# What to Document Before a Foundation Evaluation > Prepare useful records for an evaluation: photos of observations, a timeline, prior repairs and warranties, and plumbing history. URL: https://austinfoundationrepair.net/guide/what-to-document-before-a-foundation-evaluation/ Last-Modified: 2026-09-16 Decision guide # What to Document Before a Foundation Evaluation Prepare useful records for an evaluation: photos of observations, a timeline, prior repairs and warranties, and plumbing history. Published September 16, 2026 · 4 min read ![Homeowner photographing a wall crack with a phone while holding a notepad](/images/featured/homeowner-photographing-a-wall-crack-with-a-phone-.webp) ## Why preparation changes the outcome An evaluator arriving at your house can measure what is happening today. What they cannot see is what happened over the last three years, and that is frequently the most informative thing about your situation. You are the only person who can supply it. Half an hour of preparation genuinely improves the quality of a foundation evaluation [/foundation-evaluation/ →](/foundation-evaluation/) , and it costs nothing. ## Photograph the observations Every crack, gap, sticking door and uneven area. Include something in frame for scale, a coin or a tape measure. Note which room or which exterior elevation each one is on, because photographs get confusing fast once there are more than a few. ![Coin held beside a hairline wall crack for scale while a phone camera frames the shot](/images/content/coin-held-beside-a-hairline-wall-crack-for-scale-w.webp) Photograph the outside too: the perimeter, where downspouts discharge, any soil pulled away from the slab edge, cracking in brick veneer, porch or patio separation, and the garage door frame. If you have older photographs that happen to show a wall or an exterior elevation from before the change, those are gold. Family photographs taken in a room often capture a doorway or a wall line incidentally. ## Build a timeline For each observation, write down roughly when you first noticed it and whether it has changed since. Approximate is fine; “last summer” is far more useful than nothing. Then note what else happened around those times: - Extended drought or unusually heavy rain - A tree removed, planted or that died - New patio, driveway, path or deck - Re-grading, new beds, changed landscaping - Irrigation installed or altered - Plumbing work, or any suspected leak - An addition or a remodel - A neighbouring property doing construction or excavation ![Folder of home records, receipts and printed photographs spread across a kitchen table](/images/content/folder-of-home-records-receipts-and-printed-photog.webp) ## Gather the paperwork | Document | Why it matters | | --- | --- | | Prior foundation repair scope and invoices | Tells us what was addressed and where | | Any engineering report | Independent professional record of an earlier condition | | Warranty documents | Coverage may still apply, and transfer terms matter | | Permits and inspection records | Regulatory history of past work | | Plumbing service records | Leaks, repairs, camera inspections | | Previous elevation readings | The single most useful comparison available | | Seller disclosure, if you bought recently | What was declared at purchase | If you are buying rather than already owning, our guide on buying a home with foundation repairs [/guide/buying-a-home-with-foundation-repairs/ →](/guide/buying-a-home-with-foundation-repairs/) covers what to request from a seller. ## Check a few things yourself Walk the perimeter after rain and note where water pools and which way the ground falls. Look at whether downspouts discharge at the wall or away from it. Check whether soil or mulch sits above the slab edge anywhere. If you have a crawlspace, open the hatch and shine a torch in. Note whether the soil looks damp, whether there is standing water, and whether you can see a vapour retarder. Do not crawl in if access is tight or uncertain; a look from the opening is enough to be useful. > **Clear access before the appointment** > > Interior access to the main living areas and a clear path around the perimeter. If you have a crawlspace hatch, make sure it can actually be opened. Appointments get shortened by blocked access more often than by anything else. ## What to tell us at the start of the visit The one observation that worries you most, and why. Whether anything has changed recently or suddenly. Whether you are planning to sell, buy, refinance or remodel, because that affects whether an independent engineering opinion is worth considering. And whether you have already had quotes. Knowing what has been proposed elsewhere lets us address the differences directly rather than talking past them. To see how that preparation is used on the day, read what a foundation evaluation examines [/guide/what-a-foundation-evaluation-examines/ →](/guide/what-a-foundation-evaluation-examines/) . ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What should I photograph? Every crack, gap, sticking door and uneven area, with something in frame for scale and a note of which room or elevation it is on. Also photograph the exterior perimeter, downspout discharge points, and any area where soil has pulled away from the slab edge. ### Why does a timeline help? Because progression is the most useful thing to know and the hardest to establish from a single visit. Knowing that a crack appeared last August and widened this July tells an evaluator far more than the crack itself does. ### Should I fill cracks before the visit? No. A filled crack hides the cue, makes width and displacement impossible to assess, and removes any chance of judging progression. Leave everything as it is until after the assessment. ## Related Guides ### Contractor Evaluation vs. Engineering Assessment How a contractor evaluation differs from a licensed engineer's assessment, and when an engineering opinion is appropriate. [Contractor Evaluation vs. Engineering Assessment →](/guide/contractor-evaluation-vs-engineering-assessment/) ### Foundation Drainage and Grading: What an Assessment Considers Drainage and grading's role in foundation stability: surface grading, French drains and swales, downspouts and moisture control. [Foundation Drainage and Grading: What an Assessment Considers →](/guide/foundation-drainage-and-grading-assessment/) ### Under-Slab Plumbing Leaks and Hydrostatic Testing How under-slab plumbing leaks can cause movement, how hydrostatic and isolation testing works, and why it is part of an evaluation. [Under-Slab Plumbing Leaks and Hydrostatic Testing →](/guide/under-slab-plumbing-leaks-and-hydrostatic-testing/) ### What a Foundation Evaluation Examines and Who Attends The evaluation process: elevation mapping with a digital manometer, drainage review, repair history, deliverables and next steps. [What a Foundation Evaluation Examines and Who Attends →](/guide/what-a-foundation-evaluation-examines/) ## Learn more about Foundation Evaluation If this guide raised a question about your own property, the foundation evaluation page explains what we look at and what happens after an enquiry. Foundation Evaluation [/foundation-evaluation/ →](/foundation-evaluation/) Request a Quote [/request-quote/ →](/request-quote/)