How To Avoid Getting Scammed By Roofing Contractors in Grand Rapids Michigan

Everyone has heard at least one horror story about hiring a home improvement contractor and everything going wrong. But when you need work done on your home, it is always better to go with an experienced professional contractor than to attempt major home improvements yourself. To help you avoid living one of those contractor horror stories, it is important to know how to handle the hiring process. We’ll take a look at the best practices to hire a roofing contractor in Grand Rapids Michigan and what you should look out for when doing so.

How To Avoid Getting Scammed By Roofing Contractors in Grand Rapids Michigan

When it comes to the roof on your home it’s always best to hire a professional roofing contractor. By not doing so you risk all sorts of problems including voiding the warranty on your existing roof. This also means that you should attempt any type of DIY project on your roof as well. So when hiring a roofing contractor for your home here are some things you should be aware of:

Look Around Yourself

While it is not recommended that you climb up on your roof and risk getting hurt, you can still get an idea of the damage from the ground and in your attic. You can walk around your home and look for missing shingles, dark stains, sagging, or any other signs of trouble. You can also get on a ladder to get a closer look around the guttering system, fascia board and roof edge. If you have access to your attic, you can go up there with a flashlight to look for signs of leaks or cracks. It is recommended that you do this while it is raining to get a more obvious idea of what might be going on.

By looking around yourself, you will be able to better discuss issues with your roofer and avoid them claiming more damage than there really is.

Do Some Research

With all the information available online, it is easy to get information about common roof problems and what they look like. They can also help to explain your options so you know what you are getting into. It also helps you to get a better idea of how severe the problems might be and whether or not it will require repairs or replacement. While you will not become an expert this way, it will help you understand the terminology your contractor is using and make it easier to ask questions.

Get A Thorough Inspection

You never want to work with a roofing contractor that hasn’t asked to do an inspection or doesn’t think it is important. Your roof is a very complex part of your home with many different parts working together to keep your home safe. This means that while one area may be okay, other areas can be damaged and in need of immediate repairs.

Ask For Another Opinion

You should always try to get at least a few different quotes from different roofing contractors before hiring someone. This is because different roofers may see different problems with your roof and try to get more money for unnecessary work. Make sure that you get a detailed quote that discusses everything that needs to be done so you can see who is being honest, and who is trying to cut corners or pad the bill.

Check Credentials

You should never hire any contractor that isn’t fully licensed and insured. It is important to get the information from your contractor and then verify on your own that the information is legitimate and there are no issues outstanding with them.

Get References

Anyone can write reviews online. So it is important to ask your contractor directly for information about past work, as well as some references that you can call. It is then crucial that you follow up with the references to find out who they are, if they have any relation to the contractor, and how the work went.

Have A Contract

No matter how trustworthy you may think the roofing contractor you are considering hiring is, you must always get a contract in writing. This should include a description of the work, materials list, payment information, timeline for the work, information about their license and insurance, and penalties for not completing the work. You need to both sign it and date it, and you should keep a copy for yourself. Here at Grand Rapids Home Pros we always prefer to use a roofing contract for all projects. It can protect us as well as the home owner in case of any confusion or problems. Contact us today to learn more about our roofing services in Grand Rapids Michigan.