Successful Roofing Business Owners?

[BW96]

I own a roofing company, 2 years deep. I dont have any great advice other than be honest and don't let folks take advantage of you. And definitely don't ask for advice on here, they don't like roofing companies on this site. Lol. Good luck in your adventure. Go against the grain and be a good company in the sea full of shady companies.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

[Chootem]

That’s a little hasty on the judgment....there are a hundred ways that he could be telling the truth and acting completely legally.

I don’t doubt he’s telling the truth, just saying he might want to stop telling the truth about this...

[rickgarcia76]

I own a roofing company, 2 years deep. I dont have any great advice other than be honest and don't let folks take advantage of you. And definitely don't ask for advice on here, they don't like roofing companies on this site. Lol. Good luck in your adventure. Go against the grain and be a good company in the sea full of shady companies.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

Wow I didn’t realize there was so much shadiness in the roofing industry.

[Mertzon Man]

I’ve been in the industry for 47 years and seen it all.
Just do what you say your going to do. If you screw something up, own it, fix it.

[Slew]

I’ve been in the industry for 47 years and seen it all.
Just do what you say your going to do. If you screw something up, own it, fix it.

That’s pretty solid advise! But if that doesn’t work just tell everybody they have hail damage regardless if the roof is 20 years old or 20 minutes! Get some chalk and draw circles on the pea size dings in turtle vents and be sure to mention your an insurance specialist. Even if you don’t know what that means you’re one now!

If insurance covered tires every time you got an oil change they would be selling you tires. With that said I’m glad they’re out there pushing roofs to keep premiums high! If they cut out roof coverage your premium would be 10-20pxt of what it is now if I had to guess. I’d sell out and be a full time crappie guide if that happened! Currently I like looking out my office window on cold rainy windy days!!

Slew

20 year roof money/glorified check writer.

[S-3 Ranch]

I’ve been in the industry for 47 years and seen it all.
Just do what you say your going to do. If you screw something up, own it, fix it.

I wish you had done my roof, 6 years and reroof America still hasn’t resolved issues! ( they are like dealing with Gypsy asphalt guys)

[Atfulldraw]

Incorrect. If you don’t pay your deductible it’s fraud. If you get cash back it’s more fraud.

No, it’s not....not necessarily.

If my settlement includes my gutters, and I take the ACV and don’t replace them, I can apply that to my deductible. If I do part of the work myself, that amount can be my contribution.

And yes, I’m well aware of the new Texas law regarding deductibles.

It’s far from settled, and as the carriers play more and more games, these cases will work their way through the system.

[refugioco]

No, it’s not....not necessarily.

If my settlement includes my gutters, and I take the ACV and don’t replace them, I can apply that to my deductible. If I do part of the work myself, that amount can be my contribution.

And yes, I’m well aware of the new Texas law regarding deductibles.

It’s far from settled, and as the carriers play more and more games, these cases will work their way through the system.

I trust this guy when it comes to insurance.

[BO-N-ARO]

Not in the roofing business, but like any service business, it’s all about customer service and quality. Be on time for appointments, return calls quickly, do quality work and do what it takes to make the customer happy.
Good luck!!!

[Playa]

No, it’s not....not necessarily.

If my settlement includes my gutters, and I take the ACV and don’t replace them, I can apply that to my deductible. If I do part of the work myself, that amount can be my contribution.

And yes, I’m well aware of the new Texas law regarding deductibles.

It’s far from settled, and as the carriers play more and more games, these cases will work their way through the system.

This. And add in fence staining, broken window molding, the dented Morgan building that isn’t used to store anything anymore...

It’s about honesty and integrity & transparency. Those things can add up and ACV used to offset the deduct. A good roofer will let you know those funds are being used and that future claims on those items won’t be honored.

