How to Negotiate Costs With Your Roofer
You’d naturally want to get the best deal on a roofing project and one way to do that is by negotiating costs with a contractor. However, you’ll have to walk a fine line during negotiations. The roof repair experts at The Great American Roofing Company share some tips below.
When Your Contractor Is Likely to Negotiate
Keep in mind that depending on the contractor’s level of experience, they might not be that open to negotiating the costs. Since they might not have as much clients as a more experienced contractor, newly established companies tend to be more open to such negotiations. More experienced roofers, on the other hand, would be less receptive. That being said, it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try.
Have Them Assess Your Roofing Plans
However, first things first, you need to know what the costs are. Have your contractor assess your roof—there might be underlying issue, like a hidden roof leak, that you haven’t factored into your budget.
Clarify What Is and Isn’t Included in the Estimates
After the inspection, the contractor should inform you of any underlying issues and provide you with an estimate. Discuss your budget with the contractor and ask for a breakdown of the costs.
Do You Really Need That Warranty?
If you’re getting a roof replacement, your contractor might have included warranty costs in the estimate. As a rule of thumb, it’s better to get a warranty. As such, what you need to decide here is how long the warranty should last. Ask your roofer about how long the coverage period should be.
Compare Estimates
To get the best deal, you need to compare estimates from different contractors. But remember, you shouldn’t immediately hire the ones who give the lowest estimates or are the most open to negotiations. As mentioned earlier, they might not have enough experience. And since less experienced contractors are more likely to make installation errors, hiring them could cost you more in the long run.
Looking for experienced contractors in your neighborhood? The Great American Roofing Company, a contractor with nearly five decades’ worth of experience, offers professional roofing services you can count on. To get a free estimate, call us at (201) 515-2007 or leave us a message here.