You stare at your once beautiful home as your partner yells at the guy working on your roof. This job was only supposed to take a few days, maybe a week or so at most. But it’s been a month, and the job still isn’t finished. In fact, the house looks even worse now than it did when the work began. Furthermore, the guy wants an additional $20,000 on top of the $20k you just gave them—even though there’s no tangible progress on the work. You want to fire him, but the contract you signed with him says if you do, your deposit is non-refundable. He hasn’t even done all of the work yet! The worker walks away and your partner beckons you over to discuss the problem. You ask yourselves, How did we get here? And why did we hire Uncle Jim’s friend’s cousin to do this instead of a professional roofing company?
Roofing repairs can be expensive, so it makes sense that you would want to go with a budget friendly option. However, there’s a difference between “budget-friendly” and “professional.” And, apart from that, there’s other qualifying factors you should look into before hiring Uncle Jim’s friend’s cousin.
Research! Know What You’re Getting Into
When it comes to your home, you want the person who’s going to do the best job for you. That means you have to do your research. Determine if there’s a leak, warping, mold, or some other issue going on. Even if you know nothing about homes, you can look up pictures and compare so you know what to tell your professional roofing contractor.
Review previous work and ask for references. You can check the company’s socials, online pages, the Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List and countless other. If anything looks suspicious, consider reporting the business. And, when reviewing references, ask questions about communication, quality, and experience.
Get Everything in Writing
Next, ask for an assessment and a quote. Some companies offer these options for free, while others might charge a small fee. Make sure you determine which one it is before the company comes out, so you know what to expect. Then get everything in writing. A handshake deal is not a contract. At minimum, you need the business contact information; project timeline; costs, warranties, payment schedule; termination clause; and dispute resolution clause in your contract. Without these items, there’s no recourse if something goes wrong. And, of course, read before you sign!
Once all that’s complete, you just have to verify your contractor’s licenses and insurance. Also, remember safety first. Always ensure the person working on your home is who they say they are by checking with the company and reviewing the persons company identification information.
Roof Savers Can Save You
Uncle Jim’s friend’s cousin may be a budget friendly alternative , but why risk it when you can contact a professional, budget-friendly roofing company like Roof Savers instead? We also want to remind you to not get up there yourself, it isn’t safe! Roof Savers Austin has a team of dedicated professionals trained and licensed to make sure that your roof, and home overall, is fully taken care of.
