The phone book and newspaper are the best sources for finding contractors. Contractors will indicate in their ads whether or not they offer insurance. Listings from roofing directories are also some of the best places to find your roofer.
Some contractors are willing to work directly with homeowners association as a condition of getting theoretically contracted jobs in the future. Call the phone book and find if a contractor is listed by the homeowner association for roofing. Usually, if the job involves the complete replacement of the roof, then a contractor that agrees in writing to a homeowners association contract should be consulted. Once the homeowners association has decided who to talk to about the job, contact the contractor, show them the job to be done by the owner, and ask them to negotiate a contract with the homeowners association for the job. This document should be about any company maintenance or repairs, including roofing. Make sure if something goes wrong, the homeowners association will assist in the repairs.
Keep contact information for your neighbors and businesses; if something valuable or urgent goes out, you will both know about it. Make sure you have someone who knows you through someone. I have a good friend that once installed a new siding roof every time the homeowners called him for maintenance. The job never looked so good and he was always there in the neighborhood always done exactly as described. Another benefit is when things go terribly wrong because he is so familiar with people. If you have a friend who just does roofing, you can use them. There is no real need for a contractor in this case.
The biggest advantage of contracting out is the price. Quality contractors do not put a huge mark-up on their price versus the cost of materials or labor. Once new roofs are installed, the job should start slowing down without a roof. Start getting some quotes from various contractors. Compare and consider what you are getting for your money. The cheapest shouldn’t be your issue because when looking at your budget a few dollars more for quality is better than nothing in the long run.
Roofing is a competitive business. This means doing your research on any contractors in your area. With so many types of roofs, a simple phone call could save you thousands or a whole do-it-yourself roof job. If you aren’t familiar with the manufacturing of a roof, your best move is to contact a manufacturer and see which roof is recommended due to the exposure to any weather conditions in your area.
Try to choose a roofing contractor who has the following:
- A roofer/contractor with great experience
- A list of completed houses to check
- A list of references
- Proper licensing
- 5-7 years in the industry
- Only consider dealing with contractors that have licensed business
- Checking up on any complaints from the Better Business Bureau about the contractor’s past contracts
- All warranties, Material and labor warranties should be in writing
