How To Find Great Roofing Companies Near Me ?

When you have a roof leak, the natural reaction is to turn to Google and search for “roofing companies near me.” Or maybe you prefer to browse through local Yelp reviews. Well, that gets you off to a good start.

Why “Roofing Companies Near Me” Is a Good Start

The best roofers for your needs are usually right in your area. Why? Consider these 3 important reasons:

1. Convenience. Roofing contractors in your area can get to you more easily in an emergency.
2. Cost Savings. If travel time is part of the cost of roof replacement or repair, you’ll end up paying less.
3. Reputation. Google results and anonymous Yelp reviews don’t tell you a lot about a company’s integrity. However, an established local contractor has a reputation to uphold in the community.

Search Smarter for Nearby Roofers

While you’re searching for “roofing companies near me,” dig a little deeper and look for pros who are willing to provide you with free estimates. That way the contractor will come to your home, so you can meet face to face, show them the exact nature of the problem and get a reasonable idea of the cost to replace or repair your roof. For comparison purposes, multiple roofing estimates are best.

Find Local Roofers that Finance

Roof repair or replacement can be expensive, often costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Not every homeowner has that kind of money readily available. And although applying for a bank loan might be feasible for, say, a kitchen remodel or new floors, roofing work is more urgent, meaning you simply might not have time to go through lengthy paperwork. Paying with your credit card would be a quicker solution, but who wants to be stuck with those sky-high interest rates?

Fortunately, these days there are more and more local roofers that finance the job. Partnered with established lending institutions, they are ready to provide a financial helping hand to consumers in their community. This will allow you to take care of the roofing work you require right now, on terms you can afford.

I’ve been a homeowner for almost 10 years in Abilene now and when I need home improvement, I always hire contractors, such as roofing companies, in my area.

In fact, lately I’ve been busy “shopping” for someone who will install a new roof for me. Because I’ve decided to go for a metal roof to replace my old asphalt shingles, I’m going to look specifically for metal roofing companies in my area.

Here’s my plan.

How I’ll Search For Roofing Contractors In My Area

Some roofers claim to serve an enormous territory. They’re hoping to pull in more business, I guess. To find a roofing contractor near my location (and not 3 or 4 towns over), I plan to check out zip codes closest to my home.

Free estimates are something I’ll keep my eye out for, also. I want to stick to my budget and besides, it’s not such a big deal for roofing companies in my area to send someone over to prepare a quote. That way I can compare and choose the best contractor for the job.

Finding Metal Roofing Companies In My Area

As I said before, I have made up my mind to get a metal roof this time around. I like the look of it, plus it’s durable, fire-resistant and eco-friendly. So I want to concentrate on metal roofing companies in my area. Roofers who are experienced with metal have the knowhow and special equipment needed to install this type of material most successfully.

Advantages Of Roofing Companies In My Area

I really like the idea of doing business with a roofing company nearby. They’ll be close at hand; I can be in touch easily if I have any special requests or last-minute adjustments. Plus they’re my neighbors, so they are more likely to care about their reputation in the area and their contribution to the community.

Local pros have so much going for them. That’s why I recommend you try my method when you need a roofing contractor, too.

As homeowners, we have to constantly make decisions about the best products and services. Sometimes it’s a tough call. So we turn to online resources (like roofing company reviews) for help. A search for “reviews of roofers near me” will typically turn up numerous results.

After reading a few reviews, though, you might find yourself even more confused. Real roofing company reviews can’t be all good – or all bad. Can they?

Find out how to spot genuine roofing company reviews.

When Positive Reviews Are Too Much Of A Good Thing

First, learn to pick out reviews that sound a little – or a lot – “off.”

With apologies to the author who wrote, “Too much of a good thing is wonderful,” in roofing company reviews, this does not generally hold true.

Non-stop, over-the-top praise of how the roofer is such a wonderful person will not tell you much about how he’ll handle your roof repair or replacement. In fact, comments that say nothing about his roofing abilities could well be fake – made up and posted by his friends, family or employees.

But Don’t Take Debbie Downer Seriously Either

Viciously negative remarks are equally questionable. Again, if the focus is on the roofing pro as a human being, you’ll learn nothing about how he actually performs his work.

Beware, as well, of the nitpicker – the type of customer who complains, “I chose a roofer near me.. and he showed up 7 minutes late!”

Which Reviews Point Out The Best Roofing Company?

Look for roofing company reviews written by homeowners who: A) have actually used the company’s services and B) have something worthwhile to tell you. Here’s an example:

“I chose _____ Roofing Company from among several roofers near me because they were available to start work that same afternoon. The workers sealed up my leaky roof and replaced the shingles efficiently, neatly and fast, at a reasonable cost.”

Mixed Reviews

Mixed reviews can tell you a lot, too. When you hear the story of a roofing pro who made a mistake, but went the extra mile to make things right, you will get the sense that you’re reading about a contractor with integrity, one who take pride in his work. And isn’t that exactly the type of roofer you want to hire?

Are you looking for the best local roofer to hire for your roof repair or replacement? At first glance, roofing company Yelp listings may seem like the perfect place to find “the one.” After all, they show you the names of lots of contractors, with a star rating system and detailed reviews.

Sounds good, right? Actually, don’t be so sure.

There are some serious holes in the roofing company Yelp review system. Here’s why you need to be cautious.

Yelp’s 10 Best Roofing Companies Near Me

A list of the “10 best roofing companies near me” could be very helpful ... if it was professionally vetted for accuracy. However, those “best” roofing company Yelp listings, like all others on Yelp, are organized solely according to the number of stars they receive.

If reviews happen to be scanty, just one 5-star rating can be enough to position a roofing business at the top of the list. We’ve even seen a roofing company on Yelp get a top rating based on a single review from 7 years ago, written by a poster living halfway around the world. That’s not what you might call a reliable system!

Yelp vs Google Reviews

Another major drawback of roofing company Yelp reviews is the fact that they are posted anonymously. This leaves the door wide open to either rave recommendations (quite possibly written by the roofer’s family and friends) or negative comments by anyone who might have an ax to grind with that particular business. You have no guarantee that the posters actually used the roofing contractor’s services.

Google, by contrast, stopped allowing anonymous reviews back in May of 2018.

A Better Way To Find The Best Roofers in Abilene

Start your search with “roofing company near me.” Then add in the words that are genuinely important in finding you the best match, such as:

• Pre-screened
• Licensed
• Insured
• With free estimates

That’s a smarter way of finding a roofing contractor you can trust.