Winter is fast approaching. If you’re a homeowner, now is the time to make sure your home is ready for the long, cold days ahead. One of the most important parts of home maintenance is making sure your roof is ready for whatever weather conditions you may encounter.
If your roof needs a little TLC, you’ll need to hire a professional roofing contractor. But how do you choose the right roofing company for your needs?
Essentials: what you need to know before requesting a quote
While price is often the determining factor in choosing a specialist, there are a few things to ask before getting a quote.
• Does this contractor have all the necessary licenses and permits for your area? If you are not sure what the requirements are, contact your local licensing board or the Department of Professional Regulation.
• Is this a legitimate company? This is important! There are many scams that involve the services of fake contractors. You may end up with a mediocre ceiling or spend more money to correct amateur mistakes. Ask for the company’s physical address, phone numbers, email addresses, or even their tax identification numbers. You can then use that information to check with your local Better Business Bureau to verify its legitimacy.
• Does the roofing company in question have current liability and workers’ compensation insurance? If a worker is injured while working on his property, he could be liable if his company is not properly insured. Not all areas require the contractor to have this type of insurance, but he may feel more comfortable choosing one that does.
• Ask for some references. Don’t be afraid to call or contact past customers and find out what their experiences were with roofing specialists. The first-person experience can save a lot of time and headaches.
How to get the most out of your quotes
Once you have contacted and researched at least 3 companies, you can start collecting and evaluating quotes.
• Request quotes in writing. This will help avoid misunderstandings or last minute charges.
• Ask for and be sure you understand any warranty information.
• Be sure to ask how long the project will take, how many workers are expected, hours of work, safety issues, and who is responsible for cleanup.
• Know what is and is not included in your contract. Specifically, you’ll want to know what fees and warranties you may be responsible for and what services are included in the price of your quote. While it can be tempting to go with the lowest priced contractor, you may end up paying more in the long run if your contract doesn’t cover certain fees and licenses.
• You’ll want to have any questions or concerns addressed before you agree to a contract to avoid confusion later.
Once you have received and reviewed the quote information from at least 3 companies, you can confidently choose the best roofing contractor for your needs.