It was very easy to book our appointment. The inspection took about 40 minutes and then we had a 15 minute question and answer session followed by an overall review of what we will receive as a report. Before our inspector left he assured us that we did not need any slab leveling or repairs and reminded us of some actions we should take in the near future. We now have piece of mind. We had seen a few cracks in our tile flooring and seam separating in a ceiling area. We also had several cracks in our concrete sidewalk and garage floor. We will now go ahead with tile replacement and having our concrete repaired and coated. Well worth the money! We live in Georgetown Texas. read more

I was so impressed with this company! They came to my house within a few days. Lisa was very accommodating setting up the appointment and answering questions. Thomas Appelbaum arrived on time, carefully explained the entire procedure , answered all my questions, and immediately put me at ease. He was polite and very informative- assuring me would also send a written report. A realtor friend referred Foundation Guru. I am so glad I went this route instead calling a foundation leveling company. Thanks Thomas. I enjoyed working with you. Jackie P read more

Thomas was extremely knowledgeable and explained everything he was doing. I am very impressed with the inspection that he did for our Austin home and the report that we received Was great. I would definitely recommend Foundation Guru. read more

We noticed a couple of cracks in a wall, and got nervous. Rather than get a free "inspection" by a company that only profits from a negative report, we decided to pay the Foundation Guru for an unbiased report. IT WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY! He came by at the scheduled time, after calling a few hours before. Explained the inspection process, how slabs work, what some of the possible outcomes might be. After the inspection, which took about 40 minutes, he explained what we were seeing, let us know that everything was okay, what we were seeing, and have us a detailed report of our foundation, along with some preventative things we could do. I can't recommend the Foundation Guru enough. read more

Lisa communicated well once I booked the appointment online. Dakota was my inspector and he was professional, knowledgeable, and very patient in answering all my questions. They provided me with an independent and unbiased opinion and didn't try to sell me anything. I would recommend any home owner to have this inspection done. The recommendations they share for maintaining your foundation, the education on soil, drainage, watering, etc. and the inspection report they share was very valuable information for myself or for any future buyer of my property. They are really great about answering any questions post-inspection as well. Highly recommend and worth the money. read more

Awesome communication, deep expertise, and great customer service that will save you money and hassle. Can't recommend enough.

Thomas, the owner of Foundation Guru, came out again and retook measurements. Gave us,again, his professional opinion. Communicated to us what was important to maintain our foundation. Gave us advice and guidance. Suggests arborist to come out and advise if trees and bushes should be removed . Suggested gutters and guides for drainage. Thomas worked with us for over two hours and made recommendations. He was very professional and we were very pleased. I recommend his services if you think you might have foundation problems or want directions. read more

I wanted straight information. I have been concerned about the status of my foundation. The repair companies bombard the media with stories of dangerous subsidence in Central Texas, and offer "free" inspections. I read this as a sales pitch opportunity. Foundation Guru is an independent inspection outfit that just does inspections, with no ties to any repair company. The inspection was done by Dakota Appelbaum. He spent about an hour measuring, inspecting, and educating me about my house. Gurus then sent a full review of their findings. It includes observations and solutions. Fortunately I don't have a massive foundation failure. Instead there are things I can do to keep my foundation solid. This is a big relief, it's affordable, and I know how to take good care of my home. I recommend them before you talk to foundation repair companies. read more

Updated review: I was under the misimpression that this firm was a foundation repair company. It is reasonable that they do not provide free estimates. read more

I may have asked 40 million questions, yet the technician was patient, polite and thoroughly answered every question and concern. I certainly have more peace of mind knowing about my foundation, rather than just making up answers in my head. Thank you! read more

Had 3 different Foundation companies come out to give me a "Free" estimate to see if my home's foundation really needed to be repaired , all 3 gave me completely different prices, $9700, $20700, and $36600. Really hard to trust any of these companies in this industry. Then a realtor recommended to me Foundation Guru as the only company he trusts to give an unbiased assessment. Dakota came out, spent 45 minutes taking measurements. and after that, thoroughly explained everything and how foundation repair WAS NOT necessary. He recommended basic maintenance like just watering year round and grading around house. Their $400 fee saved me at least Ten Thousand dollars if I had just blindly gone with the repairs with one of the other foundation companies. so obviously, Highly recommend contacting Foundation Guru to come inspect your foundation before paying tens of thousands!..... .. for unnecessary repairs. read more

