If you’ve never needed to hire a roofer (or it’s been years since you’ve needed to call one), you may be wondering how to ensure you choose the best company for the job. Below are just a few of the tips you can use to ensure you hire a reputable, experienced roofer.

Be wary of people who are going door to door

Reputable roofing companies don’t need to canvas various neighborhoods to drum up business.  Why? Because their past work and their attention to customer care should speak for itself. When a “roofer” is knocking on every door on a street, this is a huge red flag. (This is an even bigger red flag if they’re out trying to solicit work right after a major storm.)

Oftentimes in this situation, the person who is knocking is either A) an unlicensed contractor or 2) someone who is just trying to scam people out of their money.  Either way, you’ll want to steer clear.

Make sure the company has an online presence

Everyone has a website these days. If you’re thinking about hiring a roofer, be sure to check out their web presence.  If they don’t have a website and you can’t find a single trace of them online, you should be very, very skeptical.  If they do have a website, does it look well designed (or is it just a landing page?)  Are they on social media?  Do they have online reviews?

Companies who only advertise on places like Craigslist are likely not reputable. If you hire them, there’s a good chance they won’t be licensed and insured. You also won’t have any guarantees that they won’t just take your money and disappear. It’s always best to do your research before you hire a roofer.

Ask if they can provide you with local references

Lastly, if you’re learning toward hiring a particular company, ask if they can provide you with a list of several local references.  Be sure to ask the contractor to point you toward past customers who have the same type of roofing system that you do. This can help give you the best apples-to-apples comparison.

Final thoughts

Needing to hire a roofer can feel stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. For more information about the types of things that you should look for in a contractor, and the red signs that indicate you should hang up and call someone else, call our office today to get started.