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3 Reasons to Get a Second Opinion for Foundation Repair

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Foundation repair is complicated – a convoluted montage of complex processes involving push piershelical piers, and polyurethane injection.

Foundation repair also often comes with a hefty price tag that can induce sticker shock to clients who weren’t properly educated on foundation repair cost prior to receiving their proposal.

Due to the complicated nature and inherent big-ticket cost of foundation repair, we here at Dalinghaus Construction Inc. believe you should get a second opinion.

Now, not all second opinions are created equal. When you’re dealing with a medical issue, you see a specialist who specializes in a specific, minute area of medicine they’ve studied for years, and no doubt wrote a stuffy, long-winded dissertation on.

In other words – seek out an authority, someone who can speak from experienceeducation, and successful practice on the issue. Thus – when it comes to foundation repair, seek out another foundation repair company, not:

  • A concrete contractor
  • A random engineer with no foundation experience
  • Your idiot brother-in-law with a revoked contractor license who lives on MD 20/20

Yes – not all opinions are created equal.

That being said, here are a few reasons why you should get a second opinion.  

1. Price Comparison

 Our veteran foundation repair specialist and occasional HGTV personality Mr. Mark Cook always says, “Get 3 bids. It’s just like buying a car. Do your research.” Mark suggests this primarily so that you can compare the price range.

Knowledge is not always power, knowledge with options is.

It is important to be fiscally responsible. We want your money to work for you. Fixing your homes foundation is a surefire way to rebuild equity into your home, particularly if you’re wanting to take advantage of the current home market.

A failed foundation can detract anywhere from 10% to 20% of your home’s total value. If your home is worth $350,000, then you may only receive $280,000 – that’s a $70k difference.

While foundation repair can be worth the investment, you want to make sure you get the most bang for your buck.  

2. Compare the Scope of Work

Cheaper is not always better. More often than not in life, you get what you pay for. Trust me, a $5 dollar haircut at Bargain Barn Haircuts vs a $20 haircut at your local barber is almost always no contest. One leaves you looking like Ace Ventura vs George Clooney – it’s no contest.

Same head. Same hair. Same base material with a totally different outcome. When comparing foundation repair bids, it is also important to compare the scope of work. This includes:  

  • Quality of material/services
  • Actual amount of work completed (in terms of square/linear feet)
  • Warranties (if any)

For example, let’s say our Dalinghaus Construction specialist called for six helical pier locations. Our competitors come out and determine you only need four. Helical piers are expensive, coming in at an average of $2,200 to $2,400 per location.

 If you go with the cheaper option, you could save up to $4,800. That’s nothing to sneeze at. However, you may actually require more support along that specific wall (especially if our specialists believe you do).

If a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing right the first time. Not providing enough support can come back to bite you in the end, with that section of your house beginning to sink in the future.

This is part of the reason we offer a lifetime warranty on all of our steel pier systems. We put our money where our mouth is.

If a company does not offer a warranty and your minimalist repair fails, you could be shelling out thousands of more dollars to fix an issue that could have been fixed right the first time.

However, there is always the possibility that a company is trying to upsell the job and add on additional charges. This is why you want to look for clear, concise language in the contract. Transparency is everything.

In short, the morals of the story are:

  • Don’t pay more for less (in terms of scope, quality, and warranties)
  • Don’t pay more for more that you don’t need (in terms of scope, quality, and warranties)
  • Don’t clench pennies that will sink you later (literally, when it comes to foundation repair)

3. Educate Yourself

Another great reason to get a second opinion is simply to educate yourself on the process; especially when this education is free in the form of free inspections and blog content.

Education with options is power. Like the great philosopher and thinker of our time once said, “People are only as loyal as their options.” Thank you, Chris Rock.

We here at Dalinghaus Construction Inc. believe we are the best option for you.

Choose Dalinghaus

We’d love to be your second opinion if you’ve already received a quote on your foundation repair project. Another important factor when considering any contractor is to look at Google reviews.

With over 100 years of combined experience and 4.9 stars out of 299 reviews – we are here to ensure that you never settle

If you live in SoCal or Arizona and would like a FREE foundation inspection, click the link below –

WRITTEN BY

Brian Dalinghaus

Brian is one of the Co-Founders of Dalinghaus Construction. He has been in the foundation repair industry since 2005. During his career, he has been associated with helping over 4,000 homes and structures throughout California and Arizona.

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One Response

  1. It’s great that you elaborated on speaking with different construction specialists before hiring one for foundation repair services. My parent’s house needs to be repaired before their foundation damage leads to structural issues. I’ll share your information with them to ensure they compare prices and services before hiring a foundation repair company.

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