How to choose a foundation repair company? Check to see if your foundation repair company is properly licensed. Do your research. It is very important to find a reputable foundation repair company when a...
It is very important to find a reputable foundation repair company when a home needs help, because your assets and money are in the company's hands. "Since you are going to have this person deal with what is probably your single largest financial asset, you want to make sure that you are dealing with someone reputable," says Fred Marshall, owner of Advanced Foundation Repair. His company started repairing foundations 13 years ago and has repaired more than 10,000 foundations.
The first requirement when searching for a company is to see if they belong to the Foundation Repairs Association. This association is a professional organization that exists to promote high ethical standards in the practice of foundation repair and to promote cooperation between the foundation repair industry and government, says Marshall. If a company belongs to an organization such as this one, then a homeowner has someone to turn to when in need of help.
Also, check the company's references. Ask them about previous jobs and clients and research to see what those customers had to say. When references are given, make sure they give you no less than three. "If they give you three, you can bet your bottom dollar they are probably three good references," says Marshall. If you want more, ask for more and then you can choose whom you can call, that way you can get an extemporaneous comment from somebody that is not scripted.
Next, check with the Better Business Bureau to see if a complaint has ever been filed with the organization. Since the founding of the first BBB in 1921, the BBB system has proven that the majority of marketplace problems can be solved fairly through the use of voluntary self-regulation and consumer education, the website states. "If you have a company that is leaving a trail of unhappy people behind, typically the BBB will know about it," says Marshall. If a complaint has been filed, then this should raise a red flag to the homeowner. It doesn't necessarily mean that the company is not reputable; it just means there are other companies without a track record to choose from.
If and when the company is chosen, make sure that a lifetime warranty is included with the cost. Get the details of the warranty, such as does the warranty mean that they are going to charge for a portion of the work after two or three years? What kind of stability does the company have? Has the company been in business for six months, two years or 20 years? Also, has the company made any provisions to have the warranty backed up by an insurance company or another entity?
Last but not least, insurance is very important when choosing the company. "If something goes wrong, you need to know you will be taken care of," says Marshall. "It can go horribly wrong and you need a company with financial resources that will be backed by an appropriate insurance policy."
