Roofing Estimates are a Starting Point for Negotiations
May 19th, 2010
A roof is one of the more expensive aspects of owning a home. While a new roof can last upwards of 20 years before needing to be replaced or repaired, violent weather can turn a nice roof into a dented, torn up mess within a matter of minutes. Finding a roof repair company is as simple as opening the phone book and dialing up the first company listed. But how do you know you’re getting the best price? The savvy way to find a roofer is to call around and have roofers come out and give a Roofing Estimate. You may be surprised at the differences in costs and completion timeframes quoted by the roofers.
Contact a Variety of Roofers
There are a few ways to decide which roofers to contact for estimates. The obvious choice is asking people you know for recommendations. If one roofer is repeatedly recommended, add him to your list. Then check out the phone book and pick roofers from both large and small companies. Just because a company has the largest advertisement doesn’t mean they offer the best services and prices.
Smaller, independent roofing companies may be easier to negotiate with than larger companies with lots of clients. Check the want ads for roofers who are looking for work. Some experienced roofers may be starting out in their own company and need to build up a clientele and will offer lower prices and quality service.
Benefits of Understanding How a Roofer Bids a Job
For homeowners unfamiliar with the roofing process, it’s a good idea to get a basic understanding of how a roofer evaluates a job and decides on a roofing estimate. When a roofer first evaluates your home, he is looking at the extent of the damage along with the amount of work involved to fix or replace the roof. The amount of shingles needing to be torn off, water damaged areas, decking damage, and structural damage to turbines or chimneys are all evaluated when making an estimate.
The size of the roof will be factored in also, and the roofer will estimate the amount of supplies needed. He will also guess the amount of time needed for either him or his crew to finish the job. Depending on the size of the company, a roofer may need only a few days or a few weeks if working with a skeleton crew. The estimate will also include markup on materials and the fees associated with cleaning up and dumping the old roofing materials.
Negotiate and Get the Estimate in Writing
Once the roofer gives you a verbal estimate, it’s time to see if he’ll negotiate any of his fees. For roofing repairs going through the insurance process, you may ask him to waive the insurance deductible in his estimate cost. Cheaper items, such as metal edging and felt, may also be negotiable. Depending on the size of the job, some contractors may be willing to reduce the price of cheaper items, or even include them at no charge.
One of the best ways to negotiate is to use one estimate against another. If there is a company you like better but the roofer estimates a much higher amount than the former company, see if he’s willing to meet or come fairly close to the estimate of the other company.
Once the estimate is decided upon, make sure the roofer provides you with a written copy of the roofing estimate on an official business form. This can help control rising costs and is legal proof of the estimated cost. Avoid roofers who won’t provide a written estimate. While estimates aren’t set in stone, negotiations and discussion of the job can help insure you don’t pay more than the estimate.
