Going through the process of vetting prospective roofing contractors can be a daunting task. A lot of homeowners even push off roof renovation projects because they simply don’t want to go through the trouble of searching, vetting, and ultimately choosing a roofer.
Fortunately, we’re here to help. The process isn’t nearly as difficult when you know what to look for, what questions to ask, and what warning signs to be cautious of. In fact, we think it can even be pretty straightforward and simple.
That’s why we’ve put together a checklist that helps explain how to choose the right roofing contractor for your home. This checklist identifies several key elements you should consider as you start looking for a roofing company that will do quality work.
Customer Reviews & Company Reputation
If you start your roofing contractor search online, then reviewing customer feedback is going to be one of the most crucial steps in your pursuit. Online reviews of a company will give you great insight that explains how previous customers who have already done business with the contractor feel about the work done to their home.
There are numerous places where you can find reviews of a company, but here’s a short list to help you get started.
- Google
- Simply google the business name of the company you’re interested in and their Google My Business listing should appear. This listing will display reviews (if they have any) as well as a rating out of 5 stars.
- Angie’s List
- Yelp
We recommend looking at reviews on these third party websites in the event that a company has cherry-picked reviews to display on their own website. Going to multiple sites will give you a comprehensive overview of their reputation with past clients.
Total Years In Business
A business’s longevity can say a lot about their quality of work and the level of service they deliver. If they’ve been around for several decades, for example, there’s a good chance they’ve earned the trust of their community and cemented themselves as a preferred residential contractor in the area.
As you’re shopping around, make sure to check in on each contractor’s company establishment date. If you can’t easily find this date on their website, you can either ask a company representative or try to find them in your state’s business entity search that should display their formation date.
Proof Of Insurance
Insurance is meant to protect both you and the contractor from having to pay out of pocket for inconvenient and, sometimes, tragic events. Insurance is incredibly important when vetting roofing contractors and you’ll want to make sure your roofer is insured to avoid paying for a costly accident.
Generally speaking, your roofing contractor should have both general liability insurance and workman’s compensation insurance.
- General liability insurance covers any mishaps that may happen on your property. This includes property damage like a fire, flood, or small accidents like a hole in the wall.
- Workman’s compensation covers injuries to employees on the jobsite performing the work.
Make sure to ask your potential roofing company whether or not they have insurance, and what kind of insurance they have, prior to signing a contract with them.
Licensed In Your State
Contractor licenses are issued through each state and the standards are different everywhere. HomeAdvisor has a great online resource that helps you identify the different types of licenses and certifications as well as what’s required per each state.
The key here is to make sure that the company you move forward with meets the state requirements and they can legally perform work on your behalf. If they don’t, it’s possible that you may face fines or the roofing project may need to be removed after completion.
Be Aware Of Shady Contractor Warning Signs
The last thing that we want to make sure you’re aware of as you begin looking around for a contractor are some shady practices that we’ve seen over the years. This list ranges from high-pressure sales tactics to downright rude behavior that has become a common problem in the roofing industry.
- Quote you a really high price and magically come down, stating that it’s a great deal
- Make you feel guilty in some fashion
- Manipulation tactics like telling you that you don’t need to consult your partner
- Making outlandish promises that aren’t realistic
- Requesting the full price of a project upfront
- Rushing you through the contract signing process, not giving you time to read through important details
If you start to notice some of these tactics, take a deep breath, step back mentally, and evaluate the situation. You do not need to sign anything on the spot and pinhole yourself into a bad situation. Firmly tell the contractor, “no thanks,” and send them on their way.
Final Thoughts
When you set out to choose a roofing contractor for your home, you want to make sure that you get it right. After all, your roof is a big investment that protects the foundation or your home or building as well as your family inside.
Take your time during this process and use our hiring a roofing contractor checklist to guide you through each step.
As always, if you’re in our area and you’re looking for a quote, we’re more than happy to come out and give you a free estimate.