Foundation Repair: Is Getting Multiple Bids a Wise Move?
The day to get your foundation repaired has finally come. You were able to ask for a repair bid from one contractor, but your dad, friends, and neighbor are telling you that's not enough—that you should get more bids. Now, you are thinking if it is better to ask others too. Is getting multiple bids a wise move?
As Seattle repair contractors, we answer with a resounding yes. Of course, we want to have your business, but we would be remiss if we don’t encourage you to ask around. It’s also a great way for you to learn what others are offering and if you don’t like what you see, we will always be there to accommodate you.
Why do people ask for second (or even third) opinions for foundation repair anyway?
People have a variety of reasons why they seek second opinions when it comes to foundation repair, but at the core, it simply boils down to the fact that sometimes they are not satisfied with the first offer. Property owners may want validation on the amount of work that needs to be done, or they want to know more about another method of repair from another contractor.
Others also want to validate how much it should cost, or they want to find contractors who may be able to do the same work but at a better (often lower) price.
Trust also plays into why customers seek second opinions—the vendor might have failed to present themselves as a trustworthy lot. You would also have the same conclusion from a contractor who will take advantage of your lack of knowledge on home repairs.
When taken together, the reasons for seeking another opinion can be sorted into 3 categories: work issues, cost issues, and trust issues.
Work Issues
One reason why it’s a smart move to ask for multiple bids from different Seattle area foundation repair contractors is to know (for sure) if you need repairs on the same thing. At this point, the cost of the repair is not even an issue. You just want to make sure that they are accurately identifying the issue at hand. You want to make sure that one person isn’t telling you that you need 10 piers and another person is telling you that you need 15.
Cost Issues
Since there is no fixed rate when it comes to foundation repairs, getting a second opinion is just to protect yourself from getting foundation repair services that are inflated. Getting a second opinion is a way for you to check that the prices are close to the same or see if one is far less or far more than the other. If you are getting three bids, then it will give you an idea of how much the average will be, and plan accordingly.
Trust issues
This is where company reviews come in handy. Let’s say you’ve already gotten a bid from a contractor, and the cost seems to be alright. Still, something about the company prevents you from dealing with them right away. At the end of the day, it is just worlds easier if you find a foundation repair contractor you can trust, right?
This is probably the most important consideration because if you trust a company, your other concerns somehow fade away—whether they are about methods, prices, or people.
Bottomline
So, going back to the question: “Is it a wise move to ask for bids from multiple contractors?”—we answer that with a yes. If you are looking for a contractor to help you out with your Seattle home foundation woes, Five Star Foundations and Drainage can definitely help you out. We specialize in foundation works and repairs in the Greater Seattle Area.
