Before you actually sign on with a contractor, it’s important that you ask them some critical questions. Going into a working relationship without any backstory on who someone is or what their company stands for can really hurt you and your investment in the long run.
We see transparency as a core value in our company. It’s very important to us, and we want our customers to see that. That’s why we’re putting together this blog post so that you can have access to some of the most important questions to be asking contractors before you hire them.
How Long Have You Been in Business?
First off, it’s good to know how long the contractor you’re thinking of working with has been in business. While it’s not always easy to find a long-standing company, it helps a lot to know that a company has been around and that they’re going to be around for years to come.
If companies are only 5-10 years old, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t trust them. It simply means that you need to do a more thorough background check before signing a contract with them. A great way to do a good background check is by looking at some of the other jobs that have recently been completed or checking their reviews.
Do You Have the Proper Licenses?
Ask your contractor if they possess the proper licenses to do work in your area. It’s definitely not wrong to check with them to ensure that they’re going to have everything they need to legally work in your area. For the most part, requirements will change from city to city and state to state, so it doesn’t hurt to do a quick Google search so that you have an idea of what might be required.
Do You Have all the Proper Insurance?
The proper insurance is essential for your contractors to have. If they fail to have the right insurance and something was to happen on your property, as the homeowner at the time of the accident, you may be found responsible for medical or repair bills. The only way to avoid this is to ensure that the company does have the right insurance for all of its employees.
What is the Timeline for Completion?
Getting a timeline for the completion of the project is another great thing to ask contractors before hiring them. Your contractors should include a completion timeline in their contract. In general, the amount of time that a contractor will need to spend on a project will likely vary depending on what the project entails. Expect roofing projects to take 2 to 5 days and remodel projects to be closer to months long.
Will You Obtain the Proper Permits and Set-Up Inspections?
Permits are important again, depending on the type of project. Some projects might not require permits, while other projects definitely will. Just ensure that the contractor you do work with is willing to get permits and have an inspection done at the end of the project. If the contractor asks you to take care of permits and inspections, then steer clear of that. The fees that can be associated with these two different items are really high and can push $1,500 on some projects.
If I Have Questions, What is Your Response Time?
You might be one to have a lot of questions about different things. If that’s you, you’ll likely have many questions about your construction project that you’ll want to be answered. Ask your contractor if they’ll be responsive to you and willing to work with you when it comes to the questions you have.
What Does Clean Up Look Like?
At the end of the day or the end of the project, there’s going to be a mess. There are all types of ways that a project can get to be a mess, so ensure that the contractor you hire is committed to keeping things clean and tidy around your property. If they’re working on your roof, ask them about nails and shingles that fall and whether or not they’re going to clean them up every day, and when the project is finished.
At Red Canyon Roofing, we’re happy to answer any questions you have prior to starting your roofing project. We enjoy working with and educating our customers and our community and good roofing practices, and we always want to display excellent customer service. Reach out to us today with your roofing questions, and we’d be happy to offer you a free roofing inspection.
