Having foundation problems and needing a repair can be stressful enough on a homeowner, but add in trying to find a trustworthy foundation repair contractor and this can really cause stress. Foundation repairs can be quite complex and the quality of work is very important because the foundation of your home is a very important piece of the structure.
Foundation repair needs to be done efficiently and by licensed and experienced foundation repair contractors. How do you know when you shouldn’t hire a contractor? There are multiple red flags to look for when looking to hire a foundation repair contractor.
Unfortunately, there is a high chance of getting scammed or just not having trustworthy and unlicensed contractors trying to do the work. Let’s look into some of the red flags that you should look out for when hiring a foundation repair contractor.
Red flags to look for when hiring a foundation repair contractor
Unfortunately, customers have to pay attention to the companies they are thinking of hiring for repair jobs around their home, especially for foundation repairs. However, on the other hand, there are red flags that homeowners can look out for to avoid hiring unlicensed, uninsured, and inexperienced contractors for their foundation repairs.
Foundation repair contractors have to have many forms of certification to work on a home’s foundation. Let’s dive into some of the most important red flags that you can look for as a homeowner looking for a foundation repair contractor.
- The company will not provide proof of insurance certificates, licensing, or equivalent. Foundation repair contractors that are licensed and have proper insurance have no problem proving proof of this information. Asking for these documents is common among homeowners looking to hire these contractors.
So if the contractor that you’re looking into is not willing to provide proof of their proper licensing or insurance then this could mean that they are not licensed at all and don’t have insurance or the proper means to be a foundation repair contractor.
- The contractor asks for a hefty deposit or the full payment amount before work begins. Foundation repair contractors typically don’t need much of a deposit and some contractors don’t have a deposit at all. Also, the payment is due once work is completed in full, so if the company is asking for the full payment before work begins, then that is a red flag. You should not pay a contractor before the work is even started.
- They don’t seem to know the answers to your questions or they are hesitant to answer your questions. Asking questions is normal for homeowners and foundation repair contractors should be knowledgeable enough in their field that they can answer your questions confidently.
If you find that the contractor can’t answer your questions, is avoiding answering questions, or are hesitant to answer your questions then you might want to find another contractor who’s a bit more confident in their business and work.
- Bad reviews. Reviews are a great way to gauge how other homeowners have felt about their experience with the company. Customers typically don’t lie on the reviews and if they are overly satisfied or overly unsatisfied then they usually will let them know. If you’re seeing a substantial amount of bad reviews then that’s a red flag about the contractor and the work of the contractor.
- Contract and other agreements are not in writing. If the foundation repair contractor that you’re looking into isn’t willing to put the contract into paper for or if there is no written contract or agreement then this is a huge red flag. Don’t work with any foundation repair companies that cannot provide you with adequate written documentation which includes contracts, insurance, or other written agreements.
How to ensure you are working with a trustworthy foundation repair contractor
We’ve gone over the red flags to look for when hiring a foundation repair contractor, but how can you make sure you’re working with a trustworthy foundation repair contractor? First off, make sure that the contractor is licensed and incurred. The contractor should have no problem showing you proof of these qualifications.
Ask any questions that you have. Asking questions is a great way to gather how much knowledge and experience the company has, as well as make sure that they are willing to answer your questions. Don’t be afraid to ask any sort of questions because they are important.
The contractor should also have everything in writing. Most contractors have a contract and other forms of agreements between themselves and the homeowner. The homeowner should receive copies of all of these documents. Listening to your friends and reviews can help save you when it comes to finding a foundation repair contractor that you can trust.
Finding people that you can trust and hearing their experience with the contractor can help you have peace of mind when it comes to hiring them.
The bottom line
Like most things, if you are looking to hire someone for work then you want to make sure they are legit and trustworthy. Especially when it is for foundation work, you want to make sure that the contractors you are hiring are properly licensed and insured to do the job. There are red flags to look for when you are searching for a company to hire for your foundation repair needs. Red flags are typically things that might make you think twice about hiring them.
Unfortunately, we have to pay attention to red flags, but homeowners must know what to look for so that they don’t hire a company that isn’t legit or that doesn’t have proper requirements. When looking for a company to hire you should always ask questions. These questions will help you to know how the company works and also how they treat their potential customers.
As a homeowner looking for a foundation repair contractor you should be wary about what requirements these companies have to have. Also, ensuring that you get everything in writing is super important because it proves the work, the payment, as well as the agreement between the customer (homeowner) and the contractor.
If you are looking for a foundation repair contractor just remember to look into multiple companies and make sure that all of their requirements are met. Foundation repairs are important and complex so they need to be done by contractors who are experienced, licensed, and overall just know what they are doing.
