EP 524: How To Spot Foundation Problems And Choose The Right Repair Company

What makes Julie Miller with Premier Foundation Repair a good neighbor?

We talk with Julie Miller of Premier Foundation Repair about one of the most common concerns for North Texas homeowners: foundation movement. With more than 37 years of experience in the industry, Julie shares practical insights into what causes foundation problems, how repairs are evaluated, and what homeowners should know before making major decisions about their property.

Julie explains one of the biggest misconceptions she encounters: the belief that foundation repairs must be repeated over and over. She discusses why properly installed piers and a repair plan tailored to the structure should provide a long term solution rather than an ongoing cycle of repairs. She also walks through the process of a professional foundation inspection, including the measurements and evaluations used for both slab foundations and pier and beam homes.

We also discuss how homeowners can make informed decisions when choosing a foundation repair contractor. Julie explains why the lowest price is not always the best value, how warranty promises are only as good as the company standing behind them, and why experience, communication, and documentation matter throughout the process. She highlights the importance of engineering reports, repair records, and clear communication, especially for homeowners preparing to buy, sell, or refinance a property.

The conversation also provides practical guidance for homeowners dealing with foundation concerns such as cracks in walls, sticking doors, uneven floors, and other common warning signs. Julie shares what to watch for and how to approach the repair process with confidence and realistic expectations.

If you are researching foundation repair in Frisco or anywhere across North Texas, this episode offers valuable insight into how to protect one of your most important investments.

Subscribe, share, and leave a review with your question for the next episode.

Guest Info: Premier Foundation Repair 

https://premierfoundationrepair.com/

Transcript

Welcome And Guest Introduction

SPEAKER_00 0:00

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Sophia Yuvel.

SPEAKER_02 0:10

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you in need of a foundation repair company? Well, one may be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Julie Miller with Premier Foundation Repair. Julie, it's great having you on today. Now we are so excited to learn more about you and your business. So go ahead and tell our listeners just a little bit more about your company.

Starting A Woman-Owned Repair Company

SPEAKER_01 0:37

Well, I started in this business about 37 years ago and was one of the very few female contractors to start in the business at that time. I think a few more ladies have joined the team of foundation repair people, but it was kind of a novelty when I began this business to have a woman-owned business uh in a construction field.

SPEAKER_02 1:04

Oh yeah, that sounds like a very empowering experience. Um what made you want to get started with this type of business?

SPEAKER_01 1:14

Well, I went to work for a foundation repair company and I worked for them for um several years, and um they had a partnership, and as partnerships do, sometimes they broke apart and they they all moved out of state. So um myself and a lot of the people that I worked with, you know, we were out of a job. So um I made the decision to open premier foundation repair and um go back to work. So that's that's what we did. So we've been doing foundation repair for 37 years, and um we have a very good track record. We have wonderful people that work for us, our customers are happy. Um, we've branched out into doing some other things. We do some renovations for clients that uh we do foundation repair work for. Um we do renovations for other people too, but primarily our clients. So it's a little um full service type of business, so that once we fix someone's foundation, then they need cosmetic repairs, we come in and help them with those too.

The Biggest Foundation Repair Myth

SPEAKER_02 2:21

So, Julie, since you've branched out, what is the number one misconception you get asked on the day-to-day when it comes to foundation repair issues?

SPEAKER_01 2:35

Well, people are under the impression that foundation repair has to be repeated over and over. Um, and the truth of the matter is if the job is done correctly and the peers are installed correctly, this is not something that has to be revisited every four or five, ten years. This should be a one-time and done type of thing. Unless, of course, I have a problem in another area of the house that wasn't worked on, then you know that area of the house may at some point in time in the future need more work. But um, most of my clients, I see them one time and then I'm I'm kind of done. I don't really see them anymore because they don't really have any other issues.

Free Estimates And What We Measure

SPEAKER_02 3:18

Now, when it comes to getting started with these projects, do you do any free consultations? Walk us through what that looks like for you.

