We all know that roofing is a big job. That’s why it’s important to hire the right roofer for the job. Unfortunately, there are many roofers out there who will tell you anything just to get the contract; these contractors often provide poor quality work and charge too much money. This blog post discusses 10 tips for hiring roofing contractor so you can avoid bad roofers and find one with great customer service!
1. Ask for Referrals
The best way to find a roofer with great customer service is by asking for referrals. It’s easy to find out who the best roofers are in your area – all you have to do is ask! Talk with family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers about which roofing contractors they’ve used before. If they had good experiences with their roofs or gutters, then chances are that they can recommend a reliable contractor.
2. Ask Questions!
Once you get some names of professional roofing companies, it’s time to give them a call and interview them over the phone! Don’t be afraid to ask questions either — it shows you’re interested in hiring quality people so the job gets done right. Here are some questions that you might want to ask:
- How long have you been in business?
- Can you provide references?
- What kind of warranties do your work and/or materials come with?
- If I hire you, what is the first step we should take? (This shows you their process and how organized they are)
- Do you charge for an initial consultation or visit? (Find out before scheduling — some contractors will charge but others won’t!)
3. Don’t be Afraid to Negotiate!
When negotiating with roofers, don’t just pick the one that charges the lowest price! You should consider more than just money when choosing a contractor because once they’re on your roof, they’re your responsibility! Remember that the lowest price doesn’t always equal the best service!
4. Ask for References and Call Them
Now that you’ve picked out a couple potential contractors, it’s time to follow up with them and schedule some visits! When they come to your house for their initial consultation, make sure to ask for references — both from people who live in your town as well as those who live further away. This way you can show their previous customers that you care about quality; it also helps if other people are satisfied with the contractor too because then you know they’re honest. Once you get these references, call them up to see what they thought of the work that was done. Were there any problems? If so, how did the roofer deal with them? What was their overall experience with the contractor like?
5. Get Everything in Writing!
Once you choose a roofing company, make sure to get everything in writing! This includes both services and costs. Some contractors will say they offer a low price but then charge extra for certain services — therefore, you always want to have things set out for what is included in that low price before signing any contracts or paying anything. This also ensures that you’re not being overcharged because if there’s something that wasn’t part of your original agreement, it should be listed in the contract!
6. Check Insurance and Licenses
Once you’ve found a contractor, don’t just hire them without doing a background check! While this might not be necessary for every roofer, many homeowners prefer to hire someone with insurance because it shows that they’re responsible and have nothing to hide. Additionally, make sure your contractor is licensed in the state you live in — if they aren’t, don’t work with them!
7. Meet the Team
When you’re choosing a roofing contractor, it’s important to meet their team! Even though you might not be able to sit down with every member of the company, at least look around and see how many employees they have. This can give you an idea of just how big (or small) their business is. Plus, if something goes wrong during the installation process, there should be enough people on staff to fix any problems that pop up.
8. Check References Again
Even though your roofer provides references upon request, make sure to check them again before signing any contracts — especially now that you’ve talked with them over the phone! The tone in someone’s voice as well as what they say can tell you a lot more about who they are as a person — make sure to pay attention during your conversations with them.
9. If Something Goes Wrong, Act Fast!
If something goes wrong after the new roof has been installed, don’t wait to act! You need to keep in mind that most contractors have many clients at any given time, which means their priority will be on other jobs before yours. So if you want something fixed right away, it’s best for you to take care of it yourself or hire someone else who can. On the same note, if something goes wrong immediately after the job is finished (i.e., leaks), notify your contractor right away so they can fix it no matter how minor the problem might seem!
10. Follow Up!
Finally, the last tip for hiring a roofing company is to make sure you follow up with them after the job has been finished! This means checking in every couple of days or weeks to ensure that everything has been done properly and there are no problems. Plus, it helps show how responsible you are as a consumer and also makes sure that you’re not forgetting anything before closing this chapter of your life (and handing over payment!).
