I need repairs done to some of the exterior and roof, as well as dealing with flood damage. What kind of contractor should I be looking for, and how do I make sure I get the best return from my insurance claim and avoid being scammed?
One that has been in business for at least 5 years and not brand new capitalizing on the disaster.
Here’s what we share with out customers:
Top 10 Things To Look ForIn A Quality Roofing Company
1.Locally Owned and Operated- Make sure the roofing company has a
physical presence and history in your city/ state. Often times roofers
will travel out of state (storm chasers) to a known hail storm area. They
may not be licensed in your state to replace roofs or back up their
warranties once they leave the area.
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Licensed in Your State- Being licensed ensures that the roofing
company has met the requirements for that state to properly install
your roof. Some states don’t require a roofing company to be licensed.
This means that they could have just recently become a roofing
company without the experience required to properly replace your roof. -
Experience- Having experience in the roofing industry is crucial. They
will be familiar with all of the local codes and methods of construction.
This also allows roofing companies to develop long relationships with
the best trades in the industry in order to provide you with the best
quality job done right the first time. 10 or more years experience is a
definite plus. -
Warranties- Most solid roofing companies provide a labor warranty.
Usually it’s a 1-year warranty that states if anything goes wrong on your
roof due to faulty workmanship, they will fix it for free within the first
year. Look for a company that has 5 year warranty or longer and beware
if they don’t provide one at all. -
Preferred Vendor- Some roofing companies have a higher status in
the industry due to their ethics, customer service and business
practices. They can obtain these with manufacturers like Owens
Corning, GAF as wells as others. Ask for their level of status with these
suppliers. They are typically members of various roofing organizations
as well. -
Insurance Claim Specialist- Working smoothly with insurance
companies is a must. Sometimes there are unexpected issues that arise
during your project. A great roofing company will be able to ensure you
get everything you need filed under your claim even if something
unforeseen happens after your initial claim. -
Properly Insured- A $1M General liability insurance (GL) is coverage
that can protect you from a variety of claims including bodily injury,
property damage, personal injury and others that can arise from
business operations. Some companies have worker’s compensation or
have their trades supply it. Ask to see a copy of the GL at the point of
sale. -
Contractor Skills- Many insurance claims require a variety of trades to
complete the scope of work. Having contractor skills usually ensures
that they know construction and will be able to apply that knowledge
to completing the items in the insurance estimate. They also will have a
long list of qualified sub contractors to do the work. -
References- Check to see their rating on the BBB, Angie’s List and
other social media sites like Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Ask to see if
they have reference letters as well. -
Trustworthy- Make sure that they do not use high-pressure tactics
to make you sign a contract first without the support of proper
documentation mentioned above. Make sure they have a defined
outline of how they go to business with you. Once they have proven
this, go with your gut.
The contractor should be reputable with a good track record of quality and fair pricing. Beware of contractors who would take advantage of the disaster situation.
A good reputation would mean quality work, fast service, fully insured and bonded and those who place high importance for customer satisfaction.
In a nutshell, they should be established with a good track record, licensed, verifiable insurance and the homeowner should do his or her homework and talk with previous clients at there homes, get there insurance certificates and show yourselves as an additional insured on liability and especially workers comp. Call your state board for contractors and verify the license and record.
Verifiable and licensed in the state the work is going to be completed is a first. Know your insurance policy inside and out. Be sure the contractor is insured and uses insured subs.
There are a lot of good answers, all are a part of what you need to know, be sure that they are licensed in the state they are working in, fully insured, during these times they could be from out of state make sure they’re not fly-by-night, there’s a lot a good contractors out there that come to help but some take avenge, do your research.
Hire a contractor familiar with insurance claims and have an independent inspector
I would recommend looking for a local licensed and insured contractor in your area that will be more familiar with the quality of local subcontractors work and have a good relationship with local suppliers. During a disaster is when many fly-by-night uninusred contractors try to sweep in to take advantage.