Free Tips

Guidelines for Hiring a Contractor – Essential Do’s and Don’ts: When selecting a contractor, your satisfaction and safety depend on careful consideration of the following vital practices:
…

One of the most frustrating problems with repairing foundations is the absence of any accepted standards. This makes it especially important for you to have your needs carefully evaluated. You have two basic choices for having your..

What to Know When Hiring a Contractor: Comparing costs before hiring a contractor is very important. In doing so, you should solicit at least two bids from prospective contractors. The bids should be based on the same scope of work. If the first set of bids…

Consider the Options: To obtain financing for foundation repairs, you may want to consider a personal loan or bank loan, a home equity loan, a loan from your credit union or insurance company, or a loan from your savings and loan…

Before Signing the Contract – Terms and Conditions: All agreements and verbal promises concerning foundation repairs should be put in writing to protect you and the contractor. If you intended to do some of the work yourself or to hire other contractors, such…

What Are Your Cancellation Rights? When you sign a home improvement contract in your home and in the presence of a contractor or a contractor’s representative, you have three days in which to cancel the contract. The contractor is required to tell you about…

Warranty Rights – Check the Details: Any warranty offered by the contractor should be in writing. You should read it carefully. The warranty must state what rights it gives to you in clear language that you can understand. If the warranty is valid for an…

Building Permits, Are They Needed? Most towns and cities have building codes. They vary greatly from one city or county to the next. Your contract should state that the contractor would obtain a permit when one is required. Not all cities or counties require…

Foundation Maintenance: Make sure that the soil around your foundation is graded so that the water flows away from the foundation. The soil should drop 4 to 6 inches in 4 to 6 feet. Avoid trapping water against your foundation. Water can be trapped against…