Free Brace and Bolt Grant Checklist for Homeowners

A brace-and-bolt project often starts with the same problem: paperwork, photos, and contractor questions are spread across text messages, emails, and notes. This checklist gives you one place to track the home details, documents, and questions people commonly collect before moving forward.

It can also help you avoid rushed decisions. When you have the same information ready for each contractor, it is easier to compare scope, timeline, and price in writing. If you want a broader starting point first, see the home risk checklist or browse all homeowner tools at /tools/.

This worksheet does not tell you whether your home qualifies for any specific retrofit or grant. A licensed contractor or engineer can confirm what applies after reviewing the property.

The checklist is designed as a practical worksheet, not a technical report. It helps you prepare for next steps without guessing about construction details.

Inside, you can expect space to organize:

• basic home information such as address, year built, and foundation type if known
• notes about crawl space access, cripple walls, and visible conditions you want to ask about
• a document list for photos, prior permits, inspection records, and contractor estimates
• grant-related reminders so you can check public program rules for your area
• comparison questions to ask each contractor using the same format
• a final notes section for bids, timelines, and follow-up items

If you want a second worksheet for contractor conversations, the retrofit question pack can help you prepare your questions.

This checklist may be useful if you own an older house, have been told to look into brace-and-bolt work, or simply want to prepare before contacting local contractors. It is also helpful for homeowners who prefer to keep records in writing, including families comparing several bids.

It can be especially useful for first-time homeowners, busy households, and people reading in a second language who want a simple list to follow step by step. The goal is to make the process easier to manage, not to replace a site visit.

If you are not sure where to begin, you can use the checklist first and then get matched, free with local contractors who can review your home.

Start by filling in only what you already know. You do not need every answer on day one. A partial checklist is still useful if it helps you ask clearer questions and keep your records together.

A simple way to use it is:

1. gather photos, past paperwork, and any old contractor notes
2. fill in the home details section with known facts only
3. use the comparison questions when speaking with licensed contractors
4. save written estimates, scope details, and follow-up answers in one folder

When you compare bids, focus on whether each contractor is describing the same work. Confirm the scope, materials, timeline, and price in writing, and verify the contractor's license, bond, and insurance yourself before hiring.

The most helpful starting point is basic property information. If available, gather the year the home was built, the street address, any permit history you have, and a few clear photos of the exterior, foundation area, and crawl space access.

You can also note anything you have observed, such as sloping floors, cracks, moisture, or limited access under the house. These notes do not prove what work is needed, but they can help a contractor understand your questions before an on-site review.

Useful items to collect first include:

• recent photos of the foundation perimeter and crawl space entry
• prior inspection reports or engineering reports, if you have them
• old estimates or invoices from past foundation or seismic work
• HOA rules or local permit correspondence, if relevant

If you cannot access the crawl space safely, do not guess. A licensed professional can inspect and confirm the conditions.

Good comparison questions can save time and reduce confusion. The checklist gives you a place to ask each contractor the same basics so you can compare their answers more fairly.

Helpful questions include:

• What work do you recommend, and what is included in the written scope?
• What permits, inspections, or engineering, if any, might be needed?
• What is the typical timeline from contract to completion?
• What assumptions are built into the estimate?
• How do you handle change orders if hidden conditions are found?
• What cleanup, access, and scheduling issues should I expect?

Costs vary by home, access, and scope. For some qualifying brace-and-bolt jobs, homeowners may hear rough project ranges in the low thousands to several thousands of dollars, but those are only illustrative ranges. A contractor can confirm the actual scope and price for your property after reviewing the site.

Some homeowners may be able to apply for public hazard-mitigation funding, depending on location, program rules, income limits, and home type. In California, you can check whether you qualify for the Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) program, which may offer up to about $3,000 toward qualifying retrofit work. In some areas, FEMA-supported hazard-mitigation grant programs may also exist.

This checklist includes reminders for tracking the documents and timing that grant applications often ask for. It does not mean you qualify, and it does not guarantee approval or reimbursement.

Before signing a contract, ask the contractor whether they are familiar with the program requirements you are considering, and always confirm the current rules directly with the public program.