Foundation repair is one of the most over-sold jobs in home services — bids for the same house routinely vary two to three times. A little process protects you from a five-figure mistake.
Before you call a single repair company, consider a structural engineer's assessment ($400–$800). Engineers don't sell repairs, so their report tells you what actually needs fixing — and it right-sizes every quote you get afterward. It's the single best money you can spend in this process.
Insist each contractor hand you a pier-layout drawing — foundation cost is mostly pier count × unit price, so the layout is the quote. Three drawings side by side expose who is over-scoping.
Most repairs run $2,200–$8,000; pier stabilization on a settling home is commonly $8,000–$25,000+. See the full method-by-method cost guide so you can sanity-check any number.
Expansive-clay counties see more recurring, drainage-driven movement — often the real fix is water management, not piers. Check your county's soil risk before you accept a diagnosis.