Quick answer
Questions to ask a foundation repair company are the set of checks a homeowner puts to a bidder before signing. They cover license, insurance, how the problem was diagnosed, what the contract says, how payment works and what the warranty promises.
Good answers are specific, written and checkable. A company that will not put its answers in writing has told you something too.
Quick facts
The key facts about Questions to Ask a Foundation Repair Company, with sources:
- Estimate should list
- Work, materials, completion date and price 1
- Contract should include
- Dates, scope, change-order process, payment schedule, written guarantees 3
- Payment
- Do not pay the full amount up front; hold the final payment until satisfied 1
- Right to cancel
- Three business days for some sales signed at home or away from the seller’s place of business; check your state 14
- Ask also
- Who diagnosed the cause, and is that person independent of the sale? 7
Key takeaways
- Ask the same list of every company. Compare answers side by side.
- Ask who decided what was wrong, how they decided, and whether the finding can be checked by someone independent.
- Ask for the license number, proof of insurance and recent references, then verify them yourself 13.
- Get the scope, price, dates, payment schedule and warranty in writing before you pay anything 3.
- Be wary of pressure to decide right away. The FTC lists it as a scam warning sign 2.
- A good answer is specific. A vague answer is a reason to ask again, not proof of bad faith.
What to ask and why it matters
A foundation repair bid is a sales document and an engineering claim at the same time. You are being asked to pay for a fix to a problem that you cannot see. That is why the quality of the answers matters more than the size of the number.
General information, not a diagnosis of your house. This page gives a neutral list of things to ask any company. It does not rank companies, name any company or suggest that any group of contractors is dishonest.
The goal is a fair comparison. The Illinois Attorney General advises getting at least three written estimates from contractors who have come to your home, and making sure the estimates are based on the same work so they can be compared 3.
The FTC adds that you should not automatically choose the lowest bidder, and should ask about large price gaps 1.
Our guide to choosing a foundation contractor sets out the full decision. This page is the interview script that goes with it.
Neutral criteria, no endorsement
HyreFoundation is a homeowner resource, not a repair company. Nothing here implies a company is paid to appear on this page or that any company is licensed or insured.
How to use the list
Send the same written list to each bidder before the visit, and bring a copy to the visit. Take notes. Ask for the answers to be added to the written proposal when they matter.
Sort what you hear into three groups: facts you can check, promises that belong in the contract, and opinions about the cause. Facts include license numbers and insurance. Promises include dates, scope and warranty. Opinions about the cause are the hardest. Our scope of work page shows how a repair is described.
Check what you can. CSLB says to confirm the license record, ask for photo identification that matches it, and watch for a bid that is substantially lower than the others 5. The Illinois Attorney General suggests calling past customers and asking to see a finished job 3.
Finally, ask the same cause question of an independent party. Licensed engineers are licensed by state boards 7, and an engineer you hire yourself answers to you. See our guide to engineers.
Types of things to ask, by topic
| Topic | What to ask | What a clear answer looks like |
|---|---|---|
| License and insurance | Which license applies here? May I see proof of insurance? | A license number you can look up, and a current certificate 15 |
| Diagnosis | Who decided the cause? Was an engineer involved? May I see the report? | A named person with a verifiable license, and a written report |
| Scope | What exactly will be done, where, and with what materials? | A written scope tied to locations and materials 3 |
| Permits | Will a permit be required, and who handles it? | A named local rule and a clear plan. The FTC lists asking you to pull permits as a warning sign 2 |
| Payment | What is the schedule? What is the deposit? | Payments tied to stages of work, not the whole price up front 31 |
| Subcontractors | Will subs be used? Are they insured? Are lien waivers provided? | Names and signed lien waivers 3 |
| Warranty | What does it cover, for how long, and does it transfer? | A written document with terms. See our warranty guide |
| After the work | Who do I call if something changes? | A named contact and a written process |
Example: comparing two answers to the same ask
The comparison below is a made-up illustration. No real company or number is used.
| You ask | Answer A | Answer B |
|---|---|---|
| “Who decided what caused the movement?” | “Our estimator walked the house.” No report offered. | “An engineer visited and wrote a report. Here is the name and the report.” |
| “What is in writing?” | “We’ll send a quote.” No scope listed. | “Scope, materials, dates, payment schedule and warranty are in the proposal.” |
| “Who pulls the permit?” | “You do. It’s easy.” | “We check with the building department and handle it. Here is the rule we found.” |
Answer B is easier to check. Answer A may still be honest, but the FTC lists a contractor asking you to get permits yourself as a warning sign 2, and no written scope leaves you with nothing to compare. Ask again before you decide.
Where and when to ask
Ask at the estimate visit, in writing before the visit, and again at the signing. Each stage gives a different kind of answer. At the visit you learn how the company works. In writing you learn what it will commit to. At signing you learn whether the contract matches the talk.
Ask before you pay. Illinois says to insist on a complete written contract and to read it before signing. Never sign with blank spaces, and get a copy of everything you sign 3.
