Know what you mean.... for the last year I've had property preservation companies begging me for work. Yet when I call them for a bid, it takes two weeks to get something in writing! I don't get it...

With several inches of rain, people found leaks that had been leaking for years.  So, when the guy goes out, he has no idea if he will be there for an hour or a day.  Scheduling gets hard.

The small-time roofers are overloaded with calls and can pick their jobs.  Few of them are professionals in terms of communication, scheduling, customer service, etc.  And after a rainy week like we had, they are stressed beyond what they can handle.

The alternative is to call a firm with the overhead of a customer service department, non-working supervisors and schedulers, and pay for that overhead.

And a great many roofing firms do not do repairs, and certainly not good repairs.  They want to do full replacement, because it is easier to specify and subcontract out.

It is all inconvenient as heck.

It is odd that some people do not want to work even when you schedule them.

I've got a couple if you need them. I had an Alt 2 deadline last Friday and got intimately acquainted with a couple of roofers.  

Many contractors around our areas are flakes and the ones that are not gouge.

Had the same experience trying to get HVAC bids in my market (NW suburban Chicago). Six contractors called, and I eventually got the three bids to satisfy the asset management company. Yes, I explained it's a foreclosure, but it also made me wonder if that was a sign of improvement -- after all, the recession MUST be over if half of the contractors in my admittedly small sample didn't bother to go out and write up a bid -- or perhaps those remaining in any business are now swamped.

This is not just isolated to NC.  In So Cal we have the same problem with reliable tradesmen.  When you find a good one they are like gold!

I have a similar issue - basement room remodel - about a 10k job. Called about 10 contractors total.5  returned my calls 4 of those of those showed up to look at the job...only 2 actually got me a quote, rest blew me off.

The one I chose was supposed to start this week...no show.

????

wow that is something.  Here in Avon Lake Ohio we had a major hail storm in May that resulted in roof damage in Avon Lake 3 surrounding towns (we are off Lake Erie, near Cleveland). Anyway we have had roofers everywhere.  So many they have been coming up from the south (lots of GA license plates) It  was considered a disaster so it wont impact insurance claims.  I would gladly send a few your way after they do my roof

HI Linda -- I too see the same thing here in Cleveland and the economy isn't expanding.  I think it's poor management and communication in the trades, which is an epidemic in my humble opinion.

I think they all came here after our two large hail storms that damaged thousands of roofs.  We were flooded with roofers from all over which means our city was over-run with shady roofers mixed in with the good local roofers and the few from nearby states that do a good job.  It is a shame you're having such a hard time.  I hope you find your roofer and soon!

Hi Linda ~ I'm in the same boat. I put off dealing with my leaky roof during our drought but once it started to rain I started making calls.  I also need a furnace replaced. So far I've got one estimate out of three visits.

I think fall is a tough time to get this sort of job done - the companies are out straight. I also think that more people should think about going into the trades - can't send those jobs out of the country!

Liz

Linda:

This may be something that is happening in your area.  But I have had great luck with "Servicemagic." You may want to give them a try.

This may be a little town syndrome, I have the same problems with sub-contractors in my little corner of VT, It is nearly impossible to get any sub contractor that is reliable........guess they are all too comfortable not doing anythinng.....

Linda, it seems to be quite a challenge to get someone to come out and give you an estimate these days. I had a similar problem a couple of months back. Finally found someone who was willing to do the work.

Linda,

That seems strange. In Mississauga, just to the immediate west of Toronto I had 12 roofers give quotes in 2 days.

The advantage of roof quotes is that you don't have to be home.

Many some of these people should move to North Carolina.

Brian

Linda,

We had severe storms here last year and roofers came out of the wood work, getting a good one was still an issue, but you had your pick.  It was tough however to get them to come look at a minor repair issue.  Now that all of the new roofs have been done, they again are fighting for any business.  Had a minor repair on a listing and had three estimates all were willing to be 'cheaper' than the other guy. All three were good companys just needing any business.  Hope you fins a good roofer and stay dry.   

I've got a seller who wants to get some quotes for granite.  They've called two companies, left several messages, and haven't heard a thing back.

I am sad for you...a leaky roof can cause a lot of unseen damage as well.

Unfortunately you called roofers right after a large rainstorm and that is when everyone is calling.  That is not an excuse but that is the fact of the matter.  I would definitley take them off of the preferred vendor list and let them know why.   

Did you ask them to come and do an estimate or come and do the work?  If you asked for an estimate...you probably got put on the back burner for actual work that pays.   Not saying that is right...but big paying jobs are a lot more enticing than a smaller maybe paying job if the estimate is okay.

An analogy might be...if you are hungry right now and have the choice of eating a perfectly cooked rib eye steak or cooking your own hamburger on a grill that might or might not heat up while watching someone else eat the ribeye...which are ya gonna choose?

It takes a long time to come up with a list of subs who show up and do what they say. But once you get your list, it is golden.