Searching for a reputable roofing company in Cape Cod, Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island can be overwhelming for homeowners. A reliable roofing contractor has established years of credibility through professional development, exemplary work, a loyal customer base, positive transactions with their suppliers, and a commitment to excellence. We’ve put together a helpful list of homeowner tips. Here is what you should look for in a roofing contractor:
Proper Insurance and Licenses
A professional contractor must provide worker’s compensation insurance, a minimum of $1Million for liability insurance, and all necessary licenses required by the states in which they operate. This protects the homeowner from being held responsible for any injuries to roofers that work on their home and, in states like Massachusetts, protects them from deceptive or incompetent contractors. Homeowners in Massachusetts must hire a fully licensed, insured, and registered contractor to be protected by the Home Improvement Contractor Arbitration and Guaranty Fund. This arbitration program helps resolve disputes and can pay consumers up to $10,000 for unpaid judgments against contractors.
Established Business
The average life of a small business is 5 years. Homeowners must find a roofing contractor with a long history of quality workmanship, professional warranties, and reliable customer service. We hear so many stories of homeowners who have been swindled by Chuck-in-a-Truck Contractors. Chuck installs the roof one day and when it leaks the next day – Chuck’s nowhere to be found. Longevity and reliability matter when you are hiring a roofing contractor. If shingles blow off in a hurricane or an unexpected leak pops up in a Nor’easter, a reliable roofing company should be available to service your roof 10, 20, or 30 years after they install it.
Customer Reviews and Referrals
Word of mouth is still the most reliable source of information when it comes to contractors. Ask your friends and family who they hired and if they were satisfied with
their experience. Would they hire the contractor again? Would they recommend them to others? We’re happy to share that over half of our business each year comes from repeat customers and customer referrals. It’s well known that Care Free Homes keeps customers coming back for more year after year. We’ve become the trusted roofing and home improvement contractor for thousands of homeowners and their families and friends.
If you don’t know someone who has hired a roofing contractor – explore customer reviews online from platforms such as Google, Facebook, Houzz, Yelp, and Angie’s List. Many of our customers also find us on their hometown Facebook pages. Ask for contractor recommendations from local residents by posting a question on a Facebook page or in a Facebook group. People are usually more than happy to offer a recommendation and share their experiences.
Certifications from Roofing Manufacturers & Roof Warranties
Roofing companies should also have a strong relationship with their roofing manufacturers such as GAF Roofing and CertainTeed. Both companies are leaders in the industry and have over 200 years of experience combined. It’s no surprise that the leading roofing manufacturers require contractors to meet high expectations, follow very specific guidelines, and complete training before they issue any certifications or awards. We are proud to be a GAF MasterElite Roofing Contractor, a GAF Consumer Protection Excellence Award Winner and a Certified CertainTeed ShingleMaster.
Professional roofing companies will always back their workmanship and offer a roof warranty. Here at Care Free Homes, we stand behind every project with outstanding roof warranties. We proudly offer GAF’s factory-registered, 50 Year, Non-Prorated, Transferable Warranty and CertainTeed’s System Plus Roof Warranty plus our own 10 year workmanship guarantee. Our customers enjoy enhanced warranty protection and peace of mind. In addition to being an elite roofin contractor, we have also earned a long list of community and business awards.
Accredited Membership and Good Standing with the Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau is a private, nonprofit organization focused on advancing marketplace trust. Since 1912, the Better Business Bureau has been helping consumers find businesses, brands, and charities they can trust. Millions of consumers use the BBB’s database absolutely free. To become an accredited member of the BBB, a business must abide by the following standards: Build trust, advertise honestly, tell the truth, be transparent, honor promises, be responsive, safeguard privacy, and embody integrity. Here at Care Free Homes we have been an A+ rated, Accredited Member of the BBB for almost 30 years.
Always Sign a Contract, NO Deposits, Contractor Pulls the Permit
Homeowners should always protect themselves with a signed, legal contract. Typically a contract will include all the homeowner information, address, scope of the project, type of materials, total price of the project, payment schedules, estimated start and completion dates, signatures, and a 3 day cancellation clause. Be sure to
familiarize yourself with your state’s contract requirements.
Homeowners should be wary of a roofing company that requests large deposits. This is a red flag and may indicate financial instability. It isn’t uncommon for homeowners to lose thousands of dollars by working with an unreliable, dishonest roofing contractor. In the state of Massachusetts, deposits paid prior to the start of the work start date cannot exceed one-third of the total contract price.
Legitimate contractors always pull the permit on behalf of the homeowner. This ensures the roofing company is ultimately responsible for the project being completed safely, correctly, and is in compliance with local building codes. If a “contractor” asks a homeowner to pull the permit – DO NOT hire them. This is a major red flag that indicates the company is not properly licensed and/or insured.
Why should you join the Care Free family?
As an award-winning roofing contractor and supporter of the community, our family business has proudly served the Cape Cod, Southeastern Massachusetts, and Rhode Island homeowners for over 40 years. Care Free customers appreciate our friendly, knowledgeable, no-pressure sales team and rave about our quality workmanship, fair pricing, and fantastic customer service. We ask for NO deposits and NO payments until your project is complete and you are completely satisfied. We even offer financing for qualified homeowners. Join the Care Free family!
Get started on your roof replacement or home improvement project! Shoot us a text, complete our online form, or call (508) 997-1111 today!
