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6 Financing Options for Foundation Repair Work

When you experience problems with your foundation, timely repair is essential.  That is why our company is proud to offer financing options that suit your family’s needs. Cracks in concrete and bowing walls signal a serious issue, and these problems will only get worse without help from a foundation specialist. However, not every homeowner has room in their budget for this service because repair costs can significantly impact your finances. On the other hand, putting it off will only increase the price. That’s why homeowners should research financing options to facilitate immediate foundation repair.

 

Home Equity Loan/Line of Credit

 

Home equity loans and lines of credit entail taking out a second mortgage. Loans are provided in one large amount, while lines of credit can be accessed as needed (just like a credit card). This option is good for making substantial repairs to the home, as costs for home repair and maintenance are tax deductible.

 

Personal Loan

 

Taking out a personal loan at your bank provides quick access to funds while ensuring a reasonable interest rate. Most banks offer affordable rates when clients have an established relationship. However, if you can’t secure a loan through your bank, look for a private lender. Just make sure that you’re choosy when it comes to finding the best interest rate.

 

Credit Card

 

Using a credit card to cover repairs ensures that work is completed quickly. However, you’ll need a card with a high limit to cover costs. You also want to be proactive about making payments beyond the minimum. Paying off a credit card quickly will minimize interest payments and keep your credit score in good standing.

 

Emergency Savings

 

You may be hesitant to use funds from an emergency saving account to cover the cost of drainage system repair, but consider that these issues constitute a true emergency. Poor drainage around the home puts pressure on the foundation by saturating the soil. In addition to water damage, drainage issues can also affect the safety and stability of your home.

 

Federal Loans

 

Depending on your income, you may be eligible for a federal loan. For instance, the U.S. Department of Agriculture provides specific homeowners with funds to make essential repairs. With the Section 504 Home Repair Program, homeowners with yearly earnings equal to less than 50% of the median income in the area may qualify for assistance. You can also look into the Title 1 Property Improvement Loan Insurance Program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In this case, HUD will insure your lender against losses related to loans for home repair.

 

Homeowners’ Insurance

 

All home insurance policies list covered perils, which are events that can trigger an insurance payout. For example, your insurer may cover repair costs if foundation damage is caused by a burst pipe that led to basement flooding. The subsequent repair issues may be eligible for insurance funds. Check your policy for more information however, insurance rarely covers foundation repair.

 

We Can Help You Secure the Right Type of Financing

 

Here at Align Foundation Repair, we understand that financial roadblocks can get in the way of essential home maintenance and repair. That’s why our team works with customers to find the best financing solutions for their needs. We also provide free consultations to make the process even more affordable. Contact us today for more information.

 

 

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/ By Chase Gohl / Home Repair Financing/ / 0 Comments

Will a Bank Finance a House With Foundation Problems?

So you’ve found the perfect fixer-upper house, one which will serve you well either for investment purposes or as a new residence.

There’s only one problem, though: it needs home foundation repair.

Will a bank finance the repair work? Believe it or not, you have financing options that are worth considering. Federal-backed loans can help to turn your distressed home into a residential gem.

Three ways that Uncle Sam can help

The government knows that real estate is a vital part of the American economy. That’s why it’s happy to encourage and support home repair and investment.

The three primary options offered by Uncle Sam are:

  • A Freddie Mac CHOICE Renovation Mortgage: This program is especially aimed at real estate investors. It’s a good option if you’re interested in “flipping” the home. It does require reasonably good credit.
  • A Fannie Mae Home Style Renovation Mortgage: This program’s primary advantage is the flexibility it offers. You can use any qualified contractor you choose, including Align Foundation Repair. You can also use the funds to pay for other related expenses, such as inspection fees and title costs.
  • An FHA 203(k) Loan: This program is designed for homeowners with challenged credit who need help repairing or improving their residence. While it’s easier to qualify for these loans, they do come with higher interest rates than other programs. Still, they offer a far better option than letting your home’s foundation problems grow worse over time.

How to access these programs

Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and FHA loans are provided in partnership with private lenders.

Before applying, you should gather as much information as you can about your personal finances and the home that needs financing for foundation repair. The better organized you are, the quicker and easier the approval process will go.

Align Foundation Repair’s financing option

Another option worth considering is our financing program. It’s specially designed to help residents in the Dallas-Fort Worth area as well as North Texas in general. It offers payments as low as $125 a month and no prepayment penalties. Our customer service experts can give you all the details.

The first step in repairing a bad foundation is to know how much the job will cost. That’s why we invite you to contact us for your free, no-obligation quote.

Having this information on hand will help you to make a fully informed decision. So contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you.

