How to negotiate with a roofing contractor
Top ways to find the right roofing contractor
Negotiating with a roofing contractor can be tricky. After all, this is an area of construction that's notoriously beset with scams and shoddy workmanship—and when you're negotiating with a dishonest or incompetent contractor, it can seem like the only thing you have to go on is their word.
But if you follow these simple tips, you'll quickly learn that there are clear and reliable ways to evaluate contractors and negotiate your price.
1. Know Your Costs Make sure you know what the cost of materials is for your roofing project, as well as the cost of labor. You can get estimates for both from a roofing contractor's website before you even contact them, or by calling them directly and asking for an estimate. A good roofing contractor will work with you to help you understand what they're charging you for and will give you the transparency you need to make an informed decision.
2. Shop AroundMake sure that you're not just looking at one roofing contractor, but that you're comparing prices with other contractors in your area that have similar rates, experience, and expertise. If a company is giving you a lower-than-expected price quote out of nowhere, it could be because they don't have the expertise or experience necessary to get the job done—or worse! They could be trying to scam you with a too-good-to-be-true offer because they think they can get away with it.
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3. Inspect the Roof Before You Hire Anyone, We're not suggesting you should climb up there and check it out yourself (though if you can, go for it!). But if your roof looks like it's in pretty good condition, then you should expect to pay less than if it looks like there's been a lot of wear over the years. The price of materials and labor will vary, but when they show up, they should be able to give you an estimate just by looking at what needs to be done.
4. Be Prepared for an Estimate, Your roofing contractor will need to take a look at the inside and the outside of your roof and ask you some questions about how long it has been since it was last replaced or repaired. They'll also want to know whether you've experienced any leaks, which parts of the roof are most damaged, and if there are any adjacent structures that may be impacted as well as your main structure.
5. Talk About Timelines, Most of the time, when you have a leaky roof or some other problem, you want to get it fixed as soon as possible. But it may not be practical to expect your contractor to drop everything and do your project right away. Let’s face it: most people don’t have that kind of money lying around. So, you can use this to your advantage by asking if they can offer a discount on the total price if you wait until they have an opening in their schedule.