For some Eden Prairie homeowners, deciding which roofing contractor to choose for their next home improvement project can seem stressful.
Of course, for many years the prevailing notion was that homeowners would invite several contractors out to their home to give estimates for a roof replacement.
From there, some homeowners would choose to partner with the roofing contractor whose bid was the lowest, but selecting a roofer based on price isn’t necessarily a wise decision.
“Many homeowners think that all they have to do is call three or four roofing contractors, get estimates, and then choose the cheapest option,” says Guy Grussing, owner of Grussing Roofing, which in 2023 will be entering its 52nd year in business.
“Based on what I have seen in my career, I wouldn’t recommend that a homeowner selects a roofing contractor solely because they are the lowest bid.”
Grussing then goes on to explain that over the years he has fixed and even completely replaced roofs that were improperly installed by contractors who charged a low price, and then delivered a subpar service.
“For a new roofing contractor, offering a really low price to homeowners is the fastest way to generate business,” Grussing gives as the reason for why some homeowners receive bids that are drastically lower than that of their competition.
“But the problem with that, and why I have fixed and even replaced so many newer roofs is because when a contractor bids a job very low, they usually are using inexpensive materials, inexperienced labor, and they’re trying to get the job done as quickly as possible.”
Sadly, roofing contractors who employ this strategy often don’t stay in business very long because poor workmanship leads to dissatisfied homeowners, which in turn leads to less work, and well, you can use your imagination as to what happens next.
“Going with a really low bid may seem like a good idea, and while sometimes low bids do turn out okay, I’ve seen a lot of instances where the lowest bid ends up becoming the most expensive bid,” Grussing remarks.
This is because if a roofing contractor replaces a roof and they do a bad job, or if there are leaks in the coming years, homeowners end up paying more money to get the job done right, and the few thousand dollars they saved at first end up costing them several thousand dollars extra later.
At this point, it’s fair to ask that if price isn’t the most important factor when choosing a roofing contractor, how can homeowners appropriately vet the roofers who come to their home?
Grussing recommends that prior to meeting with roofing contractors, homeowners should take a few minutes to research companies online.
For example, Google is a widely trusted resource when it comes to finding reputable restaurants, bars, and museums.
But it’s also a good way to look up roofing contractors and see reviews of their past work and customer service.
A simple Google search will often tell a homeowner a lot about a local roofing contractor because customers can see reviews from past clients.
“It’s all right there for the public to see. All homeowners have to do is type in the roofing company’s name and they will immediately be able to see all of that company’s reviews,” Grussing says.
At the same time, if a homeowner types in a prospective roofing contractor’s name and nothing shows up on Google, it’s likely the roofer doesn’t have a website.
In that case, Grussing says that a homeowner should be leery.
“I don’t know a reputable roofing contractor in Eden Prairie who does not have a website,” Grussing says.
“Every contractor is online these days because homeowners are looking for services online, so if a roofing contractor hasn’t spent the time or money to create even a simple website, it’s hard to believe that they will go the extra step to ensure customer satisfaction during a roof installation.”
Still, there are some homeowners who wonder if Google reviews are a viable source of information.
After all, couldn’t a roofing contractor delete bad reviews off Google, just like someone might eliminate a negative comment on their Facebook feed?
For context, anyone with an internet connection could write a Google review about any company, and so while roofing contractors can respond to the reviews that clients leave them on Google, they cannot edit or delete them.
“I can respond to a Google review that somebody writes about my roofing company,” Grussing mentions.
“But I can’t delete anything. Google believes in transparency for their customers because they want people to continue using their search engine, which is why they believe strongly in reviews and will promote companies who receive good feedback from homeowners.”
The good.
The bad.
And the potentially unsightly shingle a contractor installed years ago.
It’s all available online, but that doesn’t bother Grussing.
“I’m fine with having customers review our jobs because I know the type of work that I do, and I know how I treat my customers, so having people reinforce that on Google only benefits my business.”
Another way for homeowners to research contractors is to see if they are active on social media, and if they post content that is of value to the homeowner.
“Social media, Google, and platforms like this all give homeowners an insight into the type of roofing company they’re thinking about working with,” Grussing says.
“Of course, Google reviews are important, but social media plays a role as well, in the sense that if roofers are giving information to potential clients on Facebook or Instagram, it shows the homeowner that the contractor is serious about what they do, and that the contractor can be seen as someone who wants their customers to be informed before making a big decision.”
Still, all roads lead back to Google, the unbiased source where homeowners can easily see how good or bad a roofing contractor treats their customers.
And while Google reviews can’t tell the entire story of a roofing contractor, they can certainly tell a homeowner much about what they need to know.
“Google reviews don’t lie, so if a roofing contractor has poor reviews, they likely don’t take care of their customers in the way they need to,” Grussing says.
“The opposite is true as well though. If a roofer has 40 positive reviews, it’s very likely that they’re serious about what they do, and that should give you confidence as a homeowner.” QS