Why Going with the lowest Price may not ALWAYS be the best choice
Shopping for estimates is common practice for homeowners seeking to hire for a construction project – especially when it’s at their home. Rightfully so.
It’s a great idea for every homeowner to not just go with the first estimate they receive. Comparing estimates does a few things for the homeowner:
Verifies the market – if you don’t get another estimate, you could be paying a premium for no reason. This keep contractors honest.
Verifies the scope of work – if one contractor says you need this, and another says you need that, there’s probably a lack of clarity on what the solution to your issue is. Whenever you receive vastly different scopes of work, you can usually tell which one is correct, and which one is misquoted.
NEXGEN Roofing prides itself on having the utmost price transparency in our northeast Florida market which is why we can confidently say that we are NOT the lowest priced roofing company in town.
The Jacksonville, FL roofing companies are no different than roofing companies all over the United States. There will be companies that focus on things like quality, customer service, and integrity while others practice keeping their prices as low as possible. This comes at a cost – to YOU.
Red Flags
When a homeowner is getting multiple quotes for a project, there will and should always be minor variances in price – but they should all be in the same ball park. Every once in a while, a homeowner will present a competing quote that is 15, 20, even 25% lower than the rest of the estimates that have been presented. This is a major red flag.
How companies can offer lower pricing
Construction companies are able to offer lower than market-value pricing because of a few things.
Quality of products – not all roofing materials are created equal. Companies that save money by using outdated or inferior materials end up hurting you in the long run. It’s critical to go with a trusted material manufacturer. NEXGEN Roofing uses Owen’s Corning products because of their extensive testing and warranties.
Quality of labor—just like materials, not all labor is created equal. A great, professional crew is not cheap. Fly-by-night construction crews are a dime-a-dozen, especially after a weather event. Make sure your contractor has tried-and-true crews so that you’re receiving the quality your home deserves.
Underinsured – one of the most significant costs to a construction company, especially a roofing company, is Insurance. General liability, workers compensation, auto, you name it. It’s expensive. Some contractors don’t play by the same rules and cut corners to save money. This is a dangerous game to play as a homeowner. If you are working with a contractor that is underinsured or not insured at all – you could be on the hook for the bill if something happens during your project. A fall, a fire, a flood event – all on you.
Little to no overhead – small “Chuck in a Truck” companies pride themselves on having little to no overhead. This is great when you’re signing a contract, but in the event of a call-back, warranty repair, or any type of customer service you may need down the road – there is a tremendous lack of support. This is also a tactic used by storm chasers to win the quick deals only to disappear after the job is finished – never to be heard from again.
Lack of warranties – most companies that are offering a significantly lower price compared to others will typically not have any warranty coverage for your roof whatsoever. This is a big problem because a roofing system is often times not tested until the first weather event it experiences. How will you know your brand new roof is failing if it doesn’t rain for a month? Make sure you look specifically at the manufacturers and workmanship warranties offered.
A lower price usually means it’s a cost that your going to be making up for down the road. With increasing material and labor prices, down the road may be a much higher price than you bargained for. Do yourself a favor and make sure that you’re working with a reputable contractor, with an established presence in your community for any and all roof replacements or roof repairs.
At NEXGEN Roofing, our quality and customer service are paramount to all else.
