Marriage by elimination is a scary proposal — and yet that’s how most homeowners choose a contractor. Estimates are like first dates, and selecting the one best suited to your home project can feel like playing darts blindfolded. Because they’re in a vulnerable spot, most homeowners decide by process of elimination. One estimate inflates the importance of hot-dipped nails while another doesn’t mention them. One emphasizes a 30-year workmanship warranty (from a company in business for two years) while another offers a modest 5-year guarantee. When you’re being sold, mountains are made from molehills, information is inflated, and you’re led to believe the other suitors are lacking. Eliminated.
Some selection by elimination is unavoidable, but I’d encourage a different approach — the same one you’d use to size up a suitor for your son or daughter. What’s the contractor’s reputation among homeowners you know and trust? What is the company’s culture and character? When asked, is the estimator shy about sharing a time a mistake happened on a project and the company took extreme ownership? Does the estimator feel they must sell themselves, or can they rest in the confidence of their team and speak to how the work actually gets executed? Great companies need great people who are treated with respect, incentive, and investment — so how does the company treat its workers, and can the estimator even speak to that?
However you qualify potential suitors, the critical thing is to decide how you’ll choose a contractor before you ever dip a toe into the dating pool. When you’re ready for an honest, no-pressure conversation about your roof, request a free estimate or call/text 503-523-3449.
