Finding The Best Commercial Roofing Contractors
A roof is one of a commercial property’s most important assets. It protects the property, people, and their possessions from the elements. This is why replacing a commercial roof is a major capital project for any property manager. As a result, finding the best commercial roofing contractors to provide estimates when it is time to replace a property’s roof is crucially important.
But how does a property manager go about finding the best commercial roofing contractors? While there is no exact science, there are resources that can help. These include roofing industry groups, property management associations, manufacturer websites, social media, Google, and BidSource.
National Roofing Contractors Association
The National Roofing Contractors Association, or NRCA, is a great resource for property managers. It is the largest and most respected trade association in the roofing industry. The NRCA offers training, education, and nationally recognized certifications. When property managers hire an NRCA certified roofer, they know they are hiring a well trained commercial roofer.
More importantly, the NRCA has an excellent member directory search engine. First, it allows property managers to search by roof type and location. Additionally property managers can look for roofers based on their certifications. This is one of the easiest ways to find the best commercial roofing contractors in a given city or state.
Property Management Associations
In addition to the NRCA, property managers can use property management associations to find commercial roofers. Organizations like BOMA, IREM, IFMA, NAA, RMFA, Connex, and CAI are a great place for property managers to start searching for the best commercial roofing contractors.
One reason property management associations are a great resource is because they are property specific. When a roofer joins the local apartment association, it is because they have experience with apartment roofs and want to work on apartment buildings. Another benefit of these associations is many have searchable online directories that do not require association membership.
Roofing Manufacturer Websites
Similar to the NRCA and property management associations, most major roofing manufacturers have free searchable directories on their websites. These directories usually only show commercial roofers that are trained and certified installers of a manufacturers products. While this limits search results, these directories are very helpful if an engineer or roof consultant has specified the new roofing system.
Be careful, however, because not all manufacturer certifications and awards translate to quality. For example, many manufacturers give out awards based on the number of warranties a roofing contractor registers. While certifications and awards are generally a great indicator of a roofer’s ability, they are not the end all be all. Property managers should still perform due diligence, especially when comparing roofing bids, regardless of a commercial roofer’s manufacturer certifications and awards.
Use BidSource
BidSource is a free tool property managers can use to find the best commercial roofing contractors in their area. It is run by Property Manager Insider’s team and makes it easy to find a commercial roofer. Property managers fill out their project details and Property Manager Insider’s team connects them with a qualified commercial roofer with capacity to take on new projects.
Unlike Angie’s List and HomeAdvisor, which focus on residential needs, BidSource only locates commercial contactors. Additionally, all BidSource requests are matched on a one to one basis. As a result, property managers don’t have to worry about their information being sent to multiple vendors. Click here to try BidSource!
Leverage Social Media
Believe it or not, social media is another tool available to property managers looking for a commercial roofer. In many ways, posting on social media is an informal way of asking for referrals on a big scale. Two of the best social media platforms for contractor recommendations are Facebook and LinkedIn.
Facebook Groups are excellent resources for referrals. They exist for almost any and all topics, including commercial property management and commercial roofing. A property manager can join an open group, whether it is focused on property management in their area or commercial roofing worldwide, and ask for referrals.
LinkedIn is another great place for referrals, especially if a property manager has a large network. Simply posting: “Can anyone recommend me the best commercial roofing contractors in CITY?” will often lead to people tagging roofers in the comments. This makes it incredibly easy for property managers to check out potential roofers on LinkedIn.
Google Search
Finally, property managers can use Google to find new roofing contractors. While Google search results are broader than results from an association or manufacturer directory, they can still help property managers find the best commercial roofing contractors. Including roofing material keywords and a property’s location in searches will improve results. For example, searching “Commercial TPO Roofer Los Angeles” will produce more relevant results than searching “Commercial Roofer”.
Rather than using the main Google search function, property managers can try searching on Google Maps. Not only do these results only show local roofers, they also include a roofer’s Google star rating.
Professional Referrals
Going old school and asking colleagues for a referral is another way property managers can find the best commercial roofing contractors in their area. Referrals are especially helpful if a manager picks up a new property or relocates to a new area. This can be done both internally, by asking co-workers, and externally, by asking other property managers.
It can be helpful when asking for referrals to include the type of roof and project. Don’t just ask, “Do you have any roofers you recommend?”. Asking a colleague if they have a great roofer to repair a leaking shingle roof will result in a better answer. Property managers can also click here to ask the Property Manager Insider team for a local roofing referral.
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