For numerous homeowners, determining which contractor to render services from can be a challenging decision to make throughout a rebuild or home overhaul project. Multiple contractors to choose from can make who to choose an even more daunting task. There are some things you can do to determine just how qualified the roofing contractor in Canton Michigan is for the roofing project you need. Here are some of the red flags that you should look for.
Common public information about local businesses around you can be found from popular websites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB for short), or even word from mouth and referrals. Sometimes, even this is not enough. While although some of the procedures are standard, like verifying the business, checking insinuations, and receiving numerous bids, some red flags are hard to catch resulting in a difficult time of recognizing a bad hire. Here are our top ten alarming red flags when employing a roofing contractor.
Ten Alarming Red Flags When Employing A Roofing Contractor in Canton Michigan
- They lack the experience relevant to your project
When you’re hiring a contractor, it’s important to browse their website and services to see what they specialize in. Different contractors are better or worst than other contractors at a wide variety of specialty things. The best thing to look out for is what the contractor claims to have the most experience in and see if that aligns with your project’s goals and needs.
- They can’t provide any proof of work and/or work history
Everybody has their own humble beginnings and it may be enticing to give that person in the game their first shot at a gig. This usually isn’t the worst thing to do as some may even bring something new to the table, on the grounds of being dedicated, revolutionary, and filled to the brim of new ideas. But, there’s always a discrepancy between a contractor who has minimal history, and one who has zero history. Even if the contractor is starting as an independent or business, they should possess some level of skill from pervious jobs they have completed. Make sure to question them about previous works or their upbringing to get a good idea of how much experience they could possibly have.
- They give off a bad attitude
If a contractor gives off a bad attitude and you continue to work with them, this is only asking for trouble. A bad attitude can be the difference between a project being completed smoothly and the amount of road bumps later down the line. A person who is in good spirits and is fun to have around would create a better emotional environment for the project to be completed, usually in effect to faster results and less downtime for the area of your home.
- Lack of proper license, insurance, or registration
There are laws put in place dependent on where you live for a contractor to possess insurance, registration and licenses. Verification of the proper authorization to complete contract work is of upmost importance to make sure all the necessary validation has been completed. Another important thing to check for is to make sure the contractor holds all of the liabilities and compensation insurance one would need to complete this type of work. Verification that your contractor possesses these safety nets would ensure that your home project is protected financially.
- They didn’t bring the right tools to the job
Every home project requires something different to complete the task in an efficient time properly. Providing a contractor with a detailed explanation of what needs to be done before they arrive at your home would ensure that they arrive with all the right tools to complete any type of specialty work that needs to be done. Questioning them before hand to verify they have the right tools to complete a job can be part of the interviewing process to make sure they are qualified to perform this job. Often times, if possess the right equipment to complete any specific task you would want, they would most likely also possess the skills to use the tool in a skillful manner as well.
- Contractor arrives at your home late
Arriving late once on a project that could stretch out over the course of months isn’t anything to be worried about if the contractor does it in the right way. If the contractor provides a call beforehand letting you know that they will be arriving late shouldn’t be faulted, especially due to a personal reason such as an illness or an event that the contractor was not expecting. Life happens, and it’s important to not be too unreasonable when working with a contractor. However, if the contractor shows up time and time again late, or even missing days of work with little to no communication about the reasoning beforehand, this is crossing the line and should be seen as a reason to find a new contractor for your home project.
- They ask for weird payment
Asking for weird payment plans or methods, such as asking for huge amounts of money or wanting only cash transactions upfront should be a red flag. Even if you trust the contractor 100%, there should be no reason for a contractor to request weird payments. A lot of fraudulent transactions are handled with cash only, often times not reporting money as income so it would not be taxed. The contractor may also give you a low-ball offer or would want huge or sometimes even all of the money upfront. This would be a reason that would cause discomfort and concern when dealing with a contractor, and grounds as a reason to find a new contractor, or to proceed with this person under extreme caution.
- They are not acting in a professional way
Any contractor who respects their line of work and strives to complete projects for your home should act in a professional manner at all times. If they are not acting in a professional manner while deployed in your home to complete a job, it would be a red flag to find a new contractor. Acting in a professional manner would also mean communication between the two parties and working well with each other. Asking questions that ensure a slight hint of doubt in their abilities is not a professional way to handle things and should be seen to be cautious of this contractor or even hiring somebody else.
- Pressuring you to rush a decision
Contractors who pressure a homeowner to decide on the spot is a huge red flag. They would most often use high pressure scenarios or scare tactics to force you in to making a quick decision before you even had the chance to think through the decision. This is seen as highly unprofessional and should be avoided at all costs. Fear mongering and scare tactics is a method that contractors would use to secure themselves a job. If a contractor is defaulting to one of these strategies, then its safe to assume that they would act in a very unprofessional and unskilled manner inside your home, which is the last thing you would want when you hire a contractor to take on a job. A contractor should be trustworthy, and overall a great person to be around.
- They have a bad temperament
A contractor who tends to bully their way in to securing jobs are most likely a nasty person to have inside your home and should be avoided at all costs. If they respond to questions or inquires in a mean and nasty behavior, is it really somebody you would want to stick around? At the end of the day, you have to work and communicate alongside this person. Creating a positive experience is beneficial for both parties when completing a job inside your home. It truly would be an uphill battle if you are met with a contractor who did not bring positive energy and spirits to the project inside your home.
Conclusion
For the most part, the bad apples within the contracting community should be evident and obvious based on these basic red flags they would portray within the interviewing and planning phases of contract work. Avoiding contractors who act unprofessionally, lack experience, or bring negative attitudes and spirits inside your home is of upmost importance to ensure that your home’s project is completed in a timely and professional manner. Next time your home’s project is up for bid, make sure to look out for these red flags as it will save you a lot of money, time, and headache over the course of the following months working with a contractor. One of the best you can hire in the Canton Michigan area is Twelve Oaks Roofing. You can call them at 248-525-6950 for a free quote and details about your roofing project.
