No matter what type of building you have, residential or commercial, it needs a solid foundation before any other part is constructed. At some point, your foundation may have damage. It can be damaged by moisture exposure, mold, termites, inclement weather, etc. When it's obvious that your home is having structural issues, it's not something that you should ignore. Make it a priority to find a professional foundation company that can help you repair your foundation in a timely manner.

Check Among Your Inner Circle

When you want to find a good contractor, it's always best to start with those in your inner circle, such as your friends and family. If any of them own a home, ask them if they've ever needed foundational repairs. That way you can get a direct referral from them to start out with, and if you can get more than one referral, that's better for you. Ask as many friends and family as possible for advice. In addition to seeking out friends and family, don't forget to check with your neighbors. They may have had similar problems you're dealing with when it comes to your foundation.

Check Company Websites

Most professional contractors have some type of website you can go to. If you've received any referrals or done general research, get a list of websites to check out so that you can review their services. Also, consider how professional or unprofessional the website may look and see if they list customer testimonials. When companies win awards, they also list those on their websites.

Check the Better Business Bureau

The Better Business Bureau is a great website to check out before you start narrowing down choices for contractors. The BBB protects consumers to ensure available services are as reputable as possible. They list any unresolved customer complaints for each company. In addition, they also grade each company on a letter grade ranging from A through F. Needless to say, when somebody is working on your home's foundation, you want the best of the best. So if any company has a rating below A-, you may want to move on and consider someone else.

Search Online

You can simply do a Google search and see what you come up with. Pay attention to Google rankings, as the top three companies may be at the top for a reason, whether based on popularity, high ratings, or making quality posts on their website. Even if those top companies aren't on your referral list, they're worth checking out and doing research on if they're near you.

Contact Relevant Trades and Organization

If you're having a hard time finding a foundation company, look into relevant trades and organizations. If you're unaware of any specific trades or organizations, in addition to checking out Google, you should ask around to find reliable people to work with.

Narrow Down Choices

As you collect referrals and do web searches, you may end up with a long list of foundation contractors to consider. Save yourself time and energy and try to narrow it down to about three choices. Consider what you already know about their services, location, reputation, etc. Put those names on a list and begin calling the contractors to see if you can do a phone consultation to get more information from them. At this time, it would be a good idea to ask about their pricing. According to HomeAdvisor, most homeowners will pay around $4,640 to repair foundation issues. Take as many notes as you can during your phone or face-to-face consultation. Review those results and make your decision from there.

Check for Certification

Building a home from scratch or repairing the existing foundation is highly specialized work. Make sure you only work with a contractor certified to work in your state. Don't hire just anyone who can't prove that they have the legal training and certification to do the work to protect your home. Even if they offer you a major discount, don't take the chance that they may do more damage to your foundation or do work that's not legal.

Check Service Area

Always check the service area of any potential contractor that you hire. It's best to find a foundation company that is as close as possible to you, as you want somebody who can get to you quickly. Plus, different service areas may have different requirements for contractors. In other words, you don't want to run into an issue where you live in one particular district and you hire a contractor from another area that isn't legally certified to work in your zone.

Look at Evaluation Options

Did you know that you may be able to get a free consultation from a potential foundation company? According to Bob Vila, most companies will visit your home and evaluate the issue without it costing you a penny in the hope of winning the job. If you can do this with every contractor on your narrowed-down list, that'll make your final decision even easier. You'll have peace of mind knowing that you chose the right person for the job.

Check for Insurance

Any type of constructive work can be dangerous. In the case of working on your home foundation, anything can happen to a potential contractor. Make sure that you only hire a company that has liability insurance. If they have an accident on a job, their liability insurance will cover them. That way you won't have to worry about medical expenses or other legal fees if a contractor gets hurt while doing work on your property.

Ask About a Warranty

A warranty is very appealing whenever you have any type of work done for your home or commercial property. When a contractor offers you a warranty, it provides a period in which you can call them back to do more work or repairs without being charged an additional fee. Some warranties may last a year, three years, or six months. The amount of time on any warranty depends on the company you work with. So as you're gathering quotes and doing consultations with your list of foundation companies, don't forget to ask the warranty question. It should be one of the questions at the top of your list. You should be aware of what protection you may have in case something goes wrong.

So many things can happen with your home's foundation. Your foundation may suffer from wood rot due to water damage from constant roof leaks. Years of mold may have set in and may be eating away at it. Let's not forget about termites, which can literally eat up your wooden foundation and make your home unlivable in the span of only a few years, according to experts. If you suspect that your home is damaged in any way, shape, or form, don't let this problem go. Your home is your castle, and you don't want your castle to crumble down around you when you least expect it. Protect yourself, your property, and your family and contact a reputable foundation company as soon as possible. Our local contractors at Foundations First Northwest are ready to assist you at any time. Please call us with any questions you have.