When you are hiring residential or commercial roofing contractors, you are entrusting someone with the safety of your home or business. For this reason, you want to be sure that the crew you are hiring is trustworthy and has your best interest in mind. Many roofing experts will turn out to be perfectly professional and trustworthy individuals, however, there are plenty of companies or individuals out in the world that are looking to cut corners wherever they can. A quality commercial roofing contractor can install a roof that can last 20 years or more, and an experienced residential roofer can install a roof that lasts over a decade!
Here are some of the most telling signs that your residential or commercial roofing contractor is NOT trustworthy. Keep these signs in mind before you hire anyone:
- Overly aggressive: A well-developed company that has plenty of customers will be understanding if you need to get quotes from multiple different companies to make a sound decision, and be willing to show you references and insurance information. Any contractor that is attempting to pressure you to get your job done with them before seeing all your options is usually not someone you would want to work with. Also, make sure to avoid door-to-door roofing salesman after storms. These contractors are called “storm chasers” and are notorious for convincing people their roof is damaged after a storm when it really is not. Always be willing to get a second opinion.
- No contract: Make sure to avoid going into any official business agreement with any residential or commercial roofing contractors if there is no contract involved. If you are having work done on your roof, a written contract is imperative to protect you and your home. A contract is a set-in-stone outline of what work is going to be done at what rate, and with what protections. Even with a contract, make sure your contractor is open to you asking questions and giving you more information about details if necessary.
- Requiring payment upfront: Any residential or commercial roofing contractors that are trustworthy will usually not ask for full payment before the job is performed. In fact, outside of a small deposit, you should not be paying at all until the job is completed. Agreeing to pay for the whole job upfront can easily leave you with a roof in disrepair and without a significant amount of money. This is especially true if paired with having no formal contract. Many trustworthy roofers will suggest deposits or payment plans, so if you have a roofing contractor that is insisting that you pay upfront, this is usually a really big red flag.
- They are bad at communicating: Trustworthy contractors are usually pretty busy which is understandable, but you should still be able to get a hold of them when you need to. If your contractor is constantly no returning calls, moving dates, or is wasting your time in any capacity, make sure you have a way out or simply do no use that contractor again. A roofing contractor should have good communication skills and that makes sure you are both on the same page. If you feel as though the contractor is trying to or simply cannot listen to your wishes, save yourself the headache, and do not work with them.
Questions about residential or Commercial Roofing Contractors?
If you have any more questions about red flags you should avoid when hiring a roofing contractor, do not hesitate to contact the roofing experts at Home Re-Nu Roofing and Exteriors. We have been serving Southern Illinois for over a decade and are dedicated to improving the homes of the communities we serve. Contact us today or find us on Facebook!