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How To... Hire A Roofer

Hiring a contractor is an important decision. You must select someone who is reputable, does good work, and is fair. Hiring a really professional roofer can be tricky. You must make sure that you will be treated fairly. These are some suggestions on how to find the right person for your roofing project.

Try to get referrals from relatives, friends, or neighbors who have had their roofs repaired or replaced. That is always the best source for picking a good roofing contractor. There are also websites that list prescreened local contractors. After your search, pick a few that you might want do business with. To prequalify them, call them and ask them the following questions:

• Is your company licensed by the board of contractors?
• Are you insured for worker’s compensation, personal liability, and property damage?
• Do you have the names and phone numbers of several satisfied customers to use as references?

Call the references the roofing contractor provides. Most satisfied customers are happy to share the success story of their experiences with that contractor. Don’t be shy, because the contractor has already received the customers’ permission for you to call. Some customers will even allow you to come to their houses and view the contractor’s work.

Select three candidates and ask each one for a formal written estimate on the new roof or repairs that must be made. Make sure the contractors are bidding on exactly the same requirements. Don’t automatically select the contractor with the lowest bid. If one estimate is a lot lower than the rest, you must be suspicious of inexperience or another problem. A contractor may give a low bid to obtain your business during a slow time for them without having any negative aspects. You must figure out why a bid is much lower than another and be satisfied with the reason.

After you have made your decision, ask to see the contractor’s license and double check his insurance coverage. Then your contractor should draw up a written contract agreeable to both of you. The contract should contain both of your names and addresses, details of the project and the work to be performed, materials necessary, and the payment terms. These steps are not only necessary to find a professional, fair roofing contractor, but also to find any suitable contractor to perform your work.