Can't get roofing quotes!

[AldeanFan]

I need a new roof, just a simple strip and re shingle. Any advice I should be aware of? This will be my first time having a roof replaced.

I called 3 roofers on Monday morning to try to get quotes but I've only got one quote so far.
One came out and gave me a quote right away. One said they'd come buy and leave a quote in the mail box or call me, but has not. I left a voicemail for the third but haven't been called back yet.

Am I being unrealistic expecting businesses to at least return phone calls?

 

[CNGsaves]

Give it some time, and make follow-up phone calls IF you want to give the company another chance.

If you're out in the boonies, they might decide to skip the time and expense of driving out to measure and give you quote.

Any neighbors who have gotten roof done lately so you can use a proven company?? That company at least has proven to come out and do work in your area.

What is pitch of roof ?? How large ?? Anything unusual ?? Damages ??

 

[Outlander]

Too funny. Going through the same thing. Two guys came immediately, the guy that did the roof 25+ years ago never 'dropped the quote in the mailbox'. Had another guy come to the door to tell my wife roof needed to be done. Ended up picking him (not cheapest but not much more, good sales experience, guarantee that made sense, double checked something he was not sure about when I asked etc).

Being in sales, I got suspicious when the most expensive guy came in and gave me his 'pitch'. As he walked out I thought - he must have a quota and I'm paying his commission.

Guy we selected - quote was done by one of the owners.

I am interested in the responses to the 'gotchas'

 

[AldeanFan]

All the company's I've called are legitimate companies, I don't want the potential liability of hiring a handy man with a ladder and a hammer.

The guy who was supposed to leave the quote in the mail box did my neighbours roof about a month ago, he's seen the house so he knew what he was quoting on as soon as I called.

The company who hasn't called back only knows my name and phone number and that I want a quote for a roof. They did a roof for one of my wife's coworkers last year in the same town we live in so its not a distance problem.

The roof has some complexity because it's a story and a half so there's some unusual valleys and one area that's steep but nothing really out of the ordinary.

Given that this area has such a high unemployment rate I would have thought there wound be people looking for work but I guess roofers don't need to scramble like the rest of us do.

 

[Zeke]

all the company's i've called are legitimate companies, i don't want the potential liability of hiring a handy man with a ladder and a hammer.

The guy who was supposed to leave the quote in the mail box did my neighbours roof about a month ago, he's seen the house so he knew what he was quoting on as soon as i called.

The company who hasn't called back only knows my name and phone number and that i want a quote for a roof. They did a roof for one of my wife's coworkers last year in the same town we live in so its not a distance problem.

The roof has some complexity because it's a story and a half so there's some unusual valleys and one area that's steep but nothing really out of the ordinary.

Given that this area has such a high unemployment rate i would have thought there wound be people looking for work but i guess roofers don't need to scramble like the rest of us do.

fify

 

[brewchief]

Plenty of contractor type companies are owned by guys who may be great at there trade but not always the best at the business side of things, if they don't have a dedicated salesman/estimator then the owner or one of the workers will need to look at the job and then find time to write up a proposal and drop it of.

With the days getting shorter their priority may be on wrapping jobs they are on rather then run around quoting a bunch of jobs that may or may not pan out.

Some of the guys may not have time to look at the job until later in the week and then not have time to write up a proposal until the weekend, give them a day or two and then give a call and let them know you haven't received a proposal yet and would like to see what they can do before you make a decision early next week.

 

[CTyankee]

Plenty of contractor type companies are owned by guys who may be great at there trade but not always the best at the business side of things, if they don't have a dedicated salesman/estimator then the owner or one of the workers will need to look at the job and then find time to write up a proposal and drop it of.

With the days getting shorter their priority may be on wrapping jobs they are on rather then run around quoting a bunch of jobs that may or may not pan out.

Some of the guys may not have time to look at the job until later in the week and then not have time to write up a proposal until the weekend, give them a day or two and then give a call and let them know you haven't received a proposal yet and would like to see what they can do before you make a decision early next week.

Hey, hey...lets not being offering any reasonable explanations here...

 

[bgarrett]

I called three companies. When NONE responded, I called one again and asked why. They said they didnt want my difficult roof because they had plenty of easy ones. Still think they were jerks for not letting me know

 

[stikman56]

I need a new roof, just a simple strip and re shingle. Any advice I should be aware of? This will be my first time having a roof replaced.

I called 3 roofers on Monday morning to try to get quotes but I've only got one quote so far.
One came out and gave me a quote right away. One said they'd come buy and leave a quote in the mail box or call me, but has not. I left a voicemail for the third but haven't been called back yet.

Am I being unrealistic expecting businesses to at least return phone calls?

I know they're crazy busy here, our new house and shop was roofed yesterday. I was talking to one of them, he said he'd worked 47 days straight and he was tired. These guys were from Tacoma which is 130 miles away, they drove down, roofed 60 squares between both buildings, then back home. That's a very long day. They just might all be that busy that they need a bit to get out there and check it out.

 

[Chitown_hillbilly]

Maybe all the roofers moved to my area. We had a storm blow through two months ago that had up to tennis ball sized hail. Every Roofer in 3 states is here trying to cash in on insurance claims. Everyone I know is getting a new roof. Mine is supposed to get started Monday.

 

[On-Wheel]

The paint less dent removal guys are called storm chasers.If there was hail ,bet there there for that too.

I had a roofer give estimate 6 freakin weeks after we talked.Just called out of the blue one day.He was high x3.

 

[58Yeoman]

Maybe all the roofers moved to my area. We had a storm blow through two months ago that had up to tennis ball sized hail. Every Roofer in 3 states is here trying to cash in on insurance claims. Everyone I know is getting a new roof. Mine is supposed to get started Monday.

That must have been the same storm that hit my area. I saw a lot of houses getting re-roofed, so I called the company that was doing the work. The owner came and gave me an estimate right away. (He's 12 miles local). Ins. company said the whole roof didn't need replacing, only 1/2. Roofer told me to call the ins. company and get another adjuster, and the roofer will be here when he comes.

The second adjuster came Tuesday, and he and the roofer were here for over an hour. The second one said he would replace 3 sides of the roof (hip roof), but also looked at the metal shop. That roof needed one side done, which when added, will give me enough to have the whole house roof done. The metal roof is only dented, nothing serious. The roofer is coming tomorrow to work out the details. He did the neighbor's house 500 feet west of me, and did a good job.

 

[ScottsGT]

A year ago this past May we had a bad hail storm in our area too. Place was crawling with "Johnny come lately" roofing companies. I picked a company that was in business in our area for 20+ years and had a great reputation. I had to wait a couple of months to get the work done, but well worth it.
And they didn't have to measure the roof with traditional methods. There is a satellite imaging program that they can use for square footage. They just need to see the roof pitch in person.

 

[GDPossehl]

A year ago this past May we had a bad hail storm in our area too. Place was crawling with "Johnny come lately" roofing companies. I picked a company that was in business in our area for 20+ years and had a great reputation. I had to wait a couple of months to get the work done, but well worth it.
And they didn't have to measure the roof with traditional methods. There is a satellite imaging program that they can use for square footage. They just need to see the roof pitch in person.

Google maps Street View would save a lot of time there too. I use it all the time to scope out places before sending contractors out.

 

[ilovevocs]

Everyone in my market is very busy. For the first time in years were being selective about work we bid and are procuring work on better margins than we have in 5 years.

If he's a smaller company with out a sales force he may be waiting for a day his crews aren't working. Could be busy with current work. This time of year im scheduling a week out for estimates but I at least schedule.