There are smart and not-so-smart ways of finding a good roofer. If you have never dealt with a roofer before, knowing what or who to look for might be quite problematic. Obviously, you ought to be smart about it by following the right procedure. The not-so-smart ways are not worth your time. The roof is an important part of your home; hence, the importance of choosing a good roofer to work on it the right way.
The following are the three smart ways of finding a good roofer:
Trust Referrals
Asking for a referral is a highly recommended step. Talk with your friends, relatives, and neighbors for information on good local roofers. Ask these people to share the experience they had with each roofer with you. If your friends, relatives, and neighbors do not have any helpful information to share with you, talk with your mortgage lender or realtor. Obtain information from professionals who work in the real estate sector too.
Shop Around
Shopping around is a smart move on your part. The fact that a friend or relative gives you the name and contact details of a good roofer is not enough to make you stop shopping around. Ask as many roofers as possible to send estimates for the work you want them to do. Compare the estimates and other attributes too. Where appropriate, check the reputation of each roofer within the roofing industry. Check this information on customer review sites too.
Check Insurance and Licensing
The roofer’s status where insurance and licensing are concerned is worth checking. A good roofer is insured and properly licensed. Ask the roofer for proof of insurance and licensing. Once you have the information, authenticate it with the insurance company and relevant licensing authorities. A roofer who is unwilling to share this information with you is not worth hiring for any roofing project because of the problems this has the potential of causing.
The following are the three not-so-smart ways of finding a good roofer:
Poor Communication
A roofer who is unable to communicate well is not worth hiring. You need as a much detailed explanation of the project as possible. You need the roofer to break down the information and complex terms to you for easy understanding. This would be impossible if the roofer cannot communicate and express himself properly. Signing a contract with a roofer who struggles to communicate properly would be an unwise move on your part.
No Guarantees, No Warranties
A roofer who does not guarantee his work is not worth hiring. If you hire such a roofer, there would be nobody to blame except you in case he does a poor job. Warranties and guarantees are important in the roofing industry. Avoid hiring roofers who rush through the job instead of focusing on quality and exceeding customer expectation. It is unwise of you to hire a roofer who does not believe in customer satisfaction.
Failure to Negotiate Price
Failure to negotiate and agree on the price beforehand is a not-so-smart way of finding and hiring a roofer. Choose a roofer whose rates does not exceed your budget. A good roofer respects the fact that you have a budget. For this reason, you should feel free to negotiate the best deal. Bargain until the two of you reach an agreement. Use the estimates you obtained from different roofers as leverage to get the best deal.
Based on the three smart and not-so-smart ways of finding a good roofer listed above, you now know what to do or not to do. Finding and hiring a good roofer has its own list of do’s and don’ts that you must respect and follow. It is better to be smart with any approach you take. It could be the difference between success and failure when searching for the best roofing professional. The approach you take could save you money or lead to losses.
