The short answerBefore you sign with a roofer, ask for six things: their license number if your state or city requires one, proof of insurance, a written estimate that lists exactly what is included, who pulls the permit, what the warranty covers, and how payment works. Get each answer in writing. A good roofer will not sigh.
The six questions
- What is your license number? Rules differ by state and sometimes by city, and some places do not license roofers at all. Ask, then check the number with your state or local licensing office.
- Can I see proof of insurance? Ask for a certificate of insurance, and ask that their insurance agent send it to you directly.
- What exactly does the estimate include? It should name the materials, whether the old roof is torn off, the flashing and vents, the cleanup and the haul-away. A lower number that leaves out half of that is not lower.
- Who pulls the permit? Many places require one for a new roof; your local building department can tell you. Find out whose job it is and where it shows up in writing.
- What does the warranty cover, and who stands behind it? The shingle maker's standard warranty covers the material (some makers offer extended coverage through approved installers). A workmanship warranty from the roofer covers how it was installed. Ask for both in writing, with the years and what could void them.
- How does payment work, and when? Ask about the schedule and what happens at each stage. Be cautious about anyone who wants the whole amount before any work starts.
After a big storm, ask the same questions of everyone
After a hurricane on the Gulf coast or a hailstorm in the plains, crews show up in town and knock on doors. Local is not automatically good and out-of-town is not automatically bad, but a door-knock is a reason to slow down, not speed up. Take a card, say you will call back and use the six questions. Anyone who is still around next week and has good answers is still available.
Make the quotes comparable
If you get two or three estimates, give every roofer the same information: the same photos, the same description of what you have seen, the same question. Then the difference in price means something. A quote from photos is a starting point, and a roofer may need to see the roof in person, especially for damage you cannot see from the ground.
If you are the roofer reading this
Every answer above is one a customer wants before they call. Put your license number, your insurance, what your estimates include and how your warranty works on your website, in plain words. A customer who finds the answers before they dial arrives with better questions.
Where Bots on Staff fits
Our roofing websites put those answers up front and include a chat that asks the customer for photos, starts a written quote and sends you the lead. You can see how that looks on your own business first: we build a free home page and send you the link.
Questions people ask
Should I get more than one roofing estimate?
For a big job it is usually worth it. Give every roofer the same photos and description so the estimates compare like for like.
Does a low estimate mean a bad roofer?
Not by itself. Check what each estimate includes. A lower number that leaves out tear-off, flashing or cleanup is only lower on paper.
Is a roofer from out of town a bad sign?
Not by itself. Ask the same six questions of everyone, and be slower to sign with anyone who pressures you at the door.
Can a roofer give a firm price from photos?
Photos give a starting estimate. A roofer may need to inspect the roof before a final price, because damage under the surface does not show in a picture.
