It takes a lot of guts to be a roofer. But it takes more than just courage to be a successful one.
A professional roofer doesn’t just fix roofs and handle renovations. He must also be reliable and transparent because his work involves keeping clients safe and protected in their homes.
If you’re just starting your business as a roofing contractor or you’re someone who needs a bit of a refresher on your skills, then read on to find a few dos and don’ts to guide you on your first or next roofing renovation.
Do your research.
Before you start offering roofing services to your neighbors or community, you have to do your research on business regulations and existing government rules about what you can and can’t do as a roofer.
Due diligence will help you start a legal business and keep you protected from huge fines in the future. If a client needed your services for a home inspection, you want to make sure you have all the legal aspects in order.
Don’t arrive late for any reason.
When you schedule appointments with clients, you must know that they also invest time and effort in making sure that their house is a bit more presentable for contractors. They also try to book their other appointments ahead of time to squeeze in that roof repair work they badly needed. So it’s just common sense to respect their time and don’t waste it by arriving late and unprepared to do work.
Appointments for roof repair doesn’t only happen once. Of course, you still need to survey the area and do an initial inspection of the possible roofing problem before you can actually start fixing the roof.
Clients will most likely seek your services again if you keep this pretty basic rule.
Do invest in quality equipment and tools.
The best tools will make roofing work easier and safer for your workers and clients. That’s why investing in quality and professional-grade roofing equipment will pay off in the long run. Besides, if you are planning to join this industry for a while, it’s best to get the right tools of the trade.
Don’t forget to upgrade and maintain these tools, too. Otherwise, these tools will only be good for the first year or so, no matter how expensive they seem to be.
Don’t mess up the worksite.
Aside from arriving late, one more thing that clients hate about some roofing contractors is the fact that they trash the place. Yeah, it is inevitable to make a mess of things while you’re in the middle of your repair work. But never damage any part of your client’s property. Plus, after the work, go the extra mile and assist the homeowners in cleaning the mess you made.
Do protect yourself, your employees, and clients from risk.
Sometimes, no matter how careful you and your workers are, accidents still happen. In this case, who do you think should pay for it? Should it be the poor workers who committed the error? Should it be the contractor who hired the worker? Or should the client just accept it as a work related-risk?
The correct answer is no one. That’s if you insured your roofing business before taking on any projects. This assures your clients that you have an extra layer of protection in case something goes awry.
Don’t be reactive to renovation.
A damaged roof is the leading cause of building problems during natural disasters. But oftentimes, people don’t realize just how badly their roofs need renovating. So it’s up to you to remind them about this important fact. You can offer regular roof inspections and renovations every few months or so to keep yourself in the game and to protect your clients, too. This service is best for repeat clients you want to keep in your portfolio.
Being a roofer entails a lot of responsibility and integrity. Just like any business, your reputation is your strongest asset. This will give you not only good reviews but repeat clients who will rely on you to keep their roofs in pristine condition.
