There’s one universal truth about houses – the roof is the most important part. The four walls of a home are nothing if there is no roof over them. Keeping this element of a house in good condition and replacing it completely once in a while is essential. Thousands of homeowners are in the process of replacing their worn-out and torn roofs as we speak due to the elements. In the Roofing Estimating Services industry, an estimate is one of the most important factors determining a house owner’s decision to hire a contractor. Most of the process involves coming up with an estimate, which is not easy.
A typical roofing estimate is difficult to understand if you are a beginner in the business. The reason for this article is to help you with that. There are eight essential elements of any roofing estimate that you must include. But before we move on, here is the fair rule to keep in mind when it comes to roofing estimates:
The elements of a good roofing estimate
It is important to understand that any roofing estimate worth it is salt should include the following eight elements. A proper Roofing Estimating Service should consist of the following eight elements:
Contact information
You have to contain your contact details at the very beginning of the estimate. In your construction estimating services business card, you should include:
- The company’s name.
- The company’s address.
- The telephone number.
- The web address.
- Your e-mail address.
The information you provide will allow your customers to find out more about your company and get in touch with you if they have any questions about your company. You can demonstrate your business’ legitimacy by including registration numbers or license details.
Description of the work in detail
Whenever you give an estimate for a roofing project, you should include detailed information about every step involved in the process. The following are some very basic details you can have:
- The width of the layer, as details about them
- The locations of the flashings
- Installation type of roof
- Bolt and fastener sizes
- It will be compulsory to use the correct tackle for the job
Replacement jobs should also include the processes associated with ripping off the old roof and how many layers will be removed.
Costs
Undoubtedly, a good estimate of a roofing project should include all the costs associated with that project. Ideally, this would allow the customers to compare the bids that have been submitted to them. Ensure that your roofing estimate includes the subsequent elements:
- Costs of labor
- Costs of materials
- Roofing tear-off costs (if applicable)
- The cost of installing or repairing a roof
- Obtaining permits
- Disposal fees and cleanup costs
The costs associated with roof installation, for example, are usually calculated according to the square footage of the roof. Any taxes that roofing companies charge their customers will determine the total roofing cost. Keep your customers informed and ensure they are not surprised by hidden charges.
Property protection
Every contractor takes adequate precautions to prevent damage to the property whenever repairing or building work is done (such as roofing). You may be able to avoid falling debris by covering the attic or securing the appliances safely. Another option would be to cover the pool with a new tarp instead of a tent.
Now, as a contractor, it is your responsibility to highlight this in your estimate, and in addition, you need to mention how much it will cost for you to carry out the same work. Don’t assume that your clients are aware of these things. The final invoice should not cause any bad experiences for your customers.
Dates of start and completion
There is no doubt about this. In the estimate, you must include a timeline for when you intend to begin and finish the project. Do not forget to account for any unforeseen circumstances when determining a date. Allow yourself a few days of buffer time. As long as nothing happens, you can finish the work well ahead of schedule, which will please your customer. It was a classic case of underpromising and overdelivering.
Additionally, the start and end dates will enable the customers to plan alternate accommodations for their stay during the project duration.
It is also important to mention when you will receive the estimate. There was a reason for the estimate, even though it was insignificant, and the data reveal this reason. Besides being helpful to your customers, it will make cost comparisons easier in the future.
Used materials
Roofing requires the use of a variety of materials. The estimate must include all of them without a doubt. Because the final cost of the roof is heavily influenced by the materials used, it is only appropriate to give details regarding the materials.
Customers should be aware of what they spend their money on before purchasing. You can also highlight the high-quality roofing materials used in your process in the estimate, which will help your customers know that their roof is in the right hands if you use high-quality roofing materials.
Every element must be on the roof material list, from flashing to shingles to gutters, soffits, bolts, and fasteners. Along with the type and name of the sealants used to waterproof the areas, you should also describe the sealants you plan to use.
Warranties
A customer always wants to know what kind of warranty you provide on roofs. How long will they be able to live peacefully knowing you’ll take care of anything that goes wrong without charging them a cent? Your estimate cannot ignore such important information.
For each roofing component you have installed and the entire roof, it would be ideal if you could specify the type of warranty and the contract duration. Detailing such details will also demonstrate the quality and durability of your work.
Methods of payment accepted
Finally, it would help if you mentioned how you accept payments in your roofing estimate. Furthermore, it should state how payments are collected – are they one-time upfront fees, are they regular payments as the work progresses, or are they a typical two-time payment system, where an advance is paid before the work begins? Is the remainder paid when it is completed?
Conclusion
Developing detailed Roofing Estimating Services can always be daunting, especially if you don’t know where to start. To get a thorough and transparent estimate, you need to know what your customers want from your estimate and what they want from you. As a starting point, paying attention to the components highlighted in this post is a good idea. You can add and modify features and details following your business needs and requirements.
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