[js182]

Full disclosure, I’m a property adjuster...a few years with a big box insurance company and a few years as an independent contractor. Most Roof contractors are pretty honest. Most adjusters are fair, and looking out for your best interest. Some adjusters are hamstrung by company guidelines. They have to show definitive photo evidence of storm damage. Some contractors are shady vultures. You can always ask an adjuster/ins co for a re-inspection. Things to look out for w/ a contractor...excessive estimate amount, charges for extra equipment/labor, etc. Always get multiple bids. In my experience, contractors in East TX, far North TX and Fort Worth/west are very honest. Dallas outfits have dedicated supplement teams that write up BS estimates, as their job. Always ask yourself, if my insurance company isn’t going to pay for this, is my contractor really gonna charge me for this? For those wanting to get into roofing, quality work is super important. That means hiring teams that care, and get the job done right.

[AGAF]

I guess I will throw my .02 cents in here......I was a property adjuster for over 15 years for a major carrier and then got into roofing. Spent several years as a project manager for a large roofing company before going out on my own. I've had my business for about 2 yrs now and have been very successful.

First I'll address the deductible and fraud. Yes, there are numerous unethical and shady roofing companies that will offer to "absorb", "take care of", or "eat" your deductible and this is blatant insurance fraud. The only way they can do this is to send in a fraudulent invoice telling the insurance company that they collected more from you than they actually did. By doing this, they have made you a party to fraud. These companies are scum. They will lie to the insurance company and they will lie to you.

As someone else has stated, when there are multiple trades involved in a settlement, the homeowner can elect to allocate some or all of the ACV funds from other trades to their roof to "offset" some or all of their deductible. It is their money and they can do this if they so choose. As a roofer, you have to explain to the homeowner that if they ever have another loss, they cannot make a claim for damages to the parts of the home that were never repaired or replaced. The most common things I see are the ACV for gutters/downspouts, window screens, window beading, siding, and garage doors.

Now to the OP, roofing is a very competitive field and the market is flooded with roofing contractors. My personal opinion is that this business is primarily a people business. That is, you have to build relationships on a foundation of trust and do everything with integrity. Treat people with kindness and respect. Do what you say you are going to do. Charge what you agree to. Never try to push someone into a decision. You simply educate, provide the needed information, explain the processes in detail, explain their options and the type of roof system you are going to install, let them know that you care about their property and that it will be taken care of and cleaned really well once the job is complete. Then, you let them decide. You don't try to "sell" them anything. If you get the job, you treat them like they are the only customer you have. Hire the absolute best crews you can find. Ones that take pride in their work and also care about the customer. This will show and the customer will know it. Always use high quality materials and never cut corners. You do all this, and they will tell all their neighbors, friends, and family about you. Trust me, referrals are the absolute best lead you can get.

[Atfulldraw]

Repeat after me.

"Retail work is not like insurance restoration work." and vice versa.

you don't need to waste your time or the contractor's time getting multiple estimates.

Find a contractor you trust and then call someone like me who can get it paid for you.

Don't worry about what the adjuster says, or how much it costs, or whether your good neighbor wants to hold you in his good hands....and what in the heck do Farmers know about roofing?

We have a saying in our little office when someone asks about how much it costs -

"We are literally the most expensive company in town. Want to know why?"

[TazerFace]

I'm just saying... You know dang well that if most people can get their roofs replaced and still come out with money in their pocket, most people will, even the ones on here saying " that's insurance fraud"..
The way I see it, I pay for an insurance policy that I haven't used in 15-20 years, then a storm comes in and screws my roof up, you bet your rear that I'm going to make sure I can get everything that I can for all those years of premiums.

I know of insurance agents and even adjusters that have done the same for themselves, so don't go blowing smoke where it don't belong about his subject..

Back to the original subject, just make sure that you hire trustworthy guys that will take pride in their work and pay them accordingly.

[Spearchunker]

[QUOTE=gingib;15145813]Just got mine covered under insurance. Paid $0 and got some money in my pocket bc went thru a buddy and also got upgraded parts/shingles.

ANd lowered my premium by 45% bc my roof was 22 years

Fyi you both broke the law.