Ask again after any change. Changes belong in a signed change order 3. See foundation repair documentation for the file to build.
What a good list does for you
What asking does
What asking cannot do
- Cannot prove the diagnosis is right. Only an independent evaluation can test it.
- Cannot make a verbal promise binding.
- Cannot tell you which repair your soil and house need.
- Cannot replace checking the license and insurance yourself.
Limits of the list
Answers are only as good as the person who gives them. A salesperson may be sincere and still wrong about a cause. A confident tone is not evidence. Ask for the basis of any claim about cause.
A company that is paid to repair has a stake in a repair sale. That is true of every contractor, and it is not an accusation. It is a reason to ask who diagnosed the cause and whether an independent licensed engineer can confirm it. Our second opinion page covers that step.
The list also does not tell you a company’s record. Check references, complaint records with your state attorney general or consumer protection office, and licensing records yourself 32.
Never diagnose from a crack photo or a phone call, yours or theirs. Movement history, displacement, water, construction details and soil all change what a crack means.
Diagnosis versus sale
The person who finds the cause and the person who sells the repair can be the same company. They do not have to be. For larger jobs, consider a licensed structural engineer who does not sell the repair.
What drives the price you will be quoted
We do not print prices. Ask each company which factors set its number: the cause, the method, how many locations, access, soil, permits and engineering. If two bids differ widely, ask why. The FTC says to ask for an explanation when estimates differ widely 1.
Payment terms also change what you owe and when. Some states cap down payments.
The FTC says to check your state or local consumer agency, and to hold the final payment until the work is done and you are satisfied 1.
California’s board describes a statutory down-payment limit for home improvement, with an exception for contractors holding a blanket performance and payment bond 5.
Use our cost guide and cost calculator to see how the pieces add up.
How to run the conversation, step by step
A general order for each visit.
- Prepare the house. Have photos, dates and any prior reports ready.
- Ask for identity first. Business name, address, phone and license number 1. Check the record 5.
- Ask about diagnosis. Who decided the cause, how, and can you see the evidence?
- Ask what is in writing. Scope, materials, dates and price 1.
- Ask about permits and inspections. Then confirm with your building department 3.
- Ask about payment. Schedule, deposit and what triggers each payment 3.
- Ask about the warranty. Get the document, not a summary. See warranty transferability.
- Take your time. The FTC lists pressure for an immediate decision as a warning sign 2.
Keeping the answers useful
The answers matter again after the job.
- File each bid, your notes and the final contract together.
- Keep a log of calls and conversations during the work 3.
- Photograph progress and the finished repair, and date the photos.
- Before final payment, collect written warranties and written proof that subcontractors and suppliers were paid 3.
- Set a reminder to inspect the repaired area and the drainage each season.
Risks to watch while you ask
The FTC lists warning signs: contractors who come to your door claiming they are nearby, leftover-material offers, pressure to decide right away, demands for full payment up front or cash only, requests that you pull the permits yourself, and suggestions that you borrow from a lender they know 2.
These are signs to slow down, not proof of wrongdoing by any one company.
The Illinois Attorney General adds being wary of businesses that use only post office boxes, a price far out of line with other estimates, and anyone who offers to drive you to your bank 3. See our foundation repair red flags page for the full list.
Financing needs its own check. The FTC says never to accept financing through your contractor without shopping around, and never to transfer your deed without consulting an attorney or someone you trust 2.
If you see movement that is significant, widening or changing, bowing or displaced walls, sticking doors with new cracks, or separation at corners, call a licensed structural engineer first.
Rules that sit behind the answers
Contract rules come from states. New York requires a written, plain-English contract with the contractor’s name, address and phone, start and completion dates, a specific description of work and materials, and the price, and it requires a notice of the right to cancel until midnight of the third business day after signing 4.
Illinois requires a written contract for home repair work over a stated amount 3.
License rules differ. See our credentials and licensing page. Do not assume a license is required, or that one exists, without checking your state.
Federal warranty law covers consumer products and does not apply to warranties on services alone, though it does apply if a warranty covers both replacement parts and repair workmanship 6. State law may add more.
Permits are local. Ask the building department rather than the bidder 34.
Rules differ by state
Illinois, New York and California are examples. Check your own state attorney general or consumer protection office for current rules.
Clear answers and vague answers compared
| Subject | A clear answer | A vague answer |
|---|---|---|
| Cause | Named evaluator, written basis, report offered | “Your foundation is failing.” No basis given |
| Scope | Locations, materials and dates written down 3 | “We’ll take care of it.” |
| Price | Itemized, with what is not included | One number, no breakdown |
| Payment | Staged payments tied to work 3 | Large share or all up front 1 |
| Warranty | Document with terms and exclusions | “Lifetime” with no paper |
| Time | Time to read and compare | Offer expires today 2 |
Myths about hiring a foundation company
- Myth The lowest bid is the best deal.
- Reality The FTC says not to automatically choose the lowest bidder, and CSLB warns that a bid substantially lower than the rest may mean missed work 15.
