When searching for a reliable roof replacement contractor, it is imperative to exercise due diligence to ensure you get the best team for your needs. Doing research on each of your potential hires is imperative, and that includes obtaining a list of references. Getting in touch with a contractor’s past customers helps you gain insight into the level of expertise and skills they can possibly provide you should you decide to hire them.
Why Should You Ask for References?
Before you invest in a new roof, it’s good to be educated. Here are some of the reasons why asking references certain questions is crucial to the success of your roofing project.
Build Trust
A professional roofing contractor should be willing to provide you with a list of clients from the past three to six months. You should be able to pick who to ask about them, not just their preferred customers who will give them glowing recommendations. You know you can trust a potential roofer if they are willing to hand over that list of references. This means they are transparent about their roofing services. Take your business elsewhere if they don’t want to provide references.
Assess the Quality of the Contractor’s Workmanship
You don’t necessarily have to chat with previous customers. However, you can still check the finished product of a particular contractor by visiting the work site. If you see that their roof, installed within the past three to six months, is still in good condition, there’s a good chance to trust the potential contractor. Make sure to talk and check references of more than one contractor regarding your roof replacement project.
Understand Previous Customers’ Experiences
Once you get references, you can ask past customers about their experience with a particular contractor. You would want a similar good experience for your roofing project and learn from previous bad experiences others had. By asking the right questions, you can make a good decision on which roofing contractor to hire.
Questions to Ask Roofer References
Here are eight questions you should ask to ensure you get the most out of your roof investment.
1. How Long Have You Been Working With the Roofer?
When speaking to one of the past customers, ask them how long they have worked with the roofers they hired. This will give you an idea of how seasoned and experienced the team is.
2. How Satisfied Were You With the Roofer’s Service?
This question can help you in choosing the best roofing company that can offer excellent service that meets and even exceeds expectations. Ask for concrete examples in terms of work quality or customer care and discuss what made the roofer’s services particularly impressive or unimpressive.
3. Was the Roofer Punctual While Working? Did They Finish the Job on Time?
Time management is an essential quality to consider when hiring a team of professional roofers. Ask the reference whether the contractor was able to adhere to their timeline and complete the project on time or if any delays caused inconvenience. Delays cost you not only time but also money.
4. Did the Job Require Any Unexpected Expenses?
Inquire about any unseen or unanticipated expenses they might have encountered during their roof replacement project. Ask if the roof replacement went over the agreed-upon budget and the reason why it happened. It’s hard to trust a contractor who charges additional fees while the project is underway for unknown reasons; it’s an indication that they did not plan the project well.
5. Did the Roofer Take Safety Precautions While on the Job?
Professional roofing companies always consider safety when conducting repairs, installations and maintenance, and they do so by following proper precautions. Learn whether the contractors took extra measures such as securing scaffolds, marking hazardous areas, or using other safety equipment to keep everyone out of harm’s way. Do not hire a contractor that doesn’t care for the safety of their roofers because they will most likely not care about your safety, too.
6. Did the Roofer Clean Up After the Job Was Completed?
After having roofing work done, a good roofer clears debris from the work zone. Ask your references to confirm whether the contractor took care of this task as part of their service. It may also be helpful to inquire whether they used eco-friendly materials during the job, and if so, what measures they took for waste management.
7. Are Their Materials Locally Sourced and Eco-Friendly?
It is good to ask if the contractor’s materials are locally sourced. This equates to reduced cost of transporting materials. You will also benefit if the contractor uses eco-friendly roofing materials.
8. Would You Hire the Roofer Again?
This is a crucial question that can help make selecting a reliable roofer much easier. By having access to actual customer experiences, you can gain further insight into the quality of the contractor’s work. You know you can trust a roofer that someone is willing to hire again.
Other Ways to Find References
While asking potential roofing companies is easy to get references, you can also get recommendations from other sources. These include:
- Nextdoor. This is a reliable site where you can check with people in your neighborhood about their roofing contractors. Ask them for recommendations and their experiences.
- Google reviews. They may not always be reliable since anyone can write a Google review of a local contractor, but some of the reviews are often well-thought and can still give you an idea of how potential roofing contractors check out.
- Yard signs in your neighborhood. Roofing companies put up signs of the projects they are working on, so if you see one in your neighborhood, knock on your neighbor’s door and ask them. Depending on their experience, they can recommend or warn you about the contractor they hired for the project.
Count on Next Level Roofers!
At the end of the day, hiring trustworthy, professional roofers requires due diligence and research. Ask questions that provide insight into their work ethic and quality of service. Make sure your investment does not go to waste.
Get in touch with Next Level Roofers for reliable roofing services in The Villages and the rest of Sumter County, FL. Give us a call at (407) 237-7960 to schedule a consultation! If you need a professional roof replacement, repair, or maintenance, you can rest assured that you are in capable hands. You can also message us here and we’ll get back to you.
