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Nobody Wants To Buy A New Roof

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It's been said that the only good roof is the one you never notice.

With their array of beautiful tiles and shingles to choose from, roofing contractors may beg to differ. But the fact remains that when it's raining, you want it to keep you dry. When it's cold, to keep you warm. When it's hot, to keep you cool.

I was having lunch with Greg Tittle of Tillle Brothers Construction in Allen Park, and we were talking about what motivates a homeowner to buy a new roof.

"Nobody ever WANTS to buy a roof," he said. "They only buy one when they HAVE to. People don't wake up and say,  'Honey, let's go buy a new roof today!'"

Greg was spot-on. Buying a new roof is a reactionary purchase. If your roof is leaking and buckets are dotting your kitchen floor, you need a new roof NOW! Unlike most home improvement decisions, you're immediately on the defensive and at the mercy of the roofing industry.

If you talk to friends and neighbors who have been through the process, you've probably heard some of the following:

  • "It's going to be more expensive than you think."
  • "The prices will be all over the map."
  • "The sales people will sit in your house for hours during dinner time and pressure you into buying that day."
  • "Just get it repaired; it's much cheaper."
  • "Make sure they pull a permit." or "Don't let them pull a permit."
  • "You HAVE to get the best warranty." or "The warranties are a joke; they don't cover anything."
  • "Keep your existing skylights." or "Make sure you replace the skylights."
  • "Insurance will cover it." or "Your roof isn't covered by insurance."

At Hire it Done we've developed a state-of-the-art process that removes anxiety from purchasing a new roof and puts the homeowner back in charge. All of our contractors have to agree to abide by the Hire it Done Code of Ethics and use the exclusive Hire it Done Roof Report to present an honest assessment of the customer's roofing situation.

Greg Tittle sent me an outline of their approach:

  1. Always do a thorough assessment of the issues with the roof. This usually includes crawling in the attic to look for any problems with rotted wood, insulation or ventilation.
  2. Understand the financial objectives of the homeowner, which may include determining if a valid insurance claim needs to be filed. If financing has to be considered, we clearly explain all available options.
  3. Educate the homeowner on all of the issues related to their roof. We don't throw out a bunch of roofing terms. We make sure they understand what solutions we are proposing. Everything that is covered by warranty is clearly explained.
  4. Propose the best possible solution to ensure that their roof will never leak again and provide the best ventilation and energy savings possible. If a repair is an option, we outline the pros and cons of doing a repair instead of installing a new roof.
  5. Ensure they understand the schedule of the project, and our policy about keeping their yard clean and removing all debris. We show them our license and insurance and ALWAYS PULL A PERMIT.

Finally, Greg said, "We let the homeowner take their time to make a decision. There is no today only sale. In the long run, we want the homeowners who genuinely feel that we offer the best roof and customer service for years to come."

If your roof is leaking, DON'T PANIC. Visit Hire it Done and within hours, typically, a small but select set of the best roofers in Michigan will contact you to help you out. Your anxiety levels will immediately drop and before you know it, your home will be better than ever.

Remember, it is your home and the contractors need to earn the right to do work on your house by displaying honesty, integrity, knowledge and professionalism at a fair price.

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