While you are qualifying a contractor, the contractor is qualifying you. Most contractors are looking for a win-win situation. If you are difficult and unreasonable over the phone, many contractors will not look at your project in a storm environment. If a consumer demands that the contractor do a drive-by inspection while no one is at home, many professionals will decline. A professional re-roofing contractor will respect your time and intelligence and expect the same from you.
While calling contractors, please don’t become offended if they want you to answer a few questions. It is necessary for both the contractor and owner to take the time to discuss exactly what each person expects from each other. This should take place during the initial phone call or email. This is a good time to determine if the homeowner and contractor are a good fit for each other. If this process is being rushed by the homeowner most professionals will not take the time to look at the project. The contractor or receptionist will often place your call on a low level of priority in a storm environment.
Many homeowners become frustrated when contractors refuse to bid their project. There can be several reasons why a contractor refuses to bid a project. If a contractor is swamped and determines that you are price shopping, they may place the meeting on a low priority. Consequently you refuse to wait and tell them not to bother. If you have filed an insurance claim, the insurance restoration contractor would like the opportunity to negotiate the scope and price with the insurance carrier. If the homeowner only wants an estimate and tells the contractor that they will do all the negotiations many restoration contractors will walk away.
The difference between a Roofing company and an Independent Insurance Restoration Roof contractor is tremendous. A Roofer will bid your job and many compete on price. Unknown to the homeowner he or she begins to train the roofer to compete on price and the quality begins to suffer.
A qualified Independent Insurance Restoration contractor will offer a solution to the entire insurance replacement process. This contractor will offer to file the claim, prepare a roof assessment, meet with the adjuster, secure total roof replacement, negotiate with the insurance carrier, install the roof and provide credit until the final payment is sent from the insurance carrier.
If you are comfortable with this arrangement you will be asked to sign a contingency agreement. Your only responsibility will be to pay your deductible. There is no need to get three-bids. A legitimate insurance restoration contractor will provide you with a roof replacement scope listing all the components that are to be replaced. The estimate is provided to the insurance company and negotiations take place between the contractor and the insurance adjuster.
Most professional restoration roofers deliver a win-win situation as they are allowed to negotiate with the carrier to get paid present day fair market value. The homeowner gets a high quality roof and doesn’t have to settle for something less. The homeowner pays their deductible. This can be the best solution for everyone.
Submitted by Jerry Fristoe, Integrity Roofing and Painting, 469-844-9289, www.integrityroofingandpainting.com
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