Start with the inspection
A good company looks at the problem before it talks about a fix. Expect measurements, photos and questions about what you have noticed.
Be careful with anyone who quotes a major repair after a glance.
Ask about the cause
Ask what is causing the problem and how the proposal addresses it. A repair that ignores water or soil is likely to repeat.
The answer should be specific to your house, not a stock phrase.
Ask about the method
Why piers and not foam? Why a drain and not sealing? A company that explains its reasoning and offers options is easier to trust.
Ask what would change the plan if the soil is different than expected.
Ask about the paperwork
Ask who handles permits, whether an engineer is involved when needed and how the company documents finished work.
Ask for references and photos of similar jobs.
Read the proposal
A good proposal states the work, the materials, the number of piers or feet of drain, the cleanup and the timeline in plain words.
Be wary of proposals that are vague, pressure you to sign at once or ask for large payments before work starts.
Trust your sense of the team
You will have people in your home and yard, so notice how they communicate and whether they listen.
A calm, clear conversation is a good sign.
Hire the company that inspects first, explains the cause and puts a clear, itemized scope in writing, even if it is not the quickest or the lowest.