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/ By Chase Gohl / Home Repair Financing/ / 0 Comments

What to Do When You Can’t Afford Foundation Repair

Repairing a damaged foundation is essential for living safely and comfortably in your home. Despite this fact, homeowners sometimes delay this important work due to worries about excessive costs.

If that sounds like you, then we have good news. Align Foundation Repair offers financing terms with no prepayment penalty and payments as low as $125 a month. You can get all the details by calling us today.

There are also a number of other ways to access foundation repair financing services. These include home equity loans, cash out refinancing, credit cards, personal cash loans, and government-sponsored loans and grants. Each is worth considering as you explore your options.

Home equity loans

Home ownership is an excellent financial investment. That’s because most homes acquire equity over time, allowing the owner to tap into that value to obtain cash.

Home equity loans vary widely in terms of available amounts, interest rates, and requirements for approval. We encourage you to explore all of these opportunities, even if your credit is less than perfect. You never know what’s available until you look around.

Cash out refinancing

Refinancing offers many potential benefits, such as a lower interest rate and smaller monthly payments. It may also give you cash you need to pay for foundation repair.

Like home equity loans, cash out refinancing programs vary widely. This is another situation in which exploring all of your options can pay off in a big way. Just make sure that you only deal with reputable and established lenders. You may find the perfect opportunity for your needs.

Credit cards

Credit cards are great things to have on hand when the unexpected knocks at your door. If your available credit isn’t enough to cover your foundation repairs, then you may want to ask the company for an increase. In many cases, the bank is happy to grant the request.

Personal cash loans

These are available from banks and finance companies across the country. Usually, all you need is reasonably good credit and a small amount of collateral.

You may also want to reach out to friends or family members for help with foundation repair financing options. A damaged foundation is a serious problem that requires immediate attention for your safety and well-being. The sooner you have the work done, the sooner you can put the problem behind you.

Government-sponsored loans and grants

Uncle Sam offers several programs designed to help homeowners keep their residences in good repair. We recommend contacting the responsible government agency directly rather than working through a third party. That way, you avoid unnecessary service fees and waiting periods.

One more thing: you may find that foundation repair is more affordable than you think. For that reason, we invite you to contact us here at Align Foundation Repair today for your free, no-obligation quote. At the very least, you’ll have the facts you need to make an informed decision.

Home Foundation Repair Financing
/ By Chase Gohl / Home Repair Financing/ / 0 Comments

How to Pay for Foundation Repair with No Home Equity

A damaged foundation is one of the worst problems a homeowner can face. Left uncorrected, it can ruin your home’s value while exposing you and your family to serious safety risks.

Despite this fact, many homeowners put off having their foundation repaired, often due to fears of high costs.

If this sounds like you, then we have good news. Not only is the work more affordable than you may think, but there are many possible ways to pay for it. This is true even if you have no equity in your home.

Align Foundation Repair offers financing arrangements with low monthly payments, no prepayment penalties, and interest rates as low as 8.9%.

We’ll look more at these financing opportunities in just a bit. For now, let’s consider the high cost of ignoring foundation repair.

What Happens When Good Foundations Go Bad

Here’s what happens when your home’s foundation starts to fail:

  • Creaking doors and cracked windows: One of the first signs of a damaged foundation is a door that no longer fits its frame. As the problem worsens, you may notice your windows cracking or falling out altogether.
  • Unlevel floors and out-of-square walls: In a properly built home, corners are an even 90° and floors run straight across with no sagging. A damaged or sinking foundation can destroy these important symmetries, damaging your home’s framework and ruining its aesthetics.
  • Cracked Drywall: Telltale signs of a settling foundation are cracks in the drywall. Cracks may appear horizontally, vertically, or in “stepped” formation. The larger the cracks, the more likely they are due to foundation issues.
  • Collapsing chimneys: A sagging foundation can cause a brick chimney to lean sideways until it falls down altogether, creating a potential fire hazard and exposing you to legal liabilities.

Foundation Repair Payment Options

As you can see, foundation problems are too serious to ignore. Now let’s look at ways to pay for the necessary repairs:

  • Savings: Putting aside a little money for a rainy day is a time-honored way of guarding against future calamities. What better way to use these funds than to fix a damaged foundation?
  • Personal loans/credit cards: If you’ve suffered financial problems in the past, then a friend or family member may be able to cosign on your behalf.
  • Financing arrangements through our affiliated lenders: These programs offer several advantages, including 12-month same-as-cash, long terms to keep the monthly payments low, no prepayment penalties, and interest rates as low as 8.9%.

Contact us here at Align Foundation Repair today to learn more. We’ll provide you with a no-obligation quote, explain your options for financing foundation repair, and leave you with the facts you need to make an informed decision.

