When you have a roof leak or you're in need of a roofing repair, you might be very apprehensive and concerned when you begin the process of trying to find a reputable roofing contractor.
And you have good reason to be concerned.
After all, there's no shortage of horror stories out there from Matthews homeowners who were unlucky enough to select the wrong roofing contractor.
And let's face it, while you might already have a favorite landscaper or small repair contractor, there's a good chance that you don't have a favorite roofing contractor in your address file.
Hiring the right roofing contractor is an act of faith.
Even with lots of research, this kind of decision can be nerve wracking.
So what's the best way to help you spot a bad roofing contractor? Consider the following tips.
You get what you pay for.
Your roof protects everything that is near and dear to you. If you cut corners and select a roofing contractor based on price only, there's a good chance you'll be sorry you did. And whatever savings you thought you were going to get will quickly evaporate if roofing installation problems surface after the fact.
Check for verifiable reviews, references, and credentials.
Ask any contractor you're considering to provide links to online reviews, reference phone numbers, as well as their Better Business Bureau and Angie's list profiles. Take the time to call those references and ask them in-depth questions about the quality of the roofing materials and workmanship that customer experienced. Don't rule out a company you're considering just because you see a bad review. Take the time to read the company's response to the bad review to ensure that you get a complete picture of the dispute in question.
Look to see what kind of online presence the contractor has.
Locate the company's website, their business listings on Google and Bing, and find all of their social media accounts. A company that does not have a meaningful online presence could be brand new or it could be that they don't want potential customers to learn about their business reputation.
Check to see how long the company has been in business.
Many roofing companies are small businesses. It's not unusual for a roofing company to switch from one company name to another one over a period of time. What you need to find out is how long that company has been in the roofing business. So take the time to add up the number of years of roofing experience the company may have across multiple company names.
Choose a local company with a long track record.
There's a good chance that your new roof is going to need some follow-up work to fix some issues or possibly to make some warranty repairs. If you hire a roofing company that does not have a long-term local presence in your community, you're taking a big risk that could result in poor service after the sale.
Never pay a roofing contractor for all of the work up front.
It's not unusual for a roofing contractor to ask you for a portion of the total cost up-front to pay for roofing materials. But if you do that, ask the roofer to have those materials delivered directly to your home - not to some other location. A reputable roofing contractor generally won't have a problem with a customer making the final payment (sometimes called retention) of 10% to 20% upon completion of the project. For most contractors that final payment is their profit and a good contractor will be highly motivated to complete the job to your satisfaction in order to receive this final payment. When a roofing contractor asks you to pay 100% of the cost of a project upfront, that's a strong warning sign that you may be dealing with a bad roofing contractor. And if you do this, you're not going to have any recourse if things don't work out.
A good roofing contractor isn't afraid to walk away.
Think about it. A good roofing contractor will have confidence in the quality of their work and the price they quote you to walk away from your project if you're not going to select them. A bad roofing contractor might be overly persistent and may tend to use high pressure sales tactics and be willing to do anything to close the sale.
Look for good communication.
Bad roofing contractors are horrible communicators. The only time they may contact you or show up is when they want you to sign a contract or to pay them money at the start of the project. A good roofing contractor will return your phone calls and emails promptly both before and after the sale.
While there are never guarantees when it comes to hiring the right Matthews roofing contractor, the list above will help you spot a bad one.
