Advice for Assessing Roofer Bids

CAPITOLA — So, your house needs a new roof. You’ve received bids from three different roofers, and as you look them over, you see a lot of variation, from the scope and materials to the price. What are you to make of this? What could account for all these differences if the bids are for the same job? Which roofer is giving you the most accurate price?

One way to gain some insight is to solicit the help of the roofers themselves to explain the differences to you. Here’s a good strategy: Hide the price on roofer A’s bid and send it to roofer B. Ask them to explain why their bid may have more merit or benefit than the other. Do the same with the proposals from roofers B and C. This will help you figure out which of the bids offers the best value.

Another thing to look at is the level of detail each bid provides. As they say, the devil is in the details, and there are lots of things that can be missed in a proposal. A roofer that pays close attention to the details of the job is likely a better bet than one whose bid only covers minimal details.

Also, never assume the bid with the lowest price is your best option. You always want to get a good value for your money. You don’t go to the cheapest restaurants or buy the cheapest cars, so why would you buy the cheapest roof?

Finally, only hire a roofer that you feel comfortable with. At the end of the day, the company that has the honor of earning your trust is always your best choice.