Estimates

I am shocked by the diffrent pricing I see when I go on an estimate. There seems to be no rhyme or reason? Is it that some roofers will get as much as they can? I would hate to be a homeonwer and get five quotes and have such a varying range of price. (6-15k) Then there is the proposals. Who the hell would spend that much money on a contact that is practically wrote on a napkin? Who would take a quote from someone who doesn't even go on the roof. Now I know some old schoolers ( I am getting there 30 yrs roofing 45 years old) that can "eye" it up and get pretty close on the square footage and depending on the area you know the age of the home and can say well there is probably one layer, but there is so many variables I just do not get how these guys exist? I am not complaining because it makes us thorough guys look great but wow. On another note. We have 10% unemployment but I have had an ad out there for help wanted for months and very little replies. Doesn't anyone want to work? We get these kids who live at home and are the laziest I have seen. We offer great pay, insurance, vacations, profit sharing the whole nine. We are liking to get one diamond in the rough that becomes a keeper a year. sigh GOOD ROOFING TO ALL!

Right as rain Jim. I remember those days of competing for the jobs. Walked every roof then for sure. I'm glad to be out of that now.

Tritown, one of the reasons I cite about liking the roofing business is the competition. Most of our work is insurance related and I'm also amazed at how many sales people attempt to close deals without walking a roof or giving a complete presentation. They open the conversation by telling the homeowner that "we can get you a new roof paid by the insurance company: just sign here" and then wonder why someone like me ends up with the job.

I train my salespeople to "establish the value before you talk about the price". I'm no genius, I learned that from Zig Ziglar in the book "Secrets of Closing the Sale".

I'm sure we're actually on the same page Tri. Give me a call this morning sometime---804-833-6418.

I thought about your comment about a disservice. Since a simple slate repair by me costs about $350., and my competitors charge about $125., who is really doing the disservice?

99% of my work is redoing the work of my competitors.

I believe this was 3 broken slates originally. For three slate would have charged $350.00. I know the other guy did charge $150.00.

So, to fix his mess, I ended up replacing 16 slate right there when all was said and done. I charged him another $675.00 on top of the $150.00 he had just paid. My repairs will never have to redone.

I have plenty of competition in my area and the HO's have over 400 roofers to choose from. They can easily go cheaper. Are you sure I'm doing a disservice? Just curious.

"So you do not get on the roof your estimating? How do you explain that to a customer? How do adjust to all the variables? What if the entire roof isn't visible from the ground? I am not trying to be condescending or question your skill, I am seriously interested in how you or others can pull that off?" Some, I get on the roof, some I don't. Getting on a slate roof WILL break some slates, so the most I'll do is climb to the gutter. I do have several clients will many properties and a 'drive-by' proposal works fine with them. One asked the other day how I ended up in all the high end neighborhoods with the people with the most money? My answer? Becasue they are the ones that can afford to keep up their homes, and I know how to do the work.

BTW, how much do you charge for estimates? Mine start at $25.00 and go up according to distance. Two I'm looking at next week will cost $100.00 each.

I doubt I'm doing any disservice. My goal is and has always been to bid as high as thought the job could go, and then come in under the lowest price if possible, and worst case, not over the highest.

Just like in the pictures I showed you, I couldn't see those issues while on the roof. I'm pretty accurate on broken slate count without a ladder and using my 7x50's. One was wayy of the charts last year becasue the wood damage and faulty prior repairs couldn't be seen of felt while walking the roof.

I quit shingling, except by request, about 20 years back.

Yeah I can comprehend repairs...I do that all the time. Repairs generally deal with alot of unknown and addendum which usually means your dealing with a leak, thus having to take something apart before knowing the extent of the damages or the degree of the remedy. Due that fact alone, customers are easily pacifiable with a price range. I still feel that if it is possible to access the roof (without being to evasive and setting up boards and brackets or risking injury to yourself or causing further roof damage due to variables like pitch, type of roof (slate)& roof deck condition) I think your doing the customer a disservice. There is no better way to inspect something than to be right there vs. dozens of feet away. My question I guess was more for companies similar to myself that have several employees & do more full commercial & residential roof systems. I know a few of my competitors do not go on the roofs they are estimating. I know this not only from the potential customers telling me (and being falbbergasted) but I know some them personally and there simple reason it that they are in the twilight of their roofing careers and quite frankly are too old and broken down to get on the roofs anymore. Sigh Of which I am sure I will be as my career winds down. Sad to say but the 27 years have already took a significant toll on my body so I can completely relate.

I never went up on this one. I ball-parked it. After starting, I found that many previous repairs needed to be redone. We had to re-evaluate what it might cost to fix. Now, every time I hat a certain budget limit, I pause and update/ the HO and compare what I've accomplished and what else needs to be done.

Here's a previous repair. Instead of the one broken slate I saw, there were many to be replaced. At least somebody was smart enough to use I&W, the miracle cure.

I know you didn't mean me. But it's how I operate. Pic of current job. I looked at it and gave a price. (I don't set my ladder on a home for free.) The price range range for this one is $3,200. to $4,500. That's whats' budgetted for this job of repairs.

Tinner.......I didn't mean to suggest that you didn't know what you were doing. So you do not get on the roof your estimating? How do you explain that to a customer? How do adjust to all the variables? What if the entire roof isn't visible from the ground? I am not trying to be condescending or question your skill, I am seriously interested in how you or others can pull that off? Hasn't a homeowner or perspective client questioned it as well? I seriously hope they do a study after some time has passed on the new fall protection requirements. My guess injuries will go up. If you can easily walk it then there is no reason in my opinion to be tied off. It is just going to be another trip hazard.

How do 'I' exist like that. I guess partly because I know what I'm doing. I only tackle the hard/complicated jobs with a few simple ones tossed in so I can take a break and rest some. I don't use napkins though. Just a handshake and a budget for the work. As for hired help, since the new residential regs took effect, I'll keep working alone now to help the economy and the jobs situation.

Well, there is one I just saw and don't think I'll get, so I did e-mail a typed proposal.