The Contractor-Homeowner Relationship: A Key to a Successful Roofing Project

The Contractor-Homeowner Relationship: A Key to a Successful Roofing Project

PART ONEBuilding a Good

Contractor-HomeownerRelationship

Building a Good Contractor-Homeowner Relationship

The Contractor-Homeowner Relationship: A Key to a Successful Roofing Project

It is necessary for homeowners to look for a reputable contractor to handle their home improvement projects such as roof repair, installation, and replacement. While the experience and expertise of the contractor contributes a major part in the success of the project, there are still other aspects to focus on, including the relationship between the roofer and the client.

Roofing jobs can cost thousands of dollars and both contractors and homeowners share the responsibility of ensuring that resources and time aren’t wasted. How both parties communicate with each other plays a critical role in a successful roofing project.

So how exactly is building a good contractor-homeowner relationship achieved?

Building Trust

For homeowners, being able to trust your roofer means having the peace of mind that your home and investment are in good hands. For roofers, getting a client to trust them can boost their business in more ways than one.

Communicating Clearly and Effectively

When the homeowners and contractors have already come to trust each other, they can communicate their ideas and recommendations more freely and clearly without feeling intimidated.

Building a Good Contractor-Homeowner Relationship

The Contractor-Homeowner Relationship: A Key to a Successful Roofing Project

Making the Most Out of Time and MoneyWhen the client and contractor can communicate clearly and effectively, the room for miscalculations and mistakes will be smaller. Once the roofer knows what the homeowner wants, they can work faster without interruptions and minimize material waste.

Resolving Issues SmoothlyIssues may arise during the completion of the project, but if the roofer and client have a friendly relationship, they can come to an agreement more easily, resolving problems faster and eliminating complications.

Ensuring Future BusinessesNot all homeowners are lucky enough to find a roofer whom they can trust and be friends with -- but once you do, you can entrust your home with them the next time you need to get your roof serviced again. Furthermore, you can also refer them to your family and friends without getting

embarrassed. For the roofer, having client’s that trust them will translate to good feedback and more business.

The Contractor-Homeowner Relationship: A Key to a Successful Roofing Project

PART TWOHow to Establish

the Bond

How to Establish the Bond

The Contractor-Homeowner Relationship: A Key to a Successful Roofing Project

TIPS FOR CONTRACTORS

Make good first impressions. Your phone and email etiquette, the way you dress and approach clients the first time you meet them, and your manners in general create a lasting impression. Make sure that the impression you leave will help you look good.

Uphold professionalism.Always coming on time and following schedules and agreements will make clients feel your commitment and sincerity.

Polish your interaction style. How you translate your ideas and recommendations will have a huge impact on how your client sees you as a friendly roofer that can be recommended to others. Avoid sounding like a know-all roofer who looks down on the clueless homeowner.

Understand the impact that trust has. When you know for yourself how important trust is, building rapport with your client will be easier and will come naturally.

Working and transacting with someone you barely know can be awkward at first. While it is something that roofers have to deal with most of the time, some homeowners may not know how to build rapport with the contractors that they hire.

There’s nothing to worry about, though. Here are some tips for both contractors and homeowners on how you can establish a harmonious relationship with each other.

How to Establish the Bond

The Contractor-Homeowner Relationship: A Key to a Successful Roofing Project

TIPS FOR HOMEOWNERS

Be decisive with what you want. For any contractor, nothing could be more annoying than clients who don’t know exactly what they want. If you keep changing your mind, plan revisions are bound to happen and this can lead to delay in project completion as well as misunderstandings. Before the contract is served and the job commences, collate your ideas and talk to your roofer about them so they can provide you with expert recommendations.

Try to know about the project. For your own peace of mind, you need to be fully aware of the scope of the project. This will help you keep track of the job and prevent you from bombarding your roofer with questions while they are working -- which can be irritating.

Agree on payment. While costs and charges are generally already indicated in the contract, you may find yourself still hoping to save some more. Remember that your payment is needed for the procurement of materials and payment of the workers so you need to fulfill your responsibility. Be a good payer who pays on time, depending on the price and schedule indicated in your contract.

Follow the schedule. If you have hired a reputable contractor, chances are they also have other projects to work on after yours. Do not do anything that will cause schedule delays such as going on a vacation or out of town. This will ruin not only your schedule, but also the roofers.

How to Establish the Bond

The Contractor-Homeowner Relationship: A Key to a Successful Roofing Project

Be approachable and accessible. As has been mentioned, communication is important. Even if everything was already planned beforehand, there may be instances when big decisions need to be made urgently. You need to make sure that your roofer can find you when they need to. Try your best to appear approachable as well, so that your contractor will not hesitate to tell you things.

Be kind and considerate. Roofers, no matter how experienced and skilled they are, are still humans. Be considerate when they make minor mistakes and appreciative when they do things beyond their duty.

Give honest yet constructive feedback and valuable referrals. The way you talk and the words you choose greatly affect the messages that you want to convey. When giving your honest feedback, see to it that you express it with respect. Adopt an encouraging and constructive tone rather than a demeaning one. Furthermore, give your roofer a list of referrals. This will not only help them gain more customers, but will also validate how much you enjoyed their services.

The Contractor-Homeowner Relationship: A Key to a Successful Roofing Project

PART THREEKeeping the Ties

Keeping the Ties

The Contractor-Homeowner Relationship: A Key to a Successful Roofing Project

Building rapport does not come easy for some homeowners and contractors. Thus, when you are finally able to achieve that comfort level, you should not let it just slip away. Once you have built a relationship with your client or roofer, you need to ensure that you make the most out of it.

Below are some tips for contractors and homeowners alike that can help keep the ties tight even after the roofing project has been completed.

TIPS FOR CONTRACTORS

Offering loyalty and referral rewards. One of the best and sure ways to make customers hire you again is through a loyalty program wherein returning customers can get discounts or free services. You can also encourage your previous clients to keep on referring you to friends and family by coming up with an irresistible rewards program. This will benefit both parties, for sure.

Identify boundaries. Unless you have invited each other to barbecue or dinner, your roofer-homeowner relationship should remain as such. While you can talk to each other in a friendly manner, there are still boundaries that you should not cross, such as asking personal questions and giving comments or opinions that are not related to business.

Keeping the Ties

The Contractor-Homeowner Relationship: A Key to a Successful Roofing Project

TIPS FOR HOMEOWNERS

Send a testimonial. Most contractors nowadays have websites and social media accounts. If you have been satisfied with your roofer’s work and services, make it a point to write down an honest and constructive testimonial for everyone to see. This can help boost your roofer’s reputation and they will definitely appreciate it.

Give referrals. Do not forget to refer your roofer to friends and family. Doing so will not only help your contractor have more customers -- you can also help your friends find a reliable roofer.

Re-hire. If your roofer did well on your roof, you probably won’t need their services any time soon, but should the need arise, call and hire them again. Aside from possibly getting loyalty rewards, you will also have the peace of mind that you had before.

The Contractor-Homeowner Relationship: A Key to a Successful Roofing Project

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