One of the most vital parts of your home is the roof over your head. It protects you from the hot Louisiana sun, heavy winds, torrential rains, and other unpleasant weather. Unfortunately, a roof can be subject to extreme wear and tear over time. Damage can manifest itself as a leak, broken shingle, or worse. Keeping your roof in good repair or replacing parts of it as needed is a significant undertaking. While you may feel tempted to handle improvements or repairs via the DIY method, consider hiring a professional roofer to avoid causing unnecessary damage to your house or yourself during a roof renovation. Here’s what you need to know about hiring a professional roofer:
Always check their background
Knowing who’s going to be working on your home is essential to a successful renovation. It’s especially crucial when it comes to the roof over your head. Be sure to meticulously check a potential roofer’s background before and during your pre-hiring interview with them. Here are a few key items to look into:
- Previous work – See if they have some residential or commercial work they can showcase via images in a portfolio or a physical location in your city.
- Their rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). While it’s not a governmental regulatory agency, the BBB has built a web of trust over the years by acting as a sort of watchdog for shady business practices.
- Referrals – Speak with friends or go online to seek referrals or recommendations from others who’ve worked with the roofer in the past.
- Conduct an in-person interview – Spend some time getting to know your roofer to build rapport and decide if they’re a good fit for your project.
Check their online reviews
Another wonderful tool in the search for a quality roofer is utilizing the power of the internet to check their online reviews or vivint pricing. Online customer reviews can shed some light on a roofer’s past performance, quality, integrity, and customer service. On top of that, more than 82% of consumers will check Google, Yelp, and other online review aggregation services to make decisions about hiring professional services. People often trust a series of positive reviews or a high star rating as much (or more) as a personal recommendation from a friend. As you read reviews, assess them for their content, and really read about the various experiences customers have had with the company. Watch out for excessive bad reviews and be wary of any company with significant negative feedback or a history of problems.
Hire locally
After vetting a list of potential roofers, it’s time to hire a local professional. The easiest way to hire one of the best professional roofers in Alexandria, LA is to conduct an online search. Look online to find the best-rated roofers in the area, in which part of the city they’re located, and how they’ve served the local community. Once you’ve accessed a database of professionals, you can reach out to them, get tips on setting up a job or hire them right then and there. Hiring a local roofer comes with the added benefit of a professional who knows local codes, regulations, and restrictions applicable to your area.
Make sure they’re licensed and insured
The biggest advantage of hiring a professional roofer is the knowledge and experience they bring to the table. Using a licensed and insured roofer ensures this applies to your roofer, ultimately leading to better productivity and reduced liability. It also offers legal protection and guarantees for the work you wouldn’t get otherwise. A licensed roofer will also address any permits, building codes, or other considerations for your project as well as helping you estimate the cost and prepare a budget. Overall, these two qualifications alone can mean the difference between a dream renovation and a busted roof down the line.
Don’t hire a company that does “door-to-door” roofing
Imagine this scenario: a massive storm just hit your city. It rained or snowed for hours while heavy winds blew several shingles off your roof onto the ground below. The next day, your doorbell rings and you’re greeted by a few “roofers” who are going door-to-door offering to repair roofs for a super low cost. If this offer seems too good to be true, that’s because it is. These door-to-door contractors are often scams looking to prey on desperate or unsuspecting homeowners. Scammers use a variety of tactics like high-pressure sales or offering a “free” roof inspection to get you to commit to repairs. If you commit and allow them to do repairs, they’ll often attempt to convince you to file an insurance claim for the damage. Your insurance might pay out the claim for repairs to the scammer. If your insurance company finds something wrong afterward, you can be held liable for repairs and be on the hook for higher insurance premiums in the future. Avoid potential roofing scams by going through traditional professional channels for the work you need. That way, you can hire a legitimate professional without potential issues during your project.