If you’ve never hired a contractor before, the process can seem somewhat intimidating at first glance. After all, you’re bringing a stranger to your home and trusting them to work on your property. You’ve also probably heard plenty of horror stories about friends, family, or neighbors who have worked with contractors in the past and have had disastrous results.
Now, the vast majority of contractors out there are going to do a quality job. But, it’s still important to do your due diligence when it comes to choosing the right contractor—especially if they are a roofer. Your roof is a key part of your home and is the first line of defense against the elements (in addition to your siding). Only qualified, experienced roofers should be chosen to work on your home.
This brings us to this post’s question—when you do hire a roofer, when should you pay them? Before or after they complete the job? Let’s break it down.
When Should You Pay a Roofer?
First and foremost, you should never pay the entire agreed-upon amount prior to the roofer completing the project. That is a huge red flag. If you found the contractor through a reputable directory or glowing reviews and their website looks legit, then it’s highly unlikely they’ll ask you to pay for everything upfront. The only people who will do that are likely scammers. For example, storm chasers are notorious for hopping from town to town, banging on doors that have storm damage, asking for money for repairs, and then skipping town before starting or completing the job. For this reason, you should always be wary of door knockers. That isn’t to say there aren’t some quality service providers and contractors that door-knock and will do a great job, but make sure you do your research on their company before agreeing to work with them.
The bottom line: if your roofer asks for you to pay for everything upfront, back out and find someone else to work with. There is no reason they should be asking that of you unless they weren’t confident they could complete the job to your satisfaction.
So, When Should You Pay Your Roofer?
There are a couple of ways in which roofers will ask for compensation. The first is that they’ll have the pay clearly outlined in the contract. They won’t ask for any payment upfront and will instead rely on you fulfilling your end of the agreement (as long as the roof is completed as outlined in the contract).
The other method of payment you may come across is paying for half the roof upfront, and the rest of it after the roof is completed. This is done for two reasons. First, it shows that you are actually serious about getting the roof completed and fulfilling your end of the agreement. Second, those upfront funds can be put towards materials and contractor workers, which will both help speed up the process. Keep in mind; this initial deposit isn’t an extra cost. Instead, you’re just paying for your roof in two installments.
In some instances, you may be able to negotiate how much you pay upfront. For the most part, your roofer will be a little flexible as long as it’s still a reasonable amount that allows them to pay for materials and workers.
These are definitely the two best ways to pay for your roof, and with just about every roofer, you’ll find that they allow for one of those forms of payment.
At Eagle Eye, we want to make sure that you can afford your new roof with ease. We offer flexible financing options to help you fund your dream home improvement or make it easier to afford an emergency repair project. We’ve partnered with Enhancify, a leading lending technology, to seamlessly offer personalized payment options in seconds, without taking home equity.
Head over to our finance page to learn more about how it works!
How to Make Sure Your Roofer is Reputable and Reliable
In addition to ensuring your roofer won’t require you to pay upfront for the project, here are some other ways to make sure that your roofer is reliable and will get the job done right.
Check Their Google Reviews
Reviews are one of the best ways to gauge the quality of a roofer. Check their reviews wherever you can find them. Houzz, Google, BBB, Angie’s List are just a few examples of places to check for reviews. Make sure the vast majority of them are positive.
Ask to See Past Work
If they have done great work in the past, they should have no trouble providing examples of their work. If they don’t have any images of work or addresses of homes they’ve worked on (which they may not be able to provide for privacy reasons), it isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker. But, they are nice to have.
Do You Get Good Vibes From Them?
This one is obviously subjective, but when you first meet with the roofer for a consultation, do you like the vibe you’re getting from them? Do they seem like they know what they are talking about? Are they getting measurements, asking about your goals for the project, your budget, and what type of materials you’re interested in? If they seem like they are just trying to get in and out without learning about your home and your roof, that’s a red flag.
If you’re ready for your next roofing project, or have questions regarding financing for your roof, give us a call!
