Seven questions to ask a roofer before you sign

Hiring someone to work on your home is a bigger decision than picking a restaurant. The job costs more, it takes longer, and fixing a bad one is painful. A little checking up front saves most of that trouble.

This checklist works for bathroom and kitchen remodels, garage doors, cleaning contracts, and most other home improvement work. Use it to compare two or three businesses side by side.

Start with the listing

A good listing tells you three things quickly: what the business does, where it works, and how to reach it. If any of those is missing, treat it as a prompt to ask.

• Does the description name the specific service you need, not only a broad trade?
• Is there a street address or a clear service area?
• Does the phone number on the listing match the one on the business website?

Ask the same questions of everyone

You can only compare answers if you ask each contractor the same things. Keep the list short enough to get through on one call.

• Have you done this exact type of job before, and can I see photos of it?
• Who will be on site each day, your own crew or a subcontractor?
• What licence and insurance do you carry for this work in my area?
• What is included in the price, and what would count as an extra?
• When can you start, and how long will it take?

Licensing rules vary by state, county, and trade. Check the requirement with your local licensing office instead of taking a general rule from any article, including this one.

Get the important parts in writing

A written quote protects both sides. It does not need to be long. It needs to be specific about scope, materials, price, payment timing, and who handles permits and cleanup.

If something was promised on the phone and it matters to you, ask for it to be added before you sign.

Know when to walk away

• Pressure to decide on the spot.
• A price given without looking at the job or asking questions about it.
• Reluctance to put the scope or the price in writing.
• No way to reach the business other than a mobile number.

None of these proves a business is bad. Each one is a reason to slow down and keep comparing.

Compare, then choose

Once you have two or three written quotes, line them up by scope first and price second. The cheapest quote is often the one that leaves something out. When the scopes match, you can compare the numbers fairly and choose with confidence.

Ready to compare? Browse Home Improvement Services on Findelio and shortlist a few businesses near you.