SPEAKER_01 3:28

So, yes, we do we do free estimates for homeowners. So we'll um receive a call, we'll take some information from the client, you know, how long they've lived in the house, um, what symptoms they're seeing of foundation repair, we'll book a time. Um, either myself or another inspector will go out, we'll do an inspection of the property, we'll take uh measurements of the interior slab elevations or or peer and beam, we do those two, and then we make an assessment of what is actually needed for the property to restore it, and then we give them an estimate, and then if they of course proceed with the estimate, and then we go out and do the work for them.

SPEAKER_02 4:11

Wonderful.

How Homeowners Find The Right Pros

SPEAKER_02 4:12

Now we're gonna go ahead and switch gears here. Marketing is the heart of every business. So ideally, where are some of these homeowners you're looking to have as potential clients, and how are you attracting them today?

SPEAKER_01 4:28

Well, this is a multi-billion dollar annual industry in the North Texas region because of the type of soil that we have. So we do some direct mail marketing, we do advertising with Google, we are on Facebook, Instagram, those types of platforms. That's how we gain our customers. A lot of our customers come from referrals, either from engineers or previous customers. So we have a um a good referral base in our business. We deal with property owners, property management companies, those types of people.

Travel And Life Outside Work

SPEAKER_02 5:04

Well, it is clear that you work really hard in this business, but outside of work, what do you like to do for fun?

SPEAKER_01 5:11

Uh, my fun thing is to travel. I like to travel.

SPEAKER_02 5:15

Oh, okay. Travel. Any favorite um vacation spots?

SPEAKER_01 5:20

Uh yes, I I typically go to Europe. I have family uh in Europe, so I go to Europe a couple of times a year, and um Spain, Greece, those types of places are my my favorite places to go.

SPEAKER_02 5:35

Beautiful

Why Cheapest Bids Can Backfire

SPEAKER_02 5:36

places. Now, before we close out today, Julie, what is the biggest takeaway you would like our listeners to gather from learning about Premier Foundation Repair?

SPEAKER_01 5:48

Well, you have to trust your contractor when you give them a project to do. So uh a lot of people are only price-oriented in their search, they're only looking for the least expensive contractor. So I don't believe I'm the most expensive contractor, and I'm not the the least expensive contractor either. I'm gonna be somewhere in the middle, and I try to tell people usually when you use the the cheapest guy that is out there, they do that that quality of work as well. So you have to have a company that will stand behind their their warranty that has been in business for a long time, those those kinds of things. There's a lot of people that call me and say, Oh, I've had previous foundation work done and I have a lifetime warranty. And I said, That's that's great. And I said, Where's the company? And they're like, I can't find them. I'm like, well, you know, then your lifetime warranty is really not not very, it's not good for you because they're not here anymore to service you. So that's the one thing I try to educate people with is to find a trusted contractor.

Communication, Paperwork, And Closings

SPEAKER_02 6:56

So, Julie, when it comes to premier foundation repair, what is the feature that your business offers that really makes you stand out in the foundation repair industry?

SPEAKER_01 7:09

Well, all of our clients are treated with you know personal care, like we we inform them of what's going on in the project, you know, when we start, when we think we're going to be finished, you know, what we encounter during the process. Those are all things. So we we continue to have uh constant contact with our clients as we're doing our project. And then, of course, when we wrap up our project, we furnish them with all their documentation, their paperwork, their engineering reports, all the things that they need. A lot of our clients are selling the property or buying the property, so all these types of documents are required for their closing, that kind of thing.

SPEAKER_02 7:51

Wonderful. Now, final question for you today, Julie. We've covered a lot of great information, but what our listeners really want to know is where can they go to learn more about Premier Foundation

How To Reach Premier Foundation Repair

SPEAKER_02 8:02

Repair?

SPEAKER_01 8:03

Well, we have a website, of course, it's Premier Foundationrepair.com. So that's a great place to go to get basic information, or they're always welcome to call my office. Um 972-417-0823 is my office number. And if I'm not in, um, I'll be happy to call them back and discuss their questions or their property, what concerns they have. And then, of course, if they want to book a consultation, I'm happy to go see them.

SPEAKER_02 8:34

Well, Julie, I really appreciate you being on the show today. We wish you and your business the best moving forward.

SPEAKER_01 8:43

Thank you very much.

Nominate A Local Business

SPEAKER_00 8:45

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gmpfrisco.com. That's gmpfrisco.com or call 469 221 9345.