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/ By Chase Gohl / Home Repair Financing/ / 0 Comments

How to Finance Your Foundation Repair

Home improvement projects fall into two classes: those that can wait and those that can’t. Knowing the difference between the two is all-important, not just for your home’s resale value but your personal safety as well.

When it comes to foundation repair, the dangers of putting it off are too great to risk. After all, any house is only as sound as the structure that supports it.

That might make a lot of sense to you – but what if your household is on a pretty strict budget? Where’s the money coming from to pay for the work?

Here at Align Foundation Repair, we understand completely. After all, extra funds are tight for millions of homeowners across the country right now.

That’s why we’re excited to tell you about the many foundation repair financing options we offer to our customers, with monthly payments as low as $125. Don’t delay this crucial work when help is readily available.

A problem too serious to ignore

Nothing poses a greater risk to your home than a damaged foundation. Here’s why:

  • A failing foundation can cause problems throughout your house: Such as unlevel floors, windows that won’t open or shut, and doors that stick or won’t stay closed.
  • Cracks in your foundation create the perfect entry point for moisture: Water can flood your basement or crawl space, promote mold or mildew growth, or cause your home’s wooden supports to rot away, putting the entire structure in danger of collapse.
  • A bad foundation can devastate your home’s resale value: A house with foundation problems is almost impossible to sell in most markets.
  • Time will only make the issue worse: Sometimes, a foundation becomes so weak that the property is condemned, forcing the family to abandon it altogether.
  • Disregarding the problem now can cost you a lot more later on: Eventually, it may get to the point where a brand-new foundation is needed, a job that can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

For all these reasons and more, we urge you to call us today to discuss foundation repair finance. Tomorrow may be too late.

How to Pay for Foundation Repair

Besides our programs, there are a number of other ways to pay for the job. They include:

  • A home equity loan: Which can put cash in your pocket just when you need it the most.
  • A personal loan: Either from your bank or a private financing company.
  • Credit cards: Which are handy to have when an unexpected expense arises, such as the need for foundation repair.

Contact us here at Align Foundation Repair today to learn more. We’re happy to help you in any way we can.

/ By Chase Gohl / Home Repair Financing/ / 0 Comments

Will Homeowners Insurance Cover Foundation Repair?

Will your home insurance cover the cost of a foundation repair? We can’t give a simple “yes” or “no” answer because it depends on the specific policy and what it covers. More often, though, the answer is a “no.” Even if it does, it may only cover specific types of damage. Let’s explore this topic in further detail.

What Does Homeowner’s Insurance Cover?

When it comes to homeowner’s insurance covering foundation repair, it comes down to the specific policy. As a general rule, most home insurance policies in the North Texas region do not include foundation repair insurance.

Nevertheless, we do suggest that homeowners extensively review their insurance to be certain what is and isn’t covered. A damaged foundation often accompanies other problems in the house, such as cracks and separations in the walls and ceiling. You will want to know whether your insurance covers this type of damage.

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Seeing signs of trouble in your foundation? Contact Align Foundation Repair for a free estimate.

My Insurance Does Cover Foundation Repairs

Perhaps your policy does include foundation repair. Don’t assume that this means any foundation damage scenario will be covered. As with the rest of the home, the plan may only kick in if the damage meets certain criteria. Examine your policy or ask an agent the following:

  • Does the policy cover cracks in the slab concrete?
  • What foundation repair methods are covered under the policy? Common repair methods include concrete leveling, concrete piling, drilled pier, and spread footing. Know which of these are and aren’t covered.
  • What type of damage has to occur for the policy to go into effect?

It’s especially important that you have a clear answer to the third question. Policies that cover foundation repairs will only do so under specific conditions. Policies typically do not cover damage from acts of nature, such as an earthquake or flood, though you may be able to add those additional coverages with an increase in premiums.

214-463-2974
Seeing signs of trouble in your foundation? Contact Align Foundation Repair for a free estimate.

We should also point out that homeowner’s insurance doesn’t typically cover damages caused by soil erosion and expansion. This is really important to keep in mind because the North Texas region is notoriously known for heavy sand and loam-based soil that is susceptible to expansion and compaction. When we dispatch a technician to evaluate a residential foundation, we often discover that the damage stems partially or fully from the soil conditions.

We Provide Affordable Foundation Repair

To summarize, most homeowner’s insurance does not cover foundation damage. If your policy does, the damage must meet very specific conditions for the insurance to kick in. This is why we highly suggest homeowners call Align Foundation Repair to schedule routine foundation evaluations. This will prevent a costly foundation repair down the line that your insurance more than likely does not cover. For homeowners insurance foundation repair services in Dallas-Fort Worth, call us today for a free estimate.

