Paying for foundation work without guessing
Foundation repairs are rarely planned. Here's how people in the metro usually handle the cost, and what to ask before you commit.
Start with the written scope
Every recommendation we make is broken into lines: each pier, each strap, each run of drain, each downspout. That matters for budgeting, because not every line has to happen at once. The urgent items, a wall that is moving or water that is coming in, come first. Others, like a second wall that is cracked but stable, can often wait a season, and we'll tell you which is which.
Ways people pay
Pay on completion
For smaller jobs like crack injection, a sump pump or slab lifting, payment is due when the work is done.
Deposit and balance
Larger jobs usually take a deposit to schedule and order materials, with the balance at completion. The amounts are written on the scope.
Third-party financing
Financing through an outside lender can be arranged on larger repairs, subject to their approval and terms. Read the rate and term before you sign.
Phasing the work
Splitting a plan into phases, the urgent part now and the rest later, often makes the cost manageable without leaving a real problem unfixed.
What about insurance?
Be ready for the answer to be no. Most homeowners policies exclude settlement, earth movement and gradual seepage. Coverage sometimes applies when a sudden covered event caused the damage, such as a supply line that burst and washed out soil. Call your agent with our written findings in hand. We won't promise a claim outcome, and you should be wary of anyone who does.
Selling soon?
A buyer's inspection that finds foundation issues often turns into a negotiation. A documented repair with a permit can help, and so can a written estimate the buyer and seller agree on. We can usually inspect on short notice before a deadline.