How can I Tell if I’m Getting a Legitimate Bid from a Contractor for my Foundation?
Understanding what a contractor bid should include is a mystery for almost every homeowner. It’s no wonder since foundation repair is not the average person’s area of expertise. Fortunately, we can help you prepare to know what any contractor bid should include. In this article, we’ll explain what you should look for in a bid to protect your home and your wallet.
Apart from a few of the basics, such as including a general cost, timeframe, etc. here are some of the less obvious things to look for in a contractor bid.
Inspection before bid
It may seem obvious but any legitimate bid should first be preceded by a proper inspection. If your potential contractor does one lap around your home and quickly offers a bid you should be suspicious.
A proper inspection should involve inspecting all the supports of the foundation closely, and when necessary even entering the crawl space to check for unseen damage (if not clearly indicated on the exterior). The contractor should be able to thoroughly explain how they came to their conclusions regarding any damage and the necessity for foundation repair. Sure Safe has a track record of letting customers know when an inspection isn’t needed. Just check our online reviews!
Engineer certified plan
Any bid, and inspection for that matter, should be provided by a certified engineer. Without getting into too many details, a strong foundation requires a proper understanding of the pounds of force required to protect a home from shifting soil, sheer forces, earthquakes, and more. You don’t want to be stuck with a foundation repair that doesn’t have the strength to support your home, leading to future damage.
Fortunately Sure Safe has a specially patented VR-1 foundation system that is able to adapt to any foundation repair job. Each of our bids comes with an engineer-certified plan specifically tailored to your home and its repair needs.
City permit costs
A legitimate bid will always include the costs associated with city-required permits and certifications. If you receive a bid that does not include a line item explaining the cost and necessity of a city permit this is a red flag. Many contractors will attempt to underbid others by leaving out permits even though they are required by the city and not having one will harm the customer and their safety.
You must have a permit to perform foundation repair, and failure to do so can result in fines, loss of home value, problems obtaining loans, and more. Every Sure Safe bid clearly includes the cost of the permit so you can see how your money is being used. City permits also ensure that your repairs are up to safety requirements. Don’t risk your safety (or money) by accepting a bid without the right permits.
