The average homeowner spends an average of $7,000 to replace their roof.
However, sometimes you don’t need to spend all that money to get a brand new roof, you just need to fix the current one.
That’s when you hire a roofing company to come in and repair it.
If you are in need of a roofer, there are certain things to do. Keep reading to learn how to find and hire a roofing company.
Table of Contents
Don’t Just Check for the Lowest Price
When you’re searching for roofing companies, you should look for things other than just the price.
Just because a company offers a cheaper rate doesn’t mean that they’re going to be better quality. People with a lower cost may not be paying for the proper insurance or the right amount of overhead.
You should compare prices, yes, but you should also look at other factors before you commit to a company.
Shop Around
With that being said, you should also shop around for residential roofers and compare prices.
You can call other roofing companies and get their quote for each one. You should interview at least three of them before you make your final decision.
You can let them know that you’re looking at other ones to possibly get a better deal.
If the bids are too high, you might end up spending too much money on a project that shouldn’t have cost you that much.
Check to See If They Have Insurance
Before you hire a company, you should check and make sure that they have insurance for their company.
Most states require them to have it, but some contractors still try to get away with not having it.
If a company doesn’t have insurance, you may end up having to pay for some of the costs if one of their employees gets injured while working on your house.
Research Their Credentials
You should also research their credentials before you hire them.
Make sure that they are licensed and ask them for documentation if you can’t find it anywhere. Some states require them to be licensed and some of them don’t.
Find a Local Roofing Company
You probably want to start your search by just trying to find a local roofing company.
If the roofing company is local, that means that they have been established for a while and have good ties with the community. That also means that you can get easy references from people in the area.
You want to make sure that the company is legit and has been there for a while. If not, you could have something bad happen to your roof later on. If it’s covered by warranty, you want to make sure the company will still be there to fulfill that warranty.
Make Sure There are Contracts in Writing
When you do find a company that you want to hire, make sure that they have a contract in writing. You both should sign it, and this contract will legally bind both of you to an agreement.
Try not to pay for the work until the job is actually done. You should be completely satisfied with the job done. If you are satisfied, then you can pay the agreed amount of money in the contract.
The contract helps you make sure that all the work gets done and makes sure that the company gets their money.
When there is a contract, make sure that you read it over carefully. If it is a professional, legit roofing company they shouldn’t be annoyed that you take your time to read and understand it.
If you don’t understand any part of the contract, let them know and then they should explain it to you.
You should also have a warranty in writing. Most warranties are for five years, but the materials used on the roof may have a longer warranty.
Check for Communication
When trying to find a company to hire, you should also take note of how well they are at communicating.
Do they answer and return your calls in a fashionable manner, or do they ignore you and not return your calls. A professional company will make sure that they keep in contact with you.
If the company isn’t very good at communicating after a few interactions, you should probably find a new company.
Be Wary of Contractors After a Storm
After a storm, some companies will try and go door-to-door trying to sell people their business. They will say that they were just in the neighborhood and noticed that your roof needed repairs.
However, you shouldn’t normally hire these people. You should try and find a roofer who was used by a trusted friend or family member.
These salesmen will try to get you to sign a letter or contract to give you their work, but you shouldn’t give in to the pressure.
Ask for References
At the end of the day, the best way to find a new roofing company is to ask your friends and family if they would recommend a good company.
You may get different companies recommended, and you can start researching those from there.
If you find a company that no one recommended, make sure that you ask the company if they can provide any references. Make sure that you contact the references and ask them all of the questions you have.
Hire a Roofing Company Today!
Hiring a roofing company can be a big commitment, so that’s why it’s important to follow these tips to make sure that you find the best one.
Fixing your roof is only one of the many home improvement projects you can take on.
To find out how else to improve your home, make sure you check out some of the other blog posts on my website!