- Myth A free inspection is an independent inspection.
- Reality A free inspection by a company that also sells the repair is not independent of that sale. Ask who diagnosed the cause.
- Myth If a company is licensed, I do not need to ask more.
- Reality A license is a floor. It does not tell you the repair fits your house.
- Myth Every company that asks for a deposit is untrustworthy.
- Reality Deposits are common. The point is to check the state limit and tie later payments to the work 1.
Regional factors that change what to ask
Soil and climate change what a sensible answer sounds like. In expansive-clay regions, a good answer should address moisture and drainage as well as the structure, since shrink-swell soils are a very common cause of foundation problems in Texas, according to a state bulletin 8.
In frost regions, ask about frost depth. Where water tables are high, ask about drainage.
Licensing and contract rules also differ: California’s board sets a limit on down payments for home improvement work 5, and New York requires home improvement licensing in New York City and certain counties 4. Ask your building department what applies at your address.
Deciding after the answers are in
Line up the written answers. Drop any bidder who will not put key promises in writing. Where the cause is unclear or the job is large, get a licensed structural engineer’s evaluation before you sign. Our foundation cracks guide explains why patterns are clues and not a diagnosis.
- If Clear answers, checkable license and insurance, written scope
- Then Compare price and warranty on equal terms
- If Cause is unclear or bids disagree on the cause
- Then Hire a licensed structural engineer to evaluate
- If No written scope or warranty document
- Then Ask again in writing; do not pay until it is provided
- If Pressure to sign today or pay in full
- Then Step back and consult your state consumer protection office
- If Movement is significant, widening or changing
- Then Call a licensed structural engineer first
Questions about Questions to Ask a Foundation Repair Company
What should I ask a foundation repair company first?
Ask who they are and what proves it: business name, address, phone and license number 1. Then ask who decided the cause and whether you can see the evidence. Confirm the license and insurance yourself. Ask for the answers in writing before you compare prices.
How many estimates should I get?
At least three, based on the same work. The Illinois Attorney General recommends three written estimates from contractors who have visited your home 3. CSLB also advises three written bids based on identical plans, specifications and scope 5. Compare scope first, then price.
Should I ask whether an engineer is involved?
Yes. Ask whether a licensed engineer evaluated the house, who it was, and whether you can read the report. Engineers are licensed by state boards 7. Ask also whether the evaluator is independent of the company selling the repair. Check the license yourself with the state board.
Is it normal to pay a deposit?
Deposits are common, but limits exist. The FTC says not to pay the full amount up front and to check your state’s limit on down payments 1. Illinois advises keeping the down payment as small as you can negotiate and tying payments to stages of work 3.
Do I need to ask about permits?
Yes. Ask whether a permit applies and who handles it, then confirm with your local building department 34. The FTC lists a contractor asking you to obtain required building permits as a scam warning sign 2. Rules are local.
What should I ask about the warranty?
Ask for the written document. Ask what it covers, for how long, what is excluded, what you must do to keep it valid, and whether it transfers to a new owner. Read it before you sign. Federal warranty law does not cover warranties on services alone, so the written terms matter 6.
Can I cancel after I sign?
Sometimes. The FTC mentions a right to cancel within three business days if you signed at home or elsewhere than the seller’s permanent place of business, and says the contract should state it 1. New York’s rule runs to midnight of the third business day 4. Check your state.
What if a company will not answer in writing?
Treat it as information. The Illinois Attorney General says that if a company will not put its promises in writing, look for one that will 3. It does not prove bad faith, but a written answer is the only kind you can hold to later.
Should I get a second opinion before I sign?
For a larger repair or an unclear cause, often yes. A licensed structural engineer who does not sell the repair can evaluate the cause and write a scope for you to bid. See our second-opinion page. Do not wait if you see bowing walls or fast-changing movement; call an engineer first.
Sources
- Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice: Hiring a Contractor, retrieved .
- Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice: How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam, retrieved .
- Illinois Attorney General, Home Repair and Construction: What You Should Know (rev. 09/23), retrieved .
- New York State Attorney General, Home Improvement Fact Sheet, retrieved .
- California Contractors State License Board, How Do I Find the Right Licensed Contractor?, retrieved .
- Federal Trade Commission, Businessperson’s Guide to Federal Warranty Law, retrieved .
- NCEES, Licensure (engineering licensing boards), retrieved .
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, IHB Technical Bulletin TB 10-01, Foundations on Expansive Soils – Residential (rev. Oct. 16, 2018), retrieved .
Expert review
Written by the HyreFoundation Research team. Not yet reviewed by an outside expert. We say so rather than imply a review that has not happened; see our editorial policy.
How the numbers were checked: Facts were checked against the FTC, Illinois and New York attorney general, CSLB, NCEES and Texas TDLR pages listed above, retrieved 2026-10-14. Contract and licensing rules differ by state. No structural engineer or attorney has reviewed this page.
Suggest a correction. We fix errors and say what changed.