You’ve already faced the bad news: You need a new roof. Now what?
How do you know what to do next? Which roofer to hire? What kind of roof to have installed? How to finance it?
Answering these questions before calling a roofer will help point you in the right direction when it comes to material choices and making this major purchase fit your personal finance situation best.
- Why am I replacing the roof? Three main factors drive roof replacement: leaks, looks, and preventive maintenance. They may call for different decisions when it comes to choosing your products.
- How long do I plan to be in this house? Are you planning to move in the next few years or is this the home you expect to raise your children in? On the one hand, you don’t want to have to replace your roof just before your next move. On the other hand, you may not want to invest in a roof that will outlast the next three generations.
- How much can I afford? Do you have the reserves to pay for a new roof or do you need help with financing? If you didn’t budget for this, you will need a roofing company that can not only help you select the right products, but has options to help you pay for it—good relationships with local or national banks, or even in-house financing (more on these in a later post).
Put some thought into these questions before you pick up the phone. They will help you choose the right roofer and the right roof. You want a roofing company with extensive experience in your geographic area (climate matters!), with access to the kinds of products that fit your needs and preferences, and with the financing options that you need.