Hiring a contractor for any home improvement can be intimidating and roofing is no exception. You are bringing someone you don’t know into your home to work on your property. Add to that the horror stories you have heard from friends, family, or on the news and it is easy to understand how frightening the process can be. The majority of contractors are reputable, but you still want to make sure you choose the right one. That is why we offer these tips to be sure your project is completed to your satisfaction.
Asking for Money Upfront
Too often, people are taken advantage of by scammers who arrive on their doorstep and offer to do work for them. They then require that the entire project be paid in full before they begin work. You should never pay a contractor for any project before the job is completed. If a contractor demands full payment upfront, it should be a red flag that they are not reputable. The best rule of thumb is to not hire anyone who simply shows up on your doorstep offering to do any home improvements, whether it is paving a driveway, repairing your roof, or anything else.
Get a Contract
Reputable contractors will not only have a contract, but they will also require that you sign one. The contract will have a payment schedule clearly outlined. Usually, the roofing contractor will not ask for money upfront with payment due when the job is completed. It is possible a contractor may ask you to pay half up front and the rest upon completion. One of the reasons they may do that is it shows you are serious about getting the roof completed and gives the contractor some sense of comfort that you will pay the balance when the project is completed. In addition, the upfront funds can be used to cover the cost of materials which may make the process go more quickly. The upfront costs are not extra charges, the contractor has simply divided the entire cost in half. If you are uncomfortable paying half up front, discuss it with the contractor as they are often flexible.
Confirming Your Roofing Contractor is Reputable
There are several ways to confirm that your roofing contractor is reputable. The first is by checking online reviews. You can find reviews on Houzz, the Better Business Bureau, Angie, and more. Keep in mind that one or two negative reviews are to be expected as it is almost impossible to make every person happy. As long as there is just a smattering of negative comments, you can usually determine that the contractor is reputable. Also, look at how the contractor responded to a negative review if possible as that may indicate if they are willing to make good on problems. Ask them for references and actually call those references.
See if you can visit the job where they did the work to see how it looks. Talk to friends and family as well to see who they recommend as a contractor. Listen to your gut. If something feels off when you first meet the contractor, your instincts may be accurate. It is possible that it is as simple as different personality traits, but if a roofing contractor is making you uncomfortable, you will be less likely to be satisfied with the job they do. Pay attention to how they work at the initial consultation. Are they taking measurements? Are they asking you questions? Are they talking about materials and your budget? Those are all things a reputable contractor will do when they first come to talk to you.
Door Knockers
It cannot be stressed enough that you should avoid hiring door knockers to complete any home improvement job. Often, these are scammers who simply want to take your money and have no intention of completing any projects. Common scammers are roofers, driveway pavers, and painters. If you live in an area prone to storms that cause damage, you have likely experienced storm chasers in the past. This is especially common after big storms when irreputable companies go from town-to-town offering to repair the damage but requiring money upfront. They then take the money and disappear without even starting the job. I
n some cases, people have lost thousands to home improvement scammers who travel from town to town. Definitely, if a contractor, whether it is a door knocker or even someone you called to give you an estimate, asks for full payment upfront, back out and move on to another contractor as you are likely to get scammed.
Looking For a Reputable Roofing Company?
RGB Construction has been in business for more than a decade and has grown into one of the most respected roofing companies in the area. No matter where your home is located, we are always in your neighborhood. Veteran-owned, we pride ourselves on honesty, integrity, professionalism, and ethics, working to complete your job to your satisfaction. We treat every job as if it were for family. If you are considering a new roof or need a roof repair, contact us today for a no-obligation consultation by filling out the easy query form online or giving us a call at 856-264-9093.
