You’re looking into getting some bids for foundation repairs. Is there a charge for these estimates or are they at no cost? You just want to know if you should expect paid or free estimates and if both are available how will they be different? You’ve never done this before so you need an idea of what’s in store . . .
At Anchor Foundation Repair, we’ve been doing repair estimates for 40+ years and know that some contractors offer free estimates and some don’t. We can fill you in on why your quote may be free or paid and what to expect from a foundation repair estimate no matter what the cost.
In this article, we discuss whether foundation repair estimates are free or not and what that means for the homeowner. Not every foundation repair contractor does things the same way so we’ll go over the scenarios so you know what to expect from the foundation repair estimation process.
Do Foundation Repair Companies Offer Free Estimates?
The short answer to the question of whether foundation repair companies offer free estimates is: YES, many foundation repair companies will offer free estimates, while some others don’t.
Many homeowners tend to expect free estimates and this is fairly common in our industry. But not every company does things the same way and there are no rules. Some companies will choose to do these at no cost and others will have a fee.
Why Some Foundation Repair Estimates Are Free and Some Not
The big thing to recognize is that the *free* estimate is a tactic to get the company through your door and begin the sales pitch. The bottom line is that foundation repair contractors are competing for your business and hoping you will buy their thing instead of the other guy’s thing. The free estimate gives them an *in* to start their sales process and that’s why they do it.
A free estimate does make you *feel like* you’re getting something at no cost. Just keep in mind that the cost is certainly built into the price of the product/service elsewhere.
On the flip side, a paid inspection and estimate directly compensates a contractor for their time upfront. You know how much their time, effort, and expertise are worth to honestly evaluate the condition of your foundation. Since they are already being paid directly for the assessment, the contractor isn’t counting on the sale of the larger product to get reimbursed for this time.
When a contractor charges for the estimating process, they are being paid for their knowledge just as a doctor or lawyer is being paid to offer their professional opinion. Most people don’t think it’s strange for these other professionals to charge for their assessment and evaluation time, because they expect a more impartial opinion rather than a sales pitch.
What Can You Expect from Free Foundation Repair Bids?
I mentioned earlier that there are no rules here. Your free estimate and inspection could be 15 minutes and a sketch on a napkin with a price. Or your free estimate could take more time and offer a more official written proposal and plan. You’ll need to ask questions or look at the contractor’s website to find out exactly what their particular free estimate entails.
If you can’t find that answer, or there’s a lot of stumbling over a verbal answer, you should consider that a red flag when hiring a foundation repair contractor. No matter what they offer, it should be definitive, clear, and easy to explain at the drop of a hat.
Which Foundation Repair Companies Offer Free Estimates?
If you want a list of foundation repair contractors that offer free estimates, that’s hard to accomplish because there are so many companies out there. However, if you’re looking for companies that do business in the Brazos Valley area, we know that these companies typically offer free estimates:
This is not an all-inclusive list. If you’re looking for more options, you’ll have to do your own research to hire a foundation repair company in your area.
Always remember that when companies can come out very quickly with a free estimate, they may have few other appointments on the books already and are looking to make a sale.
What Can You Expect from Paid Foundation Repair Quotes?
Again, there are no rules with this stuff. Your paid inspection for a quote could be short and sweet or thorough and detailed.
One would *hope* that a paid foundation repair inspection and estimate comes with more and better service. Do your homework anyway to confirm what you get with this paid service.
Look at reviews and the company’s website, or ask on the phone what you get from the paid repair quoting service. Again, no matter what the paid quote entails, it should be clear and easy to recite without a lot of hemming and hawing.
Does Anchor Charge for Foundation Repair Estimates?
So, does Anchor Foundation Repair charge for our repair estimates? Well, it’s yes and no.
We do offer a no-cost option in the form of a free estimate phone or video call. With a preliminary 15 to 20-minute conversation, you get a rough estimate. Then, decide from there if you’re comfortable enough with the repair price range and job timing to move forward with the more formal paid in-home quote.
So, you get a free ballpark price estimate by phone *before committing* to a paid onsite visit. At that point, you are free to decline the in-home estimate.
But YES, we do charge for coming out to your home to look at things in person. Our cost for on-site estimates is $300. This is what you experience with a paid In-Home Assessment visit, we will:
- Listen to your concerns and answer any and all questions
- Inspect the home inside and out for all foundation settlement problems and signs
- Document and take photos as appropriate to note the key issues
- Confirm repairs that make sense based on your future plans for the home
- Measure and draw up a scaled repair plan diagram
- Provide a written proposal, detailed scope of work, and cost of repair
- If appropriate to your situation, we sometimes offer repair options when applicable.
When Anchor visits for your In-Home Assessment, we will complete the above steps and dedicate 2 full hours to your home and concerns. We are prepared to take the time needed for you to feel informed and comfortable with the process.
BONUS: Even though we do charge for this in-home inspection, if you choose Anchor to do your repairs, then the quoting service cost is waived. So really, only those who don’t use us will ultimately have to pay for the estimate.
WHY Does Anchor Choose to Charge for Repair Quotes?
Just because *everybody seems to be doing it* this way with free estimates, doesn’t mean it’s ultimately beneficial for the homeowner. We charge for our In-Home Assessments and repair quotes because we believe it’s the best way for you to get a no-strings-attached, honest inspection of your foundation.
We are paid for our expert opinion to give you an honest assessment of your foundation.
This impartial opinion includes the potential conclusion that you in fact *DO NOT* have a foundation issue that needs repair. We will talk with you about your needs, your history in the home, and your plans for the future to help walk you through the decision to repair or not repair your foundation based on all these factors.
We will be the first to tell you if we think repairs are not needed (and we’re not confident that other companies offering free estimates will always do the same. Are you?).
We’ve got a lot to say about why we charge for inspections, so check out this article for more of our paid inspection rationale.
What Can You Expect from Anchor Foundation Repair Estimates?
Now that you understand why some companies charge for foundation inspections and some don’t, do you want to know more about our paid In-Home Assessments?
At Anchor Foundation Repair, we offer fair and impartial assessments, empowering education, and a fully transparent repair process. After 40+ years in business, we want you to know as much about foundation repair as we do, including understanding what to expect from our process starting with repair estimates.
We’ve got information that helps you understand and prepare for a foundation repair estimate from Anchor, no matter what type of foundation you have.
If you have a slab home, check out this article on how to prepare for your inspection.
For pier and beam or crawl space foundation homes, this link is for you.
