What do you think?

I went to do an estimate for a past customer on her storage shed roofs. About 19 square one layer tear off and on with laminates. She was not home at the time but she said feel free to come and measure up the job. There was one rot spot in the roof so I went down below and tried the door to view if there was any sign of leakage on the inside. When I opened the door, what do I see, a roofer's storage shop. Rolls of membrane , step flashings, tarps, tear off shovels, brooms, felt, I&W and the such. I thought OK WTF. I brought her an estimate the next day and said it included the rot spot repair. I casually asked her what she used the building for and she said she rents it out to a fellow. She thanked me for the quote and said she would let me know in a few days. Would you have taken the time to give her one?

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Well job all finished and paid for. She wants her house roof done next year to match the shop now. Kind of figured out the mystery roofing tools and supplies. The fellow she rents the shop to had a gutter business along with his brother. They used to do a bit of roofing as a sideline. They were never very friendly and always gave me the stink eye when I had seen them. I haven't seen their truck around for at least the past ten years. They must be both in their late seventies by now. No wonder the lady is worried he might die and she will be left with the cleanup.

Tell her not to worry, that when the time comes, Willie can clean those two old cars out of there at no charge!

GSD: At this point, I would even be asking when she wants me to start.

I ask ALL of them that very question just after going over the proposal. 3 out of 4 say well, as soon as you can get to it would be good.

When they say well I need to think it over, I just laugh and say I understand, I've been around for nearly 30 years so I will be here when/if you decide.

Well she called back and wanted to pick a colour. GAF Shakewood was the ticket. Got some crane time from the supplier and loaded it up.

Asked her if they use the large building for storing apples as there is an orchard next door. She said no that a guy has rented it for years and the place is packed full of stuff. What kind of stuff I ask. A couple of old cars he wants to restore. She said she is worried he might die and she will have to clean it up. She said he is like one of those hoarders you see on TV.

The small room where the roofing supplies and tools were looked neat and tidy. Better than my shop on a good day. The mystery continues. :S

Are the materials in the shed the materials needed to do the job all but the shingles?

Or do you think the rented the shed story is legit?

Here are a couple of pictures of what was behind door number 1.

I couldn't get into the main building where the leak was located. Will keep you informed if I get the go ahead to do the work. I'm dying to know who the roofer is that is renting the building from her.

Willie is right, if I saw the inside or not, a return customer gets a phone call. no need for me to resell my services, waste my time or try to get the sale. At this point, I would even be asking when she wants me to start.

this is another reason why I only do repairs.

It's an easy job for an existing client and you've already made the estimate trip at that point so you might as well give a scope of work and a price.

I think that I would of just called her and went over it on the phone but hind sight's 20/20.

Her being a return customer I don't think you have to present the quote in person as a good impression has already been made or she wouldn't be calling back to possibly get more work done.

Like Twill mentioned above, you will get some of these jobs. And unlike all of us roofers like to think, we don't always know which ones it will be.

A wise old roofer once told me not to worry about the results when estimating and selling. To just do the best I can to measure the job accurately, come up with the proper scope of work and materials to be used, establish a profitable price and present it all to the client.

He said "Do that and the results will take care of themselves".

I usually ask, "So, since you've already seen some other roofers, what did they tell you the problem was?". And if they tell me that yes, they have already seen others, then I ask why those quotes were not acceptable, what are they looking for specifically that they didn't get yet. This "usually" gets us to the heart of the matter.