1. Observe first
Start by documenting symptoms at the Macon property, limiting further damage where it's safe, and collecting relevant history.
2. Read the house as a system
Macon straddles the Fall Line on the Ocmulgee, so the Piedmont clay that holds up the hillside neighborhoods thins into sandy Coastal Plain soil as the ground drops toward downtown -- two very different foundations depending on which side of that line a house sits.
3. Put it in writing
Materials, access, permits, testing, cleanup, and exclusions all belong in a Macon scope before signing.
4. Weigh the proposals
For Macon bids, verify credentials and compare reasoning and boundaries, not just the total.
5. Confirm before calling it done
For a Macon project, confirm testing, cleanup, documentation, and any remaining maintenance responsibilities.