When it comes to finding the right roofing contractor, it isn’t all that different than dating. If you wouldn’t settle down with the first person you meet, why would you settle for the first roofing contractor that comes your way? You need to understand your roofing contractor’s history, their performance, and how well their work withstands the test of time.
One of the easiest ways to do that is to follow their footprints in the community and online. With the information that is available at the tip of our fingertips, it has never been easier to fully vet roofing contractors and decide who is best situated to handle your roofing project.
Highly rated roofing contractors will be easy to find online. Those who aren’t easy to find likely are not going to be the best choice for your home’s roof. Let’s go over the two paths you can use to track down the right roofing contractor.
What Is Your Roofing Contractor’s Community Footprint?
We’ve covered a plethora of information about what separates a good roofing contractor from a bad one. One thing we have yet to cover in detail is how you can get enough information from your community to make the right choice for your home.
A roofing company produces a physical product that can easily be seen from the street. They can’t hide behind a computer like some shady online stores that “lost the package in processing” or any other excuse. Your roofing contractor has to have some presence in the community. It’s your responsibility as a homeowner to go out and find those footprints.
One of the best places to start is asking if you can speak to their past clients. The best roofing company and contractors will have no issue with you speaking to these individuals and taking a look at their past work. You can learn a lot about how your potential roofing contractor handles the job. From the initial estimate and on time arrivals to cleanliness of the area and the final product, past clients can give you insights you won’t be able to access anywhere else.
Another area of the community you can use to learn about roofing contractors is other trades people. Plumbers, electricians, general contractors, pest control, and other services homes of all ages need should have met your roofing contractor at least once. These individuals you trust to work on your home can let you know if the roofing contractors you are considering are trustworthy.
The final area of your community you can learn a lot about roofing contractors is the code enforcement office. In order to complete any roofing project, permits must be in place. A highly rated roofing contractor will know local code enforcers very well since they are stopping into the office weekly. If your local code enforcement does not know of your roofing contractor or does not have any positive comments about them, this is a huge red flag.
What Is Your Roofing Contractor’s Online Footprint?
Other than speaking with individuals and professionals in person who have worked with your potential roofing contractor, online resources can help you learn quite a bit about who you are about to trust with your home’s roof. Tracking down your roofing contractor online is a crucial step that can save you thousands in the long run.
Your first step with online vetting is to check their reviews. While you may have spoken to past clients who gave glowing testimonials, what do the rest of their clients have to say? You should be able to find reviews on Angie’s List, Home Advisor, social media, Google, or other online profiles most roofing contractors have available.
If they do not have good reviews online, you may be better off talking to another contractor. However, don’t let only one or two bad reviews completely turn you away. If there are more positive reviews than negative ones, you can always ask them about these reviews. The best roofing contractor will have no problem going over what happened.
The second step with your online vetting process is to look up information about their license and/or LLC. As we have mentioned many times, most roofing contractors will change their LLC every three years. If their LLC is not very old or their license issue date is too recent, this could mean you are speaking with a roofing contractor that does not intend on keeping your labor warranty. They may be out of business before you can get a hold of them for any issues.
The final step is to look at the Better Business Bureau. You can easily access information about roofing contractors 24/7. Any highly rated roofing contractor or company will be verified through the BBB. This provides you peace of mind you are working with a professional who is willing to be reviewed by a national organization and judged on how well they satisfy clients.
Knowing More Information About Your Roofing Contractor Saves You Money
The more you know about your roofing contractor, the better decision you will make. If you find your roofing contractor is not one that can be trusted, you will have saved yourself thousands in the long run.
When you vet Mitchell and Sons Roofing, you will find we have been dedicated to serving our community for decades. We are open about our performance and have many satisfied customers. Please find our most recent reviews and rewards on our Home Advisor profile.
While it is your responsibility to fully vet your roofing contractor, it is our responsibility to give you the highest qualified work for the best price. We will always go over every aspect of your roofing project and fully answer your questions during your no obligation roofing estimate.
Please contact us today and we will schedule a time to come and do a free roof inspection or give you an estimate for replacing your home’s roof if needed.
Proudly serving New Port Richey, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and the surrounding areas in Tampa Bay.
– Ryan Listerman, Project Manager