6 Useful Tips for Comparing Roofing Companies in St. Louis

Comparing apples to oranges is a little like comparing roofing companies in St. Louis. There are literally hundreds of firms, with different specialties and different reputations.

Comparing roofing companies in St. Louis can be easy or hard, depending on whether you know the best ways to do this or not. If you do not compare companies or evaluate each possibility then you could end up hiring storm chasers who are not from your local area. This can be a disastrous decision that can hurt you in the long and short run.

Some of the top tips when you are making comparisons between roofing contractors include:

• Always compare prices to ensure that the company chosen offers top quality while still being reasonably priced in your local area.
• Choose a local contractor who is from your area, because this means that they are close by and available if a problem comes up during the project and they will not disappear on you.
• When you are comparing written estimates or proposals make sure that each one contains the exact same work, material brands and quantities, and other factors to make the comparison effective and accurate.
• References and before and after photos can help you weed out any unscrupulous contractors and get better results for your money.
• Check your local courts and business organizations to see if there have been many complaints against the company or if they have been sued frequently in the past.
• The best companies will be willing to provide proof of insurance and their license information upon request. If the roofing company refuses, this can be a warning sign.

1. Make Sure that the Roofing Companies in St. Louis are Competitively Priced

You want to identify the roofing companies in St. Louis who are competitively priced so that you do not pay more than you have to while still getting the highest quality results. Some contractors will charge more for the same materials and work than others will. Comparing a few companies can help you determine what is reasonable in your area.

2. Choose Local Contractors Instead of Storm Chasers

Storm chasers are companies who slide into town after a big storm, and often they engage in scams to fleece unsuspected homeowners for roofing and siding jobs. The best way to avoid these scams is to choose between only local roofing companies in St. Louis, so that you can quickly verify that the business is legitimate and that they will perform the work you are hiring them to do.

A scammer uses lots of techniques to make herself look credible. She might claim to be from a legitimate business, but uses a fake website, business cards or phone number. The scammer provides the information to potential victims to “prove” that her connection to the trusted business is real.

Source: Better Business Bureau

St. Louis is full of loyal citizens. We love and defend our sports teams, support our museums and institutions, and are proud to be part of our great city. Be sure to take it a step further and support your local businesses.

Reasons to Support Locally Owned Businesses

• Will be there before, during, and after the job
• Keeps the dollars in your local economy
• Ensures local competitive pricing
• Creates more local jobs
• Builds a stronger community

 3. Make Sure You are Comparing Apples to Apples

Comparing roofing companies in St. Louis can be very beneficial. But only if you are comparing apples to apples. If one estimate covers roofing materials, labor, flashing, and other components but another only covers the roofing materials then they cannot be effectively compared until all of the factors are the same.

4. Always Check References, and Look at Before and After Photos When Possible

The best roofing companies in St. Louis will be willing to provide references, before and after photos, or both. Storm chasers will not usually be able to provide either of these and that could leave you in an awkward position if you end up being scammed, not to mention out a considerable amount of money.

5. Look for Complaints and Lawsuits against each Contractor

Check the background of the roofing companies in St. Louis, specifically searching for customer complaints and lawsuits filed against the contractor by previous clients. Avoid any that have frequent or numerous complaints or lawsuits.

6. Ask for Proof of Licensing and Insurance from each Company

Ask the roofing companies in St. Louis about their licensing and insurance status, and eliminate any storm chasers who do not have either of these. Most states require roofing professionals to be licensed, and every business should have the appropriate insurance coverage.

Aside from the shoddy work, many of the storm chasers lack a valid license, don’t hold insurance or will lie about having insurance.

Source: AngiesList.com

Now that you are comparing apples to apples and know what to look for and what not to look for, be sure to support your local community and make a wise choice when comparing and choosing roofing companies in St. Louis.

Would you hire a company that is not locally based? What else should you compare between roofing companies in St. Louis to get the results you want?