How to compare foundation repair estimates beyond the total price

Check whether the proposals address the same concern

Ask each contractor to explain how the findings support the proposed work. Compare the affected areas and the intended result using a floor plan or recognizable landmarks. If one proposal covers only one corner and another covers a larger portion of the home, the totals cannot be understood as prices for the same project.

Keep the measurement plans and inspection notes with their corresponding estimates. When findings differ, ask whether the difference comes from access, assumptions, information available at the visit, or interpretation. An unresolved technical disagreement may call for an independent engineer rather than a decision based only on the more reassuring wording.

Use a worksheet with one row for each responsibility

Make three columns labeled Proposal A, Proposal B, and Unresolved. Copy the actual written information into the first two columns. Use the third for missing details or differences that prevent a fair comparison. A blank should remain a question until the company clarifies it; do not mark an item included because another proposal includes it.

For example, Proposal A may name exterior repair locations and include a final location plan, while Proposal B names additional interior work but says nothing about restoring the floor opening. Mark the different locations and the missing restoration separately. Request clarification, then compare the scopes after those differences are visible. This is a hypothetical comparison, not a recommendation for a particular repair.

• Problem and locations: what concern is addressed and which areas are included?
• Method and intended result: what work is proposed, and what outcome is described?
• Access and protection: which surfaces or rooms are affected, and who prepares them?
• Related services: identify engineering, testing, permits when applicable, and the party arranging each.
• Restoration and cleanup: state what is restored and what remains a separate contract.
• Price treatment: distinguish fixed items, allowances, exclusions, and unresolved charges.
• Completion and written terms: list records to be delivered and attach the applicable warranty.

Understand how changes will be handled

Existing properties can reveal conditions that were not visible during an initial review. Ask what kinds of findings could change the scope and how you will receive the explanation, revised work description, and price. Identify the person authorized to approve a change, especially if a property manager or family member is handling access on your behalf.

Review the schedule in the same way. Compare dependencies, access arrangements, workday expectations, and the process for communicating delays. A single promised duration does not explain how the team will coordinate inspections, weather-sensitive work, or another trade. Ask what information must be settled before the schedule is confirmed.

Read the completion and warranty terms

Ask what records you receive when the work is complete and what written warranty applies to the proposed work. Read the actual coverage, exclusions, claim procedure, and any transfer language. Avoid treating a headline such as 'lifetime' as a complete explanation. If a term has legal or transaction implications, have the appropriate qualified professional review it.

Pro-Tech can discuss a property-specific repair scope after an in-person review. Initial in-person foundation measurements are available at no cost, with the team calling to schedule. Call 972-288-3797 or submit your information, and bring existing reports so the conversation can address the same evidence you are using to compare other proposals.