When you need serious work done on your roof it's usually important that it be done fast but don't allow yourself to pick the wrong contractor because of time constraints. There are several important steps you can take to weed out amateurs and avoid getting ripped off.
Brisbane Roofing Quotes - What To Look For From A Roofing Contractor
1. Brisbane Roofing
Quotes - What To Look
For From A Roofing
Contractor
When you need serious work done on your roof it's usually
important that it be done fast but don't allow yourself to pick the
wrong contractor because of time constraints. There are several
important steps you can take to weed out amateurs and avoid
getting ripped off.
2. Start with friends and family
Most people who've owned a home for a decade or so have
needed some sort of roof repair. Ask around and you're likely to
get more honest information this way. Also ask if you can come
and see the roof for yourself.
Over the Phone
Do phone interviews before agreeing to meet anyone. A few
simple questions will help to weed out any unprofessional
candidates. Make sure they're familiar with exactly the kind of
work you'll need; they should be willing to give examples of past
work. It's also important to ask how busy they'll be while doing
your project. If they have too much already going on you might
not want to risk it.
3. What to look for:
Do they regularly handle projects of your size?
Can they provide financial references from suppliers or
banks?
Can they give you a list of previous clients?
How many concurrent projects will they have?
How long have they worked with their subcontractors?
In Person
Meet with contractors from VIP Roofing Brisbane Company who
were able to answer all of your questions over the phone quickly
and honestly and seem to have a broad familiarity with your
project. Discuss terms and ask any remaining questions you
have. Since you've already looked into their experience and
professionalism try to gauge how well you communicate with this
particular contractor. The two of you are going to be spending
time together and perhaps renegotiating when problems occur.
Do you see yourself getting along well with this person?
If the contractor is doing work at another site it may be possible
to take a look at what you can expect from them. Ask if it would
be alright for you to visit. Here are some things to look for:
Is the site clean and orderly?
Does everyone look professional?
Does it look safe?
4. Pay Schedule
The easiest way to make sure you're not getting gouged is to get
several quotes and compare them. Avoid the urge to simply take
the lowest bid but be wary of any bids that are significantly
higher unless they're planning on using better materials. Ask the
contractor for a cost breakdown. Generally materials should
account for 40% and their profit margin should be no more than
20%. If their material costs don't seem to match up with other
bids or if a significant portion of the price cannot be accounted for
you're probably being overcharged.
Ask about the payment schedule. If a contractor is eager to
secure half of the money upfront that may be a sign that they
aren't confident that you'll be happy with the results. For larger
projects a good rule of thumb is 10% at signing, 3 25%
payments at specific milestones and the final 15% once you feel
everything has been done. Under no circumstance should you pay
more than 30% before seeing any work done.
5. Get it in writing
One of the most important things to remember is the contract.
Without it you'll be hard pressed to prove that the contractor had
any legal responsibilities. Make sure the contractor explicitly
takes full responsibility for safety on the work site. Also, discuss
what materials are to be used when payments will be made and
the projected completion date.
Don't forget to cover:
Pay schedule
Proof of liability
Worker's comp
Start and finish dates
Specific materials to be used
Lien releases from suppliers and subcontractors
If you know what to look for from a roofing contractor the
process does not have to be stressful or frustrating. Establish that
a contractor has a history of doing your type of work successfully
and they're likely to be just as successful with your project. But
taking a low bid out of hand may have disastrous results. With a
6. little patience and some research you can get Brisbane roofing
quotes that you can afford and that will result in professional
quality work.
Reference:
http://www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/
http://www.consumeraffairs.nt.gov.au/ForBusinesses/Doing
GoodBusiness/Documents/quotes_and_estimates.pdf
https://www.ato.gov.au/printfriendly.aspx?url=/Business/S
mall-business-benchmarks/In-detail/Benchmarks-A-Z/R-
Z/Roofing-services---includes-roof-tiling,-guttering-and-
metal-roofing---issued-2015/