Have you recently bought a new home that needs a new roof, or are you having a new home built and need a roof? Most homeowners or homebuyers don't know that they can save up to $5,000 on a new roof, but it's true. Usually, when we hear a savings like that for a new roof, we automatically think it can't be true.
The key to saving so much money is to get as many bids as you can. Ask your Realtor® to give you some of their roofing contacts. They will usually have some great contacts to choose from. Studies show that homeowners with more bids paid less for their roofing services. Even professional roofers say they have to lower their price to win the bid.
When you're ready to have your new roof done, use Consumer Checkbook. Consumer Checkbook is an online service that reports the business practices of contractors. Look up the roofing contractors that are giving you bids to ensure you are getting a licensed, insured, bonded, and professional roofer. The lowest price isn't the greatest price if you have to fix a bad job because you hired someone who really didn't know what they're doing.
After you have decided on the roofer you think is the most qualified for the job, what do you do next? First ask him to adjust his price, letting him know the other bids you've gotten. Think of it like this; a twenty percent discount on a roof job for $500 is only one hundred dollars in savings, but a twenty percent discount on a $10,000 roofing job is a total savings of $2,000.
Make sure the price you get is a fixed price, not an estimated price range. Sometimes the difference can be as much as $3,000. Also you will want to ask each roofing contractor what exactly he will do to the roof. Some contractors will do more, some will do less. Question each part of the project. Find out how much labor and materials are going to be billed separately.
Last, but not least, get a written guarantee and don't accept any contract with loopholes for additional damage. Most contracts should be done on a time and materials basis or on a per foot basis. Let the contractor know that you plan to pay in payments as the work is done. Never pay the total job up front or until the job is complete.
For more information about home improvements or homes for sale that need a little TLC, please contact us.
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