Before booking a foundation visit, ask what you will receive when it ends. “Inspection,” “evaluation” and “free estimate” do not tell you whether the appointment includes a written condition opinion, measurements, a repair design or only a price for a company's service. Compare the promised deliverables before comparing the appointment fee.
Before You Begin
This is a booking decision, not a way to diagnose cracks. If the building may be unsafe, seek prompt professional or emergency guidance about access. Do not enter a crawlspace or disturbed area to fill gaps in an appointment request.
Ask Each Provider The Same Questions
Send a brief description of the concern and ask the provider to complete the following fields. A company may offer more than one kind of service; evaluate the actual scope rather than assuming a title settles the matter.
| Question | Written Answer To Request |
|---|---|
| Who Is Engaged? | Contracting business, person performing the visit and relevant credentials |
| What Is The Question? | Condition assessment, further investigation, design or pricing for specified repairs |
| What Is Included? | Areas examined, records reviewed and any agreed measurements or testing |
| What Is Excluded? | Concealed areas, inaccessible locations, testing or engineering outside this scope |
| What Will I Receive? | Report, photographs, observations, limitations, recommendations or priced proposal |
| Who Sells The Remedy? | Whether the evaluator or an associated business sells the recommended work; ask about referral interests |
| What Happens Next? | Separate fees or appointments needed for investigation, design or construction |
The FTC's hiring guidance recommends checking relevant state or county credentials and insurance and obtaining written estimates. Verify the qualification relevant to the particular service, rather than treating a business registration or a general certification as proof of every claimed specialty.
Compare The Scope, Not Just The Label
Texas offers a useful, limited example. TREC's April 2025 guidance describes a written foundation-performance opinion by a TREC-licensed inspector based on visible indications. It says certain specialized measurements and tests are not part of the minimum required work, though competent inspectors may offer additional services. This is Texas inspector guidance, not a nationwide definition of an inspection or an engineering design standard.
Ask your provider which professional standards apply to the proposed appointment in your state. If you need an engineering opinion or design, confirm that the person offering it is appropriately qualified and that this deliverable is included. A repair price does not, by itself, establish that those services were performed.
Work Through An Illustrative Comparison
Suppose Provider A offers a no-charge visit followed by a proposal for its repair system. Provider B charges for a defined assessment with a written report and excludes repair design. Neither description is enough to declare one provider better.
Ask A whether you receive the observations and limitations even if you decline the repair. Ask B what question the report will answer and when a separate specialist or design appointment may still be needed. Ask both how they will handle an inaccessible area. An unanswered question should remain visible in your comparison, rather than becoming an assumed inclusion.
If two recommendations conflict, request the evidence and scope behind each. Do not average their repair quantities or choose a diagnosis by counting quotations. Seek an appropriately qualified explanation of the disagreement before committing to a major remedy.
### Does A Paid Visit Guarantee Independence?
No. Ask about repair sales, referrals and business relationships, and keep the disclosed answer with the scope. A fee alone does not establish independence or competence.
### Is A Sales Visit Always Unhelpful?
No. It can supply a defined repair proposal. The important question is whether that deliverable answers your present need and what assessment remains outside it.
Keep the confirmed appointment scope and resulting document together. The foundation repair guide covers the broader transition from evidence to a repair plan.
Sources And Local Resources
Sources checked November 9, 2026. Confirm current requirements with the authority responsible for your property.