Thomas communicated well from setting up the appointment thru an on-site inspection and ending with an understandable, actionable, complete report. The on-site visit was educational, comprehensive and pleasant. Also, he let me know that the fee for the inspection includes their providing future services such as reviews of bids and advice as we work through ensuring our foundation continues to be stable and supportive of this house we love. read more

Hiring the Foundation Guru to come out and assess my home was the best money I've spent in the 25 years I've been in our house! Multiple foundation repair companies had told me I needed anywhere from $8K to $26K of piers installed, which would also require redoing all the flooring in our home and could cause serious plumbing issues. Instead, he showed me that I didn't need ANY foundation repairs, but needed landscaping to channel water away from the house. His report covered everything I needed to know and was an enormous relief. I literally can't thank them enough and would recommend unreservedly. read more

Re: Foundation Inspection during your Options Period My husband was able to schedule a foundation inspection and report with The Foundation Guru in two days for $185! Thank you for expediting on a Saturday during our options period of purchasing a home. Structural engineers will charge $600 - $800 to tell you if it's within 6" of meeting code. But foundation repairers will let you know if it's within a tighter spec of 4", which means you'll need to pay ~$5K - $20K to repair. read more

Wow! So thankful we found the Foundation Guru! I feel like I wrote myself a $13,000 check after meeting with them! Recently we had started hearing large settling sounds and I started noticing cracks in the ceiling and some other wear and tear around the house. I panicked and called a foundation company I found on Yelp that had 100% 5 stars. They came out and did their inspection and told us, sure enough, we needed to have our home raised 2" and sent us a quote for approx $13,000.00. I was shocked! I think I called them for piece of mind, I really wasn't thinking they were going to tell us we needed foundation work. At the same time I found them, I found The Foundation Guru. After we got the quote I decided it was worth the $400.00 to have someone come out who wasn't "invested" and I hoped would give us an honest opinion. They came up with the same measurements HOWEVER, advised us against lifting our home and in fact said we would be setting ourselves up for more problems if we did. They spent an hour going over everything with us. They educated us so much on the industry and things we could do to avoid problems in the future. This service was invaluable! After losing a lot of sleep hearing the words "you need foundation repair" one of the things they told me is "don't lose sleep over this". They were thorough, kind, informative. I just can't thank them enough for the service they provide. Please do yourself a favor, before you pay someone to work on your foundation...call these guys. It is so worth the money! read more

Excellent service, quick response. Thomas checked my foundation, gave recommendations for upkeep, and sent a report of the findings and recommendations. He explained everything and took the time to answer all of my questions. read more

Great service and attention to detail from Thomas/the guru. Practical best practices for any central Texas homeowner to handle simple changes to the soil and landscape to improve foundation response. Couldn't find the 6 star button, so will stick with 5 as one of the best / valuable / educational experiences we have had at our home for over 20 years in ownership. read more

I found Foundation Guru on Yelp and hired them to inspect my foundation few months after purchasing my house. The home inspection during the purchase said that the foundation was fine, but I wanted to get some knowledge about how to care for the foundation in my home and get a second opinion on some cosmetic issues that I noticed. I spoke to Lisa over the phone and she was able to schedule me the very next day. On the day of the inspection, Thomas arrived on time and took several measurements. I also pointed out the issues I was noticing and he patiently explained everything. He also made several recommendations, especially regarding drainage around the house. All his findings and measurements were documented in a report that he emailed to me. Overall, I was pleased and glad I got it done. I felt that it provided a snapshot of the current state of the foundation, for future reference. It also, was useful to get educated on the basics of foundation maintenance. Lastly, it provided peace of mind. I highly recommend the Foundation Guru to get an independent evaluation and avoid any unnecessary costs. read more

This is a genius business. Foundation repair companies are unregulated and their quotes can be all over the place. Foundation Guru are an unbiased, professional look at your foundation and what your next steps should be. They don't make money off of repairs so they are the best people to be telling you that's wrong. I will always consult with them in the future. I was so sure I needed to fix my foundation because of some new cracks in my home. read more

I did not hire them, just asked some questions. They replied fast, told me my concern is not a big issue, no need to hire them but a mason man. Really like their way doing business. And I felt very comfortable to dela with them. read more

As a first-time homeowner with little knowledge of foundation upkeep, I wanted a reliable inspection without unnecessary expenses. Through a recommendation on the Nextdoor app, I found the Foundation Guru and scheduled an appointment quickly via email. Thomas arrived promptly and spent an hour inspecting my 1,800 sq ft home. He explained the causes of cracks and soil erosion, identified cosmetic vs. necessary repairs, and provided advice on preventing further erosion. I highly recommend the Foundation Guru for unbiased foundation upkeep estimates. read more

