It happened, you know you have gone a little too long with that roof on your house. You put it off because buying a roof sounds like it is difficult and expensive. Until one day you get home and you have found that you have a reason to get a new roof. Hopefully that’s the worst of the news. But now you find yourself wondering what qualities should you look for in a roofing company? The best place is to find a company to help you through this process is where everyone starts, the internet.
What Qualities Should You Look For In A Roofing Company?
With the market changing like it is, more companies are turning to digital resources. Search engines and social media platforms help businesses market themselves and create visibility for their brands. And with customers overwhelmingly using the web to shop for services of all kinds. It’s a good opportunity to see how much a company cares about their customer by checking out their new customer processes on their website.
If you’re wondering how to know which company is right for you, then you’re not alone. There are little things you could look for, what kind of rating do they have with the Better Business Bureau? How many years of experience does the company bring to the job? What projects have they successfully completed in the past? Can you identify a trustworthy and professional contractor that isn’t going to become your mistake?
Trust your feelings when talking with them, do they seem trustworthy?
A breakdown of communications has ended many business relationships before they ever had a chance to begin. According to a HubSpot article 17% of salespeople think they’re pushy, compared to 50% of prospects. It’s not hard to be thoughtful about your approach to business and processes. Almost everyone knows how important being clear and honest in your words inspires trust. When a contractor is vague or is difficult to get a hold of, or doesn’t take time to develop their brand, customers are going to be put off.
Instead try to find people who speak your language. If prices is a big deal, find companies that offer a comprehensive overview of their financing offers. If style matters a lot, then look for companies with a broad variety of products. Once you can identify a company that can effectively reach you, contact them. But you only know if they are right if they can effectively communicate themselves through their marketing efforts. (i.e. website, email campaigns, etc.)
Exceptional customer service and open communication
Too often a contractor can forget that they are working with a customer going through a difficult time, instead they see most customers as dollar bills. It’s natural to be skeptical of a stranger around your house, and no one wants to be sold expensive things in high pressure situations. Understanding things like this is part of what sets a company apart. So if they are communicating well, then they are probably offering their services in a way that’s easy to understand.
Chances are you aren’t in the roof market because you wanted to be, that’s alright, replacement is a natural part of the roofing lifecycle. Contractors understand that, and can do things to demonstrate that they value customer service. Do they present themselves as professional and engaging, do they generate relevant content that inspires confidence in their abilities? When you gave them your information did they email you back or begin to spam you, or do they call you back and take the time to understand your needs before trying to get you to sign anything? Little things make a big difference when it comes to customer service.
They are priced aggressively, but are still competitively priced in the market
So you’ve researched a couple of options, and it’s time to get a quote. You’ve reached out and found companies that want to come give you a quote. Three come out and check out your roof, two are significantly higher than the third, why? No one wants to do business with someone who is clearly overpriced, but it’s important to understand that it’s possible to do business in a cheap way, and as expected quality begins to take a heavy hit. As much as we all want to hire the cheapest person, it is best to remember that we do get what we pay for.
Remember to feel the process out. Businesses takes time to make you feel comfortable and money and planning into the customer experience. There are some things that are immeasurable, peace of mind, feeling heard, getting value for your money. Don’t let a discount contractor offer you a poor experience. When it comes to roofing if contractors are cheap there’s a reason, and they probably won’t be able to give you the sort of experience you need to feel good about this big of an investment.
They Are Financially Responsible To Their Customers
Roofing is expensive, no doubt! So how does one pay for it? Contractors understand that customers need financing options. The best contractors have developed relationships with financing entities. These deals offer the most flexibility and options to help finance the highest amount of customers at the most competitive rates. It takes time to establish these relationships, so if you’re having a hard time getting financed, try a contractor that is a bit more of an authority on the matter.
Lenders understand that people need money, and often credit might be hard to come by in a pinch, like a roofing expense. A thoughtful contractor can take time to shop for favorable terms for their customers financing needs. To be competitive it’s important to think ahead, so find out what sort of financing options are available early on. If a contractor has good financing terms in relation to their competition, it could be an indicator that they will do good business.
Anything Else?
There we have it, 4 qualities should you look for in a roofing company. Of course there are more than four ways to determine the best contractor, see which ones take the time to listen to you. Most people don’t go into a roofing job with a lot of knowledge or understanding of what makes a good contractor. Listen to potential contractors closely to make sure they understand your values and what is important to you. Understand that discount contractors exist, and will be sure to disappoint if you let them. Contractors that have a relationship with banks and finance agencies signal that they are committed to saving money.
Working with people who value communication, planning, and skill more than just making a paycheck leads to better results. A professional will make you feel confident that you are doing the correct things. But these 4 qualities should you look for in a roofing company should get you enough information to get you started on your journey.
In our next article we will demonstrate 7 services offered by roofing contractors.
Thanks for the great tips! Some of our roof shingles have started falling off and I’m sure that this calls for at least a minor repair like replacing the shingles or even a complete roof replacement. I think that having professionals assess your roof would save you time and money by providing you with a precise report of what is wrong with your roof.