All Forum Posts by: Craig Tripp

@Jordan Sitzler 

Terms/names of your foundation are regional based on your location, but sounds like typical pier and beam to me.

Level is out the window if you (or previous owners) have remodeled throughout the interior.  Stable and functional should be the goal, though that may take some explaining to new buyers.

Side note: 10% (probably closer to 20% for just material and labor) permit fee is ridiculous, that wouldn’t cost me more than $100 in my area.

@Eddie Gonnella

It’ll get easier the more you do, provided you find professional contractors that you can trust.  When you develop a relationship and get those guys you can count on their estimates.  

Shopping for the lowest bid may get the best price but I almost guarantee it won’t get you the best job.  Each job must stand on its own and the value (price vs. quality vs. speed vs....) must be determined to make sure your goals and expectations are met.

Quick scan of articles looks like the DFW view is based on total numbers while the Austin view is based on percents.

I highly recommend Profit First, and it has been awesome for my small business.  I’ve always been profitable, so it wasn’t a game changer for me, but makes understanding my financial picture so much easier to understand.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was certainly a bank balance desicion maker... (account is full = life is good = go ahead and buy that tool and when cash flow was bad and I was behind on collecting payments then I was much more conservative in my spending)

I’ve got a great bank, and a great accountant so they didn’t seem to have any issues with me implementing it.   Although I did create a .ppt diagram to explain the flow to my accountant which seemed to help.

The only negative, is that since I verify every expense in Quickbooks for my company I am still very aware of the balances of my accounts at all times, so I may not get the behavioral benefit of just operating off the “small plate” of the OPEX account.

One more downside, you’ll end up wanting to get all of Mike Michalowicz’s books and listen to all his podcasts too!  However, those are equally as beneficial to small business owners and I am currently Clockworking now.

I don’t expect (not do I want) every job and asume most owners are getting second opinions.

However, I would not perform an estimate with another foundation repair company at the same house at the same time.  If the cheapest option is the goal have every trade email you in a “bid.” 

I’m focused on bringing stability and value to the home and don’t think an owner that has 3x Foundation repairmen, 3x Plumbers, 3x Roofers, 3x... all at the same time is interested in and can understand the value that we provide.  If they’re not willing to give me adequate time to present the repairs for their home, I’m not interested in coming up with a course of action and it’s on to the next home. 

@Robert James

Very subjective to say the least in regards to “fit and habitable.“ 

I was looking at it from the perspective of the foundation repairman that I am vs. the landlord.  I don’t get worked up over making perfect a foundation.  If your doors and windows work, you can set things on kitchen counters to cook without it falling off, and don’t feel like you’re walking downhill...then that is functional and should be the goal. 

@Robert James

There is no such thing as a legal requirement to fix a foundation.  At worst you may have a lender that won’t loan against it or difficlty in obtaining insurance.  Neither of those are set in stone and can be worked around.

Tracking now.  You can’t bring equipment back there big enough that would hurt/damage the slab.  Make sure you dowel into existing flat work as best you can to keep it all together.