Top Tips for New Roofing Contractors

For anybody starting out as a roofing contractor in the roofing industry, this is an exciting step towards a great new career involving working at height.  At the beginning there are so many things to think about and remember, that we thought it would be useful to publish some great tips that should help you to get off to a good start.

• Safety – Roofing work invariably involves work at height which can be dangerous if not planned properly and the correct safety measures taken.  One of the most important things you can do to assure your own safety and that of others is to make safety a primary consideration at all times.  You need to think about your own physical safety, the safety of other workers onsite, your tools and equipment, and your clients.  In order to work at height on roofs, you will need to undergo dedicated work at height safety training.
• Quality – providing a high level of quality means adhering to standards whilst working.  Making sure your customers are happy with the quality of your work, the materials used and the aesthetic of any roof repairs or renewals is vital for success in the roofing industry.  The roofing industry here in the UK is competitive, especially for SME roofing contractors, so ensuring that you deliver a great quality service is a great way to set your business apart from your competitors.
• Value for Money – another effective method of shining brighter than your competitors is to offer a great value for money service.  Although price is always a consideration that customers take into account when deciding which roofing contractor to hire, many homeowners will prefer to be offered great value, rather than the very cheapest price. 
• Honesty – if you want your clients to trust you and the work you carry out for them, it’s vital that you remain honest and transparent in your dealings with them at all times.  This is likely to result in you having a great reputation for being an honest, responsible roofer that communicates honestly with clients and will lead to more work in the future.  It’s essential to maintain a great, honest relationship with everybody with whom you work at all times.
• Customer Satisfaction – there is no greater advertisement for your work than word of mouth recommendations from satisfied customers.  If you have a list of satisfied customers, you can encourage them to leave good reviews online and include these on your website and social media channels too.  This is a great way to show potential clients the great work you’ve carried out and show them how many people have had a positive experience when they hired you to take care of their roofing requirements.

One issue to be aware of is that if things are going well, you may be tempted to take on more