How to Know If You’re Paying Too Much for a New Roof
Recently, undercover shoppers for Checkbook.org conducted a little experiment to see how varied the roofing estimates would be for the exact same job--replacing composite shingles with architectural asphalt shingles on a 1,300 square foot home. Of the 12 companies that offered bids, the lowest was $5,414 and the highest was $9,380, a difference of nearly $4,000 for the exact same roof. This is actually quite typical of roofing bids, they can vary widely based on the quality of the materials that will be used, the number of years a company has
been in business, and how busy or slow a given roofing company is. So how do you know if you’re getting a great deal, a fair price, or ripped off? Here are a few tips.
Get at least a few estimates
It’s hard to tell if you’re getting a fair price if you’re comparing apples to oranges. You can try to compare a price you’ve been quoted to an estimate for a roof of similar size and material but it won’t be a perfect comparison. If you get four, five, or even more estimates, however, you can get a better sense of the range in prices you’re being quoted. Estimates are usually free so there’s no reason not to get several.
Ask follow-up questions
The range of prices alone is not enough to go on. The cheapest bid may be the best deal or it could be a mistake if the roofer is inexperienced, is lowballing the estimate to get your business, or plans to cut corners and use inferior materials to get you a roof at that price point. The highest bid may be a rip-off or it might be the best value considering the quality of their workmanship, materials, and warranty. Or the best deal might be somewhere in between. In order to be sure, you have to ask follow-up questions of contractors who bid especially higher or lower than the rest.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate
If you have a particularly good feeling about one Spokane roofing company over another, don’t be afraid to mention a lower bid. Your preferred contractor might come down on the price or be able to explain why you’re better off paying more for this particular contractor.
Home improvement news brought to you by bartonroof.com
Source: komonews.com/news/consumer/tip-for-finding-a-good-roofing-company
Tags:roofing, roofing tips, roof replacement, roof estimate, roofing contractor, Spokane roofing company