A caved in roof? Missing shingles? The roof starting to erode? Whatever the case, it is important to begin finding the right roofing contractor to remedy the problems almost immediately.
But how do you locate the best possible roofing contractor in this city? You may have lived in your home for 30-plus years or you may have moved in several months ago, but we all know that the lifespan of rooftops is limited, and they need a repair or full-blown replacement once in a while. As long as you take care of it as early as possible you shouldn’t need to worry too much.
Interestingly enough, the biggest hurdle may not necessarily be fixing the rooftop, but finding a suitable, affordable and reliable roofing contractor. Don’t worry, we have you covered!
Here are five tips for selecting the right roofing contractor:
1. Utilize Local Referrals
Do you know someone in your neighbourhood who has recently repaired or replaced their rooftop? Is there a well-known roofing contractor in your area?
When you’re on the hunt for a dependable roofing contractor, one of the best things you can do is to seek out local referrals. This could be from a neighbour, a sign in the neighbourhood, a business recommendation and the like.
2. They Should be Licensed & Insured
Every contractor you come across should be fully licensed and insured. Ditto for roofing experts.
Once you begin looking for the right roofing contractor, you need to ensure that they have insurance coverage. Should they not have any, then you could be at risk for a wide array of potential damages to your property or even personal injury.
If they aren’t licensed and insured, then it’s time to move on.
3. Be a Digital Hound – Snoop Online
Launch your web browser, head to your favourite search engine and type in the roofing contractors you’re most interested in. You should hone in on Yelp, Google Reviews and social media. These are outlets that can play important roles in your final decision-making.
4. Are There Subcontractors Involved at All?
A common risk among homeowners is that when they hire a contractor, they may have to deal with subcontractors, which means then the job will depend on the efficacy of subcontractors, who may also contract out certain tasks.
You want to avoid this at all costs. When you’re hiring a roofing contractor, you only want to deal with that individual or team, not a dozen other people. You must verify that they are the only ones performing the job.
5. You Must Request Everything in Writing
Another common mistake that many customers make is that they do not request everything in writing from the beginning to end; they will just receive a receipt at the end of the job.
Like working with subcontractors, you want to avoid this as much as possible.
From the moment, you tap the services of a roofing contract, you should demand a written quote, a written contract, a written estimate and a written deposit. Once these elements are in your hands, you should review the details thoroughly and carefully and put forward any questions or concerns you may have. When everything is in writing, you are protected and the contractor is protected.
Let’s be honest: one of the worst things that could happen to your home is a dilapidated roof: caved in, collapse, holes, falling shingles and the list goes on. Not only is this a terrible event, it can also set you back a pretty penny (or nickel), which usually happens at the worst time.
When you’re in the market for a roofing contractor, you will likely concentrate on the price. But there are so many other characteristics you should focus on: reliability, trustworthiness, experience, insurance and, of course, the price.
