While you wait for a roofer, you can protect the house, collect written bids on the same scope of work and keep every invoice and receipt. Waiting does not mean you have to sign with the first crew that has an opening. This guide covers each step and the questions to ask any contractor.
Why is it hard to get a roofer right after a storm?
After a storm, many homeowners in the same area look for roofers at the same time, and a crew can only be on so many roofs in a day. Schedules can fill up, and a start date may be well after the storm. How long you wait depends on the contractor, the job and the weather.
The Federal Trade Commission says to be skeptical of anyone promising immediate clean-up or repairs, and that unlicensed contractors and scammers often appear in recovery zones (FTC). A start date offered the same day is a reason to ask more questions, not fewer. Our article on how to spot a storm chaser covers the signs.
How do I protect my roof while I wait?
A temporary cover can protect the house in the meantime. GAF's article on tarping says that if your roof is damaged and local contractors cannot address your needs right away, tarping the affected area can help protect your home, but a tarp is only a temporary solution (GAF).
Here is what to think about:
- Stay off a damaged roof. GAF's article says it is best to leave tarping work to the professionals, so ask a roofer whether it can cover the roof for you.
- Ask about the cost. If a contractor offers a temporary cover, ask what it costs and whether accepting it commits you to that contractor for the permanent work.
- Tell the contractor if water gets in. Say so right away, because it can change how urgent the job is.
- Keep every invoice and receipt. The FTC says to get invoices and receipts and keep them for your records (FTC). What your policy says about temporary protection is a question for your policy and your insurer.
Can I get bids while I wait for a start date?
Yes. Waiting for a start date does not stop you from asking several contractors for written bids now. The FTC says a written estimate should include a description of the work, the materials, a completion date, the price and the contractor's contact information (FTC). Written bids let you compare contractors side by side.
Give every contractor the same description of the work, so the bids are for the same job. Our guides on getting multiple bids on a roof insurance claim and the side-by-side roof bid worksheet show how to line the bids up.
What should I ask every contractor?
Ask every contractor the same questions and ask for each answer in writing, so you are comparing like with like. A short wait for a contractor you have checked can be a better choice than a fast start with one you have not, and the written answers will show you the difference.
Questions to copy:
- What is the expected start window, and what could move it?
- Until what date is this price good, and what could change it?
- Which materials and which warranty does the bid name?
- Who will do the work, your own crew or a subcontractor?
- What happens to the schedule if the weather delays the job?
- What is the payment schedule, and what is due before work starts?
Should I sign with whoever can start first?
A start date is one thing to compare, not the only one. The FTC lists signing right away to get a discount, paying for everything up front and signing a blank contract among the signs of a scam (FTC). Compare price, materials, warranty and schedule in writing before you sign anything.
The FTC's list of what a contract should include before you sign has these items, among others (FTC):
- The contractor's name, address, phone and license number, if one is required
- An estimated start date and completion date
- A payment schedule
- Any promises made in conversations or calls, such as the scope of work and the cost of labor and materials
- No blank spaces that someone could fill in later
Read every page, and ask for a copy to read at home before you decide.
How do I check a contractor I do not know?
The FTC says to confirm a contractor's license by checking with your state or county government, and to ask the contractor for proof of insurance (FTC). IBHS, a nonprofit research group, advises choosing a reputable, bonded and insured roofing contractor and being wary of unsolicited offers to inspect or repair your roof (IBHS).
The FTC also says to look up what others say about a contractor and to pay by credit card or check, never by wire transfer, gift card, payment app, cryptocurrency or cash. Our guide on how to choose a contractor for insurance repairs has a longer checklist.
Where Otter Quotes fits
Otter Quotes creates a written scope of work for your project and sends it to multiple contractors. Every bid is on the same scope and the same measurements. You compare the bids online, next to reviews and licensing information, and sign online without a salesperson in your home. Subcontractors bid too, so you may be able to work directly with the crew that does the work. We are not a contractor, we do not sell upgrades, and we do not offer inspections. Contractors pay Otter Quotes a fee on the accepted bid.
Frequently asked questions
How long will I wait for a roofer after a storm?
No one can tell you for certain. It depends on the contractor, the size of the job, the weather and how many homes in your area need work. Ask each contractor for an expected start window in writing, and ask what could move it.
Can I keep a bid's price while I wait?
Ask the contractor. How long a price holds is up to the contractor. Ask for the date the price is good through to be written on the bid, and ask what could change it, such as a change in the work you are asking for.
Can I put a tarp on the roof myself?
GAF's article calls a tarp a temporary solution and says it is best to leave the work to the professionals. Ask a contractor whether it can cover the roof for you, and ask what that costs. Stay off a damaged roof.
Do I lose coverage by waiting?
That is a question for your policy and your insurer. This guide does not say what a policy covers or when. Read your policy, or ask your insurer what it says about notice and about protecting the property from further damage.
Does Otter Quotes get a roofer to my house faster?
We do not promise how fast bids or work arrive. Otter Quotes creates a written scope of work for your project and sends it to multiple contractors, who compete online with bids on the same work. You compare the bids online and sign online, without a salesperson in your home.
Sources
- Federal Trade Commission, “How To Avoid Scams After Weather Emergencies and Natural Disasters”: signs of a scam, what a written estimate and a contract should include, checking a license and insurance, and how to pay.
- GAF, “What to Know About Tarping a Roof”: a tarp is a temporary solution and the work is best left to professionals.
- Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, “Is It Hail Damage?” brochure: choosing a reputable, bonded and insured roofing contractor and being wary of unsolicited offers to inspect or repair a roof.