1. LOCATION:

Make sure your contractor is local and can prove they have been in business a minimum of five (5) years in your area. Check the yellow pages for their ad.

2. WARRANTY:

Make sure you receive at least a three (3) year warranty. You do not want to pay out-of-pocket for repairs in one to two years after the contractor has left the area. State law requires you receive a minimum two (2) year warranty.

3. BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU:

Your contractor should be a member of the LOCAL Better Business Bureau. Check Angie’s list as well.

4. REFERENCES:

Ask for at least five (5) references of jobs completed over the past three (3) years. You are looking for references of jobs a year old or older.

5. VISIT THE CONTRACTOR’S PLACE OF BUSINESS:

Do not call ahead. Stop by the contractor’s placed of business after you have narrowed your choices down. Ask for a tour of the facility. You are verifying the legitimacy of the business.

6. SERVICE DEPARTMENT:

Be sure to ask about the contractor’s Service Department and, if needed, how they handle repairs.

7. INSURANCE:

You should have up to 12 months after a storm to file a claim with your insurance company. Never give the contractor your insurance papers. By doing this, you are giving the contractor your roof measurements and how much your insurance company is willing to pay. The contractor should be competent enough to get on your roof and provide you with a written proposal.

8. LICENSE:

Ask to see, in writing, how long the contractor has had a home improvement license in the Central Ohio Area. All contractors must be registered with the State of Ohio. When you are looking at the license, check the date of issue. If the license was issued after the storm, October 4, 2006, they might not be local.

9. WRITTEN, DETAILED PROPOSAL:

Ask for a written, detailed proposal and/or contract. You do not want an estimate with an open-ended amount. Invariably, there will be additional, hidden charges.

As a customer, you want to make sure that your contractor will be around should you have any issues with your roof. Do your homework. Investigate your contractor.