3 Top Schemes Roofers Use To Get More Money
This article reveals the 3 top schemes roofers use to get more money out of you, the homeowner. What is true, and what are exaggerated claims or actual fabrication? Most homeowners will replace their roof at least once in their lifetime. So, when needing to have a roof replaced, how can you tell what is true? As the saying goes, “trust but verify.” We should follow that advice.
Roof sales can be an enjoyable, authentic, and honest trade. Many local roof contractors have built reputable roofing companies over the years. However, some unethical individuals are more concerned with making money from roofs than providing excellent service.
The Good, Better, and Best Cost
Some roofing companies do offer these legitimate services for an additional fee. However, that is where the 3 Top Schemes Roofers Use To Get More Money come into play. It is true, for instance, with a shingle roof, which is the most common type of house roof, but this applies to all roof types. Higher-grade roof materials or shingles can increase the cost of the roof replacement. Similarly, styles of tile on tile roofs or thicker-grade metal on standing seam roofs can also increase the price.
But it’s the increased amount and the tactics used to provide those “upgrades” that matter. Someone in roof sales sits at the kitchen table with a homeowner and spouse, and by the time the roof consultant leaves, the homeowner has spent an enormous amount more than the starting price or what would be enough for the roof cost.
So, What Are The 3 Top Schemes Roofers Use To Get More Money
The Material Upgrade Cost –
All roof material is bought and sold in units called squares. A 10-foot by 10-foot area equals 100 square feet, which is one square in roofing terms. Upgrades cost more, and some are significantly more expensive. Upgrades in shingles from one product line to a better one can range from $1.00 to $10.00 more per square. A reputable roof contractor typically adds a small markup to cover costs, ranging from 20% to 50%. In contrast, an unethical contractor might add only 10% to 20%.
For example, a 30-square roof costing $12,000 might include an upgrade that costs the contractor $5.00 per square; they might then add $5.00 profit per square, making the total to the homeowner $10.00 per square, or an extra $300, which is a reasonable increase of 2.5%. However, if you are told the upgrade costs $1,500, that would translate to $50.00 per square or a 12.5% increase. This is perfectly legal, but homeowners often do not know the actual upgrade cost and are misled into believing they are getting a great deal through the salesperson.
Our Products Are The Best –
While it’s true that many roof contractors use better products than others, there’s a significant difference between that and claiming to be the only ones with this specific product or uniqueness. It gives the impression that unless you hire them to replace your roof, you’ll be using inferior materials, which is not true..The lines some contractors use to secure a contract can be flat-out lies. For instance, they may install a certain product better than another contractor, even though all materials sold in Florida have product approval specifications for installation.
And all contractors have access to the same materials, and most use the same materials. For instance, there is a bucket of flashing cement, and a better product, such as Karnak 19, is available, which is a rubberized cement. Both have their place in roofing depending on the conditions. And all roofers can use both. For a homeowner, the answer is to ask the competing roof contractor if they use the same material product as the one quoted.
The Need To Sign Now –
All roof contractors would like to close deals as soon as possible. Who wouldn’t if you’re in sales? In sales, there are salespeople and then there are closers. A salesperson comes to provide a roof estimate or quote, answers questions asked by the homeowner, and then asks for their business. A closer comes out to leave with a signed contract—whatever it takes to close. Sometimes, deals won’t last, or you need to sign with them now or risk losing the sale.
The loss is described as FOMO, the fear of missing out. It might cost more next week, or we have this special now only, or another contractor won’t give you what they are. No one likes pressure tactics.
Those same salespeople don’t like it when that tactic is used on them. Storm chasers are the worst. Most are out of area, and they know that once the homeowner thinks about it, especially if they’re from the other side of the state or outside the state, the homeowner will have second thoughts. The pressure to sign now; roof salespeople use pressure tactics to get the contract. It’s all about the contract and how many they signed last week—much like car sales, with their boards on the wall, showing who moved the most units.
Closing Thoughts On Roof Schemes
Closing thoughts about those 3 top schemes roofers use to get more money are that we need salespeople who make things happen and keep businesses thriving. There are wonderful people, both salesmen and women, who make an honest living and career out of sales. The purpose of this article is not to bash roof sales or anyone in roof sales or other trade.
Rather, the ones who deceive, con, or lie their way into a sale. It’s the practice or schemes they use on a homeowner who can be unaware or unprepared for such a shark to land on their front porch. If a roof contractor cuts down their competition to the homeowner, that is a major red flag, indicating that they are more concerned with the sale.
The majority of tradespeople, regardless of their trade, are honest and want to have the opportunity to offer a proposal to the homeowner. They believe they have a lot to offer in terms of reputation, quality of work, and caring for those in our communities. They may be disappointed they lost the roof, but they won’t use unethical tactics to get the contract. And those are the roof contractors you would want to sign with, feeling confident that the roof contractor has your interest in mind when they replace your roof.
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Written by Michael Smith, owner of Florida Roofing and Renovations
Member of BBB
Additional Information To Help In Choosing Wisely
What Every Property Owner Should Know About Hiring a Roofing Contractor
Karnak 19 Ultra
