Moving into your first home is such a great experience simply because you feel more grown up than ever (parenthood aside). While the exhilaration of this rite of passage may be what makes each packing case easier to transport, it’s things like advanced base repair that may be the cold water in your face that you don’t want to think about. . Who would blame you, right?

Furthermore, your base serves as the foundation of your home. The largest material investment of your life is supported by the foundation, so its health should be a priority in your life. However, for whatever reason, it usually isn’t until something comes up that demands your immediate attention. It is this cycle of procrastination that needs to be broken, and it starts with you.

Let’s face it: You’re probably not a home repair wizard who can handle just about any repair needed on the old house. However, you’re probably good at spotting things that seem out of place, and this little skill may be the best tool for tackling the tricky world of advanced foundation repair.

If you see these three signs (any one or all of them), advanced foundation repair is in your immediate future:

Sloping and uneven floors – Walk around your house and see if you notice any places where the floor slopes or feels uneven under your feet. Use a simple ball to find hard-to-see highs and lows. Also, take a walk outside and see if your house may be showing signs of a slope.

Problems opening/closing doors and windows – Doors are often quickly detected as difficult to open or close, but with so much reliance on HVAC systems, opening and closing windows doesn’t happen as often. Take the time to check them out, and you’ll surely know something is wrong if you see cracks in the glass.

Noticeable cracks greater than 1/4″ thick – Everyone has heard the old saying, “Oh, that’s just housekeeping.” It is often considered to be no big deal and helps explain strange noises in your home. While some cracks can occur as a result of a house settling into the ground below it a bit, you should be sure to look at the width of the cracks. If it’s above the 1/4″ marks, that’s not settling, that’s foundation movement and not acting quickly can have consequences.

Advanced foundation repair, if you’re lucky, won’t be something you’ll have to deal with early in your life as a homeowner. That said, home foundation problems are different from home to home, so it’s imperative to be a proactive homeowner and look for warning signs. Being able to see when something may be on the horizon can get an amazing foundation repair company on the premises early. Failure to do so can mean more expensive repairs in the future.