perimeter check and then point to exterior damage as proof of a need for repairs. This is a big red flag. Never accept reports or quotes from companies that don’t do thorough and complete foundation inspections
2) Make sure your inspector is engineer certified
If your home does end up having foundation issues, the inspection is what the company should use to create a repair plan and quote. Your foundation inspector should be, or be working with, a certified engineer who is able to create a proper plan. If they couldn’t create a repair plan after a full inspection, how can you trust them to know the extent of the damage? Sure Safe always provides engineer-certified repair plans when repairs are found to be necessary.
3) Make sure the company has a history of city-permitted repairs
Unfortunately, many contractors take advantage of homeowner ignorance and provide repairs without first submitting their plans to the city for approval. City approval costs money, and they often use this tactic to lower their estimates. However, repairs that do not have a permit from the city are not recognized by the city. You will not be able to sell your home without redoing the repairs with a proper permit, and the repairs will not be factored into the value of your home. Do not be tricked by these contractors. Only work with companies that get proper city approval for their repairs. Like Sure Safe, these are the companies that will do proper inspections as well.
4) Choose a company with a history of honest inspections
Foundation damage can be a tricky problem to diagnose. That’s the very reason it’s so important to get a qualified individual to perform the inspection. Unfortunately, that is also the same reason you will ultimately have to trust their word when it comes to the necessity for an inspection. Some companies will take advantage of this situation to point out superficial non problematic damage and insist on the need for repairs.
To avoid this situation, look for companies that have a history of honest dealings in their inspections. Sure Safe has a history of letting customers know when they don’t need foundation repair. Check out our reviews on Angie’s list to see for yourself.
5) Consult reputable review sources like Angie’s List
Before calling over an inspector, make sure to do your research. Look for reviews on reputable sites from real people to get a feel for how other customers have interacted with the business.
We know online reviews can be tough to trust at times. Reviews from Google or social media oftentimes may or may not be reputable. We recommend checking out Angie’s List, which has a history of reliable reviews.
If you’re looking for a foundation repair inspection, let us be the one to help you out. You’ll get an engineer-certified inspection, and a repair plan if necessary, or we’ll let you know if you don’t need repairs if it’s not necessary. Contact us today.
