Multiple Opinions and Confusion
When it comes to foundation repair, no two homes are exactly the same. Each house is unique, which can lead to a variety of opinions regarding how to properly address structural issues. Receiving multiple quotes can be overwhelming, especially if the recommendations in those quotes are all over the place. Foundation repair is subjective in nature. Simply put, there are no preordained rules as to what does and doesn’t need work. This can cause customers to feel more confused than before they started!
Related Article: Building a Foundation of Credibility and Reliability
The Benefits of Structural Engineers and a Foundation Repair Team
An effective strategy for navigating these complex situations is to hire both a third-party structural engineer and a reputable foundation repair company. Following are three reasons why several of our customers have benefited from this approach:
- Objectivity: A third-party structural engineer is unbiased in his or her opinion. He or she is not trying to “sell” anything. Recommendations of some foundation repair companies may be influenced by various factors. Services they offer or motives that don’t align with the homeowner can influence these companies. However, structural engineers provide evaluations based solely on the condition of the home.
- Clarity: Most structural engineers will generate a report that provides recommendations (if applicable) of the scope of work needed to address the foundation-related issues the home is experiencing. These reports often provide a pathway to effective communication between homeowners and foundation repair companies. By using the opinion of a knowledgeable third party, homeowners can make informed decisions based on an objective analysis rather than a sales pitch.
- Foundation repair companies can then provide a quote based on the report which allows the customer to compare “apples to apples”. Customers can compare the same scope of work across the board. Eliminating the guesswork of trying to determine which recommendation is correct allows customers to narrow their focus on choosing the right company for them. For a real-life example of how two Edmond homeowners saved over $50,000 by hiring a third-party structural engineer and subsequently using OFS to perform the work, click here.
- Cost Effective: At OFS, we take pride in recommending exactly what is needed – no more, no less. In fact, nearly half of our recent evaluations resulted in us informing the customer that, in our opinion, foundation repair is not needed at this time. If it doesn’t need work, we tell you. At OFS, we never sacrifice goodwill or reputation for profit.
The Winning Combination for Trust and Peace of Mind
It is not uncommon for some foundation repair companies, however, to recommend a myriad of needless services that result in unnecessary costs to the homeowner. While hiring a structural engineer costs money upfront, it can ultimately save money in the long run by correctly identifying issues and avoiding unnecessary repairs. The winning combination of a structural engineer and a reputable foundation repair company makes things easier. Take this experience, for example:
“I had Noah come out and give me an estimate. He quoted me for 14 piers. Following week, I had a structural engineer come out and tell me where the piers should go. The structural engineer reports matched exactly the recommendation make by Oklahoma Foundation Solutions. The job was done in one day, and they cleaned up after they were done.”
– Amine E., Angi Business Review
Given the subjectivity of the industry, hiring a third party structural engineer and a reputable foundation repair company can provide a lot of benefits to homeowners. Over the years, we have successfully collaborated with multiple structural engineers. Our effective communication and documentation ensure that we avoid misunderstandings and that homeowners receive the desired result.
At OFS, we believe in transparency through documentation. It’s one of the many reasons that structural engineers enjoy working with our company. It fosters clear communication, accountability, a guide for future reference, and quality assurance. From start to finish, our workflow is documented and systematized. Honesty and transparency are non-negotiable. We produce the same results day in and day out.