We had a concerning issue with our foundation. The Foundation Guru was prompt to fit us in to their schedule and very professional along the way. Our inspector, Thomas, was very knowledgeable and took care and time to explain the situation and answer my questions. I would absolutely recommend Thomas to others. read more

Tim came by an was excellent. He was very punctual, friendly and informative. He was happy to answer any questions I had and thoroughly went over his recommendations and review of the foundation evaluation. Nobody even came close to their price. Mine was $400 and the next two that I had estimates for were roughly $650-$700. I highly recommend Foundation Guru and Tim. read more

I know it's unusual to see a 5 star rating for anything, but if everyone's experiences are like mine then I'm not surprised. When I began working with my realtor ( Justine Smith w/ Moxie in Dripping Springs) she said, " If there's ever any doubt we'll have Foundation Guru come out and take a look". I have since both called and emailed them with questions I had about 2 houses I've looked at and they have been completely upfront and transparent about the inspection issues in both houses. It wasn't necessary for them to come out and do their own inspection, but their feedback on what and what not to do, what to be worried about or not, was completely on point and professional; along with friendly and prompt customer service and communication These folks are THE people to call if you have ANY doubt about what's going on with the foundation of your house. You will be armed with knowledge about the best way to solve your problems, and will likely save money in the long run when you get the work done. I can't recommend them enough. read more

We bought our home that was originally built in the 80's in 2016 and knew that the foundation had been reset, and we'd have to keep our eyes on it. As first time home owners, we had no idea what to expect in Texas clay soil conditions. We have a foundation warranty but wanted to hear directly from a third party on the condition of our slab foundation. We're so glad we found Foundation Guru. Like other reviewers mentioned, they're not trying to sell you a service and won't lead you down a home repair spiral in hopes of getting you to splurge more on unnecessary repairs. Thomas provided us with a straightforward update and gave us ideas on how to address the issues. He left us feeling much more at ease about our recent foundation issues and with a manageable list of next steps that we can tackle on our own and within our budget. If you're in our boat - def give them a call! read more

So happy I got the recommendation to use these guys! Super prompt with booking/availability and the service was stellar as well as reasonably priced. Fast, easy and thorough. 5-Star all the way and would recommend. read more

Highly recommend, Thomas and Lisa run a great business that provides immediate value. We plan to make several small changes to ensure a healthy foundation for the long-term. read more

If you're considering a foundation repair, you need to contact Foundation Guru first! Foundation Guru provides foundation inspection exclusively, nothing to "sell" us on. We employed Lisa's services as a 2nd opinion a few days after a (very) brief inspection and quote from a foundation repair company. We were quoted $11,000+ by a foundation repair company without the specific inspection details or measurements, only the number of piers they plan to use, the various caveats about what they can and cannot be held liable for and the price. The same day as the inspection, Lisa provided an elevation drawing of the house and exterior, where measurements were taken and the measurement relative to the origin (center of the first floor). Her measurements were taken using the same laser equipment as the repair company, the overall elevation differences were very nearly the same (3/4" compared to 1/2" in 10'). The professional inspection outcome was very different from the foundation repair company: our foundation is in fine shape, actually well-inside the allowed 1.5" within 10 feet of a freshly-poured slab in TX. Lisa's professional opinion is to be concerned when 3" in 10' difference is found. That's a big difference from 3/4" in 10' ... and $11,000. She provided helpful grounds suggestions to help maintain the ground around the slab, recommended gutters around the house to prevent water pooling/drainage issues, diagrammed problem areas to address. Lisa is a consummate professional. Get your foundation inspected before paying anyone that tells you it needs Thousands of Dollars...and it doesn't. read more

If you want an unbiased opinion on the status of your foundation, a thorough printed report with drawings, elevations and comments, and someone available to answer a question months after the inspection, then call Lisa and The Foundation Guru. Bonus: she's pleasant and friendly. Why is "unbiased" important? Because if a foundation repair company (or two) comes to your house and tells you you need to spend thousands of dollars, it's worth the peace of mind to have a third, independent party come in and give you an assessment. I did this, compared written reports from Foundation Guru and the two companies, and made a decision in which I have confidence. Peace of mind is well worth the completely reasonable fee Lisa/Foundation Guru charged. read more

Lisa was great. From communication to scheduling to reporting. Showed up On time. Called them a day before and was scheduled the next day. We also received the foundation report few hours later. Highly recommend read more