/ By Chase Gohl / Home Repair Financing/ • / 0 Comments

Will Align Foundation Repair Provide a Foundation Repair Warranty with Services?

A warranty isn’t just insurance; it’s a peace of mind. Align Foundation Repair provides an industry-leading, transferable lifetime warranty because we believe in our workmanship and back it up with a guarantee that ensures you are covered if a foundation issue reoccurs. If any problems occur with the piers we have installed to stabilize your home’s foundation, we will fix the issue at no charge for the life of the home. Our comprehensive lifetime warranty distinguishes us from the other contractors in the North Texas region. Learn more about our home foundation repair warranty and what it covers.

Our Lifetime Warranty at a Glance

Most of our foundation repair and installation services come with a lifetime warranty. If anything goes wrong between the initial service and the rest of the time you live in the home, we will perform prompt repairs at no additional cost to you. There will be no extra expenses related to either the labor or parts.

What exactly does the warranty include? It protects you against the failure of repaired piers installed.

Our lifetime warranty applies to foundation repairs requiring use of piling or piers. For pier and beam repairs (spread footing), the warranty duration is five years. The warranty excludes future unrelated damage, such as that caused by acts of nature.

All warranties from Align Foundation Repair are included with the original service contract. The warranty is not an upsell that we include at an additional fee.

What Factors Void the Warranty?

The warranty does not cover damage caused by:

  • Natural disasters
  • Additions to the property such as swimming pool, trees, etc.
  • Gardening that contributes to soil erosion
  • Natural soil erosion
  • Major home renovations

Excessive moisture is a common cause of foundation problems here in North Texas. Our technician will explain how you can minimize moisture accumulation during a foundation assessment. Failure to follow the recommended course of action can void the warranty should water-related damage occur. Please follow our expert’s advice regarding foundation maintenance, which may include foundation watering, drainage system repair/drainage installation, etc.

Our Warranty Is Transferable

Should you decide to move out of your home, the warranty can be transferred to the next homeowner. This is an appealing selling point for homeowners and their real estate agent. The transfer process is simple and is free of charge if made within 45 days of the property title transfer. After 45 days, there may be a one-time transfer fee.

We Stand Behind Our Workmanship

Our North Texas foundation repair warranty ensures you never pay twice for services that should be done to your satisfaction the first time. We assess residential foundations throughout the North Texas region. The soil conditions of the area often lead to a very specific type of damage that we are well-versed in diagnosing and treating. Give Align Foundation Repair a call if you spot signs hinting at a foundation irregularity. We provide a free estimate if repairs are warranted.

/ By Chase Gohl / Home Repair Financing/ • • / 0 Comments

How Much Does Foundation Repair Cost?

Questions about home foundation repair costs in North Texas? In some ways, it is like asking how much a car costs. So many factors are in play regarding the extent of the damage, the cause of the damage, and the methods needed to repair the foundation. The best we can do is give you a ballpark range, which can be as low as $500 or upwards of $10,000. Most repairs fall somewhere in between. Let’s examine some of the variables that affect the cost.

Pier Count

One repair method includes concrete or steel pier installation that repositions the foundation. The number of piers needed depends on how much of the slab is imported. Most foundation repair services go by the guidelines set forth by the Foundation Performance Association (FPA) for determining the number of piers needed. Pier installation costs around $300 to $800 per pier. For most residential repairs, concrete piers suffice. Concrete is cheaper than steel and usually falls within the lower end of the price range.

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Get steel or concrete pier installation from Align Foundation Repair today.

Some companies may ignore the FPA guidelines and save money by placing fewer piers set further apart. While this may reduce cost in the short-term, in the long-term it can lead to the foundation gradually settling.

Additional Variables

Factors aren’t just limited to the method required. The foundation size matters as well. Bigger homes have a larger foundation encompassing a greater area that needs to be treated. In addition, foundation damage may also damage the floor, walls, and ceiling in the process. These areas must be restored as well.

Homes that sit above a crawl space may also incur additional costs. As a safety precaution, contractors may need to replace the existing wooden beams to ensure a secure operation. Also, if the crawl space is too small for a crew to work out of, additional space may need to be created, which adds to the overall labor and cost.

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Keep your additional costs down by contacting Align Foundation Repair today.

Contact Align Foundation Repair

We suggest calling Align Foundation Repair the minute you notice irregularities in the floor, walls, or ceiling, all of which may point to a compromised foundation. We provide a free foundation repair cost estimate for services requiring concrete lifting or pier installation. Routine inspections will prevent repairs that run in the higher end of the average price range.