A Roofing Estimate is a Business Interview

By Dymon Brady

When choosing a roofing contractor, each company that submits an estimate should be treating the situation as you would a job interview.  It is their responsibility to be open and honest with their qualifications and information, and it is ultimately your responsibility to decide who you trust to do the job the right way.

Just as you would call in several people for a job interview in order to get the best fit, it is always a good idea to get at least 3 bids from different roofing contractors.  This process should help you to find the highest quality roof available.

Don’t be afraid to ask potential contractors some questions, or to research their credentials online.  Any reputable contractor should welcome the inquiries.

Unsure where to begin?  Here are some resources to help you research your contractor online:

• Verify that they have a roofing license:

  • Click on the link above.

  • Search for the company’s name.

  • Click on the roofing license number.

  • Under ‘Classifications’, it will list ‘S280 - GENERAL ROOFING QUALIFIER’ if they hold a current roofing license.

• Verify that they have current workers compensation insurance:

  • Click on the link above.

  • Enter the script provided to reach the search page.

  • Search for the company’s name.

  • Click on their name to verify they have coverage.

  • It should say ‘Worker's Compensation Insurance Coverage Provider: WORKERS COMPENSATION FUND’ and list their policy number if they have coverage.

• Verify that they have a current business license:

  • Search for the company in question.

  • Find their most recent license on the list and verify that the license is current.

• What is their standing with the better business bureau?

  • Search for the company in question.

  • Click on their name to see their rating and other information.  It should be at least an A rating, if not an A+.

• What have past customers said about them on:

  • yelp

  • angies list

  • google places

  • bing maps

  • judys book

In addition to doing your own research online, here are some questions you can ask the company:

• Do you have current liability insurance?  May I see a certificate of insurance?

• Do you offer a lien waiver?  (Learn what a lien waiver is and why it’s important)

• How long have you been in business?

• May I see a list of references for the past 3 months?

• Can you please explain the details in your bid to me? (You can check every bid against the standards set in our post:  Understanding your Roofing Contract.)

• How do you train your employees?

• Is your company certified to install this product by the manufacturer?

• Do you offer a material and labor warranty?

• How will you upkeep my property throughout the job?

• How do you communicate with your customers?

• How do you ensure quality work from your employees?

If you would like to request a free estimate, or if you have any questions for us,  contact us at 801-487-5151.