We had The Foundation Guru out to check the home we were selling and later buying. If you want a fair and unbiased evaluation of your foundation, I can highly recommend using the Guru! A foundation company is out to sell you a foundation repair, so it is best to go in with an independent assessment. read more

No surprise when I wanted to post reviews about our amazing experience with The Foundation Guru that I'm seeing many 5 star comments. From start to finish the experience is 5 stars. Do not go anywhere else, they are worth every penny. read more

The foundation guru as a new resource for me is tremendous. They are very knowledgeable and honest in evaluation. We were successfully able to negotiate a lower sales price for or our client thanks to the support and knowledge of the foundation guru. I will always recommend anyone in the market for a true & thorough foundation inspection to use the foundation Guru!! read more

100% worth the fee. I moved back into my home after having leased it for three years. There was a big crack in the slab and some tell-tale signs of movement. I got nervous. I had one company give me a bid for $9,200 with over 20 piers. I had three other estimates scheduled, but most of them scheduled pretty far out (Centex scheduled over a month out) which was holding me up on making other decisions about the house. If the foundation did need work, I wanted to take care of that before renovating. Lisa was great about communicating and Thomas was very professional, knowledgeable and thorough. The report came through within a few hours. Very clear and easy to follow. Turns out that at this point they recommend remediation/preventative measures rather than lifting or leveling. The instructions for remediation/prevention on the report are very clear and easy to follow. read more

We reached out to Lisa last Friday evening (Valentine's Day, no less), and within minutes received a reply that she'd be in touch the following morning. The timeliness alone in her responsiveness really impressed us, but that was only the beginning. The following morning by 9AM, we'd scheduled a foundation evaluation for later that afternoon. Thomas performed the inspection and was incredibly helpful --prompt, polished, thorough, and knowledgeable. By that evening, we received via email a detailed report which summarized the findings and included unbiased recommendations for addressing sensitive areas. From start to finish, The Foundation Guru team exceeded our expectations. We heartily recommend this company and are grateful they offer this service, filling a unique niche. read more

We recruited Lisa and her team for a foundation inspection. They were thorough and dependable. I can definitely recommend for a found inspection for buyer or seller, to make sure everyone is on the same page on the condition of your foundation. Their report had a lot of photos and information, so there was nothing left to doubt on the condition of the foundation. read more

After receiving mixed and dishonest feedback from a foundation repair company, we hired Lisa with The Foundation Guru to help us set the record straight. Our house was for sale and we were in a bit of a time crunch to get the information over to our buyers. I called her on a Saturday and she was able to come out Monday morning, despite the fact it was a holiday. She completed her inspection, talked to us about her findings, and wrote up a beautiful report that made both us and our real estate agent very happy. She was even willing to discuss her findings with any potential buyer of ours that has questions regarding her report! I would recommend Lisa to anyone and my only regret is that I didn't hire her before listing our house for sale! read more

I'll just echo everything you've read in the other reviews. When we bought our home, we were aware prior foundation work had been done that came with a transferable warranty. After noticing signs of foundation movement, we called the repair company out to see what was going on. Their inspection was cursory (at best), and they said we needed additional piers installed. We were skeptical and not wanting to "throw good money after bad." Luckily we were able to schedule Lisa quickly to give us an independent opinion. Her inspection was much more thorough, and she took the time to walk me through what she was looking for as she went and what she saw. She seemed very knowledgeable and explained things well. Afterwards we received a detailed report with measurements and observations. Her inspection revealed a different (and more complete) picture than what the foundation repair company: The foundation movement appeared to be the result of a plumbing leak causing the ground below the concrete to swell - not a problem that should be fixed by just putting in a couple more piers. So now we're calling plumbers to find a potential leak instead of paying a foundation repair company. Thanks Lisa! read more

The Foundation Guru's have come through for me multiple times. As a Realtor, you dread having a possible foundation issue come up on an inspection. Many foundation companies are hard to trust because you don't know if you really need the work done or if they just want to make money. Because Lisa only does inspections and not repairs, you can trust that she is unbiased and giving you straight facts. She is very professional and detail oriented. I plan to use them for every foundation inspection, whether on the buyer side or seller side. Thanks Lisa! read more

Our inspection was scheduled by Lisa and done by Thomas. They are both very responsive and polite and ready to answer any questions we had. At first we did not fully understand the report provided to us (this is the first foundation inspection we have ever done), but they both went above and beyond to explain it to us. It was great to get the thorough explanation and tips how to maintain the foundation and keep the house flawless for the future. read more