Pre-Screening Roofers: 3 Questions to Ask Over the Phone

When you’re looking for a roofing contractor, you’ll realize early on that you won’t have a lack of choices. Your troubles, however, will begin when you have to narrow down your options. You can only choose one, after all. You can do your own research, but it can also be overwhelming to sift through all the information. Here’s where pre-screening comes into play.

When you pre-screen, you’re assessing roofers you’re interested in based on some basic criteria, establishing credibility. It’s important to make sure you’re working with a credible roofing contractor because that will determine the overall results of your project. 

Here are some of the questions you can ask a roofing contractor over the phone: 

What’s Your Legal Business Name?

It’s easy enough to represent yourself as anyone these days online so make sure you’re hiring contractors who are exactly who they say they are. The only acceptable answers are: 1) the exact name they are using to market themselves as; 2) their legal company name and the name they are doing business as; and 3) their legal company name and the name they are marketing themselves as.

If a roofer is unable to provide you with their legal business name right away, take them off of your list.

Do You Have a License?

Different states have different licensing requirements depending on the type of contractor you are. In Michigan, for instance, roofing contractors need to get a license from the state’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. The license is categorized under Residential Maintenance and Alteration, and requires 60 hours of education and passing an exam before a roofer can apply for it.

It’s important to make sure your roofer has a license because that guarantees you are working with not just a legitimate business, but one that has met standards set by your state to offer the roof installation service they are advertising. You can also ask if they are insured and bonded.

Who Will Be on the Jobsite During the Project?

Depending on availability, company owners or managers, or project managers will be present during the job. No matter how experienced an installation crew is, there has to be someone “running the show” to stay on top of things and address issues right away, preventing them from sidetracking your project.

An award-winning contractor, Rapid Roofing is one of the most trusted local roofing companies in the area. We have been in business for nearly 20 years, and we specialize in a range of roofing jobs, from installations and replacements to repairs and maintenance. We also offer siding and gutter services. To learn more about what we can do for you, simply give us a call at (734) 895-9553, or fill out our contact form. Ask us for a FREE estimate today! We serve Ann Arbor, MI, and the surrounding communities.