Straight answers about your house.
Friendly, independent advice from a licensed Professional Engineer to help you understand what’s happening with your house, get clear answers, and decide what to do next.
Does any of this sound familiar?
House concerns come up in different ways. These are some of the most common situations where independent engineering advice can help.
Homeowners
Something about the house does not look right and you want to know how serious it is.
- Cracks, movement, settlement, or sagging floors
- Water getting into the basement or crawl space
- Storm damage you need evaluated
- Construction work that does not look right
- Foundation repair bids that disagree with each other
- A second opinion on an insurance company's engineering report
- Deciding whether to repair, monitor, or leave it alone
Home buyers
You need a question answered before the deal moves forward.
- Your home inspector flagged the foundation or structure
- Something you noticed at the showing is bothering you
- A concern that could affect price or negotiation
- An appraiser or lender is asking for more information
- An underwriter wants a Professional Engineer's opinion
- A manufactured house that needs an engineer's opinion for financing
Home sellers
You want to get ahead of a problem before it costs you a buyer.
- Understanding a known or suspected foundation issue before listing
- Documenting the condition of the house for disclosure
- Resolving a concern a buyer's inspector already raised
- Water, storm, or construction issues you may need to address
- A defined scope of work so contractor bids are comparable
No conflict of interest. Licensed professionals.
We do not sell repairs, take referral fees, or profit from anything we recommend. We only work for you, the client.
We listen first
- Discuss your concerns and the history of the house
- Talk with owners, occupants, agents, or anyone else with useful context
- You are welcome to have your agent, contractor, or family there
We look at the house
- Observe readily accessible and visible areas
- Observe visible foundation and structural components
- Evaluate condition and performance
- Look for signs of movement, damage, water, or construction concerns
We review your documentation
- Home inspection reports
- Contractor proposals and estimates
- Appraisals and lender or underwriter requirements
- Prior engineering reports, photographs, and other documentation
We give you answers
- Explain what we observe in plain language
- Answer your questions
- Discuss practical next steps
- We write a report if desired
Simple, upfront pricing
$300 or $600? You decide if you need a written report. The on-site consultation is $300. Add a written report for a total of $600. Additional fees may apply for travel or difficult access.
On-Site Consultation with Verbal Report
$300
Often this is all you need. Payment is made on site.
- On-site consultation
- Discussion of your concerns
- Review of visible and accessible areas
- Review of relevant existing documentation when available
- Professional opinion, delivered verbally
- Questions and answers
- Practical next-step guidance
On-Site Consultation with Written Report
$600
Reports are often delivered the following day, though timing varies. Delivered by email after payment.
- Everything in the verbal consultation
- Written documentation of the professional opinion
- Useful for real estate transactions and negotiations
- Useful for lender or underwriter requirements
- Useful for documenting condition before a sale
- Useful for insurance situations and disputes
- Creates a defined scope of work so bids are comparable
Not sure which one you need? Start with the verbal consultation and decide about the written report once you have heard what we found.
How it works
Book online
Pick a time that works for you. No phone tag, no waiting for a callback.
Meet on site
We meet at the house, talk through your concerns, review what you have, and look at the visible and accessible areas.
Get clear answers
We explain what we see, answer your questions, and give you practical professional advice you can act on.
Choose your reporting option
Stay with the $300 verbal consultation, or add the written report for $600. You can decide during the visit.
Booking is online so you are not waiting on a callback. Questions before you book? questions@prairieriverengineering.com
What is and is not included
Included
- Assess foundation and structural condition and performance
- Assess a specific item of concern that you have questions about
- Evaluate visible and accessible areas
- Review relevant documents and contractor recommendations
- Explain what we observe and what your options are
- Provide a verbal or written professional opinion
Not included
- Destructive testing or opening walls and finishes
- Soil investigations
- Code-compliance review, because our focus is on condition and performance
- Litigation support services
- Selling or profiting from repair work or recommendations
Why people call us
A licensed Professional Engineer
Every assessment is performed by a state-licensed Professional Engineer.
Independent by design
We have no financial interest in repair work. We are paid for advice, not for what we recommend.
Built for residential clients
Friendly engineering services designed for houses and the people who live in them, not just large commercial projects.
Clear, upfront pricing
$300 verbal, $600 written. You know the cost before you book.
Serving clients since 2015
Proudly serving clients in Lawrence, Kansas and beyond since 2015.
5-star Google rating
We have worked hard for our clients and the results speak for themselves.
A word from Will
“I founded Prairie River Engineering & Inspection to bring practical engineering judgment to everyday house concerns and give people trusted professional advice they can rely on.”
William Barnhart, P.E.
What clients say
We have worked hard for our clients and the results speak for themselves.
“A lifesaver. Same day I called. So professional, friendly, and an amazing job.”
Emie S.
“We wanted an independent third party, ideally a trained structural engineer, to evaluate things.”
Austin M.
“I learned more about our house in less than an hour than I could have in years on my own.”
Colin H.
“Patiently explained everything and generously taught us along the way.”
Christin B.
“I received a thorough verbal report at the time of the visit and every question was answered.”
Sarah P.
“I have had inspections before where they were in and out in 30 minutes. This was not that.”
Katherine C.
Common questions
What can a Professional Engineer do for a house?
We can assess the conditions of the house and help answer your questions and concerns plus help you to figure out the next steps to take, if any are required.
How much does an engineering evaluation cost?
An on-site consultation with a verbal professional opinion is $300, payable on site. Adding a written report is $600 total. You can decide about the written report during or after the visit.
How soon can you come out?
Book an On-site Consultation using the button above. For locations farther than the Topeka-Lawrence-Kansas City corridor, book at least a week out and we'll let you know if we can serve your project location.
What areas do you serve?
Lawrence, Topeka, Kansas City, and the surrounding corridor, including Douglas, Shawnee, Jefferson, Franklin, Leavenworth, Johnson, and Wyandotte counties. We also serve the Kansas City, MO metro area.
Is a Professional Engineer the same as a home inspector?
No. A home inspector reviews the whole house at a general level. A Professional Engineer is licensed to give a professional opinion based on their training and experience for many scenarios in which lenders, underwriters, insurers, and buyers often require.
Do you sell contractor repairs?
No. We have no financial interest in repair work and take no referral fees. You are paying for an independent professional opinion.
Will I get a written report?
Only if you want one. Many people need nothing more than the verbal opinion. Written reports are typically delivered by email soon after the visit and are useful for transactions, lenders, insurance, and comparing contractor bids.
Where we work
We serve the Topeka to Lawrence to Kansas City corridor. Is your project located outside of this area? Book out at least a week and we will be in touch to confirm if we can serve you.