Finding a Good Roofer in a Bad Economy

No one likes to come to the realization that they need to hire a roofer. It usually means a big bill is looming in the immediate distance. For many Americans, a spiraling economy means they have little to spend on niceties, much less necessities. If you've managed to stay on top of your mortgage and keep your job, you're doing better than many. When something unexpected comes up, you sometimes have to make sacrifices. Finding a good contractor isn't easy, even in the best of times. If you're having money problems, it can be even more challenging. Here are some tips to help you make it through.

There are no better methods of conducting your search than through word of mouth. Look for people that you know have had to hire a roofer in the last couple of years. See who they recommend and find out what they have to say about the prices they were charged. People are usually more than glad to talk about the contractors they've dealt with, good or bad. Speak to your co-workers, friends, family, and neighbors to get a broad spectrum of opinions. Watch out for anyone trying to recommend their friend or relative for the job.

Once you have a few names you'd like to consider, call around and get some price quotes. At this stage you'll want to be really careful. You don't necessarily want to automatically pick the roofer who is offering the lowest price. In fact, if any of the contractors you speak to are considerably above or below the average quote, you can probably eliminate them from your search. Even in a bad economy, you don't want to get entangled in shoddy workmanship. It can wind up being twice as expensive to hire someone terrible and have to redo the work. Find a price quote somewhere near the middle and move forward.

Price, of course, is only one factor in the equation. Once you've narrowed your search to two or three companies, set up some one on one time with the foremen. You don't really want to talk to a salesman at this point. You want to know who is going to be leading the actual work. Find out what they have to say about the job you need done. See if they seem more interested in up selling you or in finding ways to save you money. Find someone who is willing to be your partner through the construction and you'll be much more satisfied when the end result is ready.