When choosing a General Contractor to repair or remodel your home or investment property the key is research! A good and easy place to start is by asking friends and neighbors for the names of reliable contractors they have used.  Personal recommendations are usually a good guide as a contractor who is eager to "make things right" to leave the custoimer with a great impression will do the same for you.  Often you can look for customer reviews of General Contractors online in addition to personally asking the General Contractor for references. When you contact General Contractors and get bids, make sure the bid price is reasonable and pay attention to the General Contractor's professionalism. But remember that the lowest bid isn't necessiraly the best, as is the case often in life, you get what you pay for.

What to look for in a General Contractor:

• Repeat business with a long term record of projects in the surrounding area
• Number of years in the business locally
• Professionalism, Service Oriented attitude
• Membership in local professional associations
• Knowledge of current materials and procedures

Evidence that your General Contractor is Legitimate:

A professional General Contractor should be able to provide you with an up-to-date copy of their references. Your General Contractor should also be able to show you a copy of his insurance coverage. Look for a roofing contractor with sufficient liability insurance, such as a policy with at least a $1,000,000 of coverage.

Indicators that a General Contractor is Legitimate:

• Local references (jobs completed in the last 30 days and 1+ years ago)
• Business license
• Credentials
• Workers compensation insurance
• General liability insurance

The Contract and Costs of the Job:

Before any work is started, get a written contract. The contract should include all labor and materials, estimate details such as hauling away trash, warranties,  and a schedule for when the work is to be completed.

When choosing a contractor, don't fall for a scam. The tips provided should help better prepare you to spot potential red flags infamous of "in your neighborhood with extra materials" and other deceptive scams. Remember the importance of making sure your General Contractor's background is well documented and has experience with roofing that you can review. Also, make sure you fully understand the contract before work begins so that everything goes according to plan. By following these basic pieces of advice, you are more likely to end up with a roof that you are happy with.