Size Does Matter! (for your roof)

The roofing advertisements seem too good to be true. 50% off! $0 down! Only $99 per square for a limited time only! What can you believe?

If you're not a roofing contractor and you don't play one on TV, it's hard to know what to make of roof ads and pricing in general. What should you be paying and what's actually a good deal?

Let's start with some common sense. Any roofing company who charges half of the real cost probably won't stay in business for very long. If the price per square (which equals 100 square feet of shingles) was truly so much less than everyone else's, either a company is doing the work strictly for fun, or—more likely—they're making hay with some fuzzy math.

If you want to make the wisest decision in terms of cost and quality, it's a good idea to look at the same things contractors do when they calculate a quote. The typical breakdown involves figuring out how many squares are required and the quality of the shingles, the difficulty of the job and how much waste is anticipated, and of course the condition of the roof in question.

But first and foremost, until you know the size of your roof, you can't know for sure that the quote you're getting is on the level. Now, does that mean you need to prop a ladder against a gutter, climb up with a tape measure and figure this out? Of course not.

One of the benefits of having multiple roofers examine your home is so you can compare their measurements of your roof. Although experienced roof contractors can guesstimate how big a roof is just by looking at it, the best ones will get as precise as possible—it's in their best interest to know how much material they'll need. Good roofers understand profit margin. They know the best quote for you will also be the best for them, and that accuracy ensures they stay in business for years to come.

Another way to feel secure is through aerial analytics, a unique and very precise method Hire it Done uses to size up your roof and calculate all the measurements you'll need. When you submit a roof project request, we instantly generate a report and send it to our pre-screened contractors. They will all make appointments to meet with you and go over why they feel they offer the best product, installation and support. Since all Hire It Done roofing contractors show up with the same measurement report, you can concentrate solely on which will give you the best roof you can afford.

If there's still any confusion, contact me at Hire it Done and I'll walk you through to decipher any quote.

Committing to buying a new roof can be pretty intimidating. Before you make any decision, make sure you're working with measurements and a contractor you can trust

15 Signs that a Contractor is About to Rip You Off

Getting excited about your big home remodeling project!  Got an idea in your head? Got the financing ready to go? Now you' re about to pick a contractor to do the work.

I've put together 15 quick signs to watch out for before you jump in bed with a contractor that claims to want to turn your dream into a reality.  If you observe any of this behavior, raise a RED FLAG and BEWARE!

1. They pressure you to sign a contract
2. A special price is offered only if you sign today
3. They don’t provide you a valid copy of the company’s insurance or license
4. "References? You don't need to see my references. -- they're all family members anyway."
5. You’re told your home will be used for advertising so you’re being offered a special discount rate
6. You’re asked to pay up front for the whole job or an unreasonable portion
7. You’re asked to pay in cash to a salesperson instead of a check to the company
8. The company doesn't have a physical address
9. They have no website or haven't updated it since Al Gore invented the internet.
10. Poor communication skills
11. Impatient or pushy sales representative
12. Slow to return calls
13. Disorganization
14. They don’t present a portfolio of similar projects
15. They tell you pulling permits are a waste of time.

Hire it Done pre-screens contractors for homeowners. We’ve checked their licenses, insurance, references and even visited them on their job sites to review their work. This allows you the homeowner to focus confidently on selecting a contractor that will be a partner in your success.  Additionally Hire it Done creates an atmosphere of competition so the contractors compete for your business, giving you the best deal with a competent contractor.

Visit Hire it Done to get going in the right direction, with the right contractor and best of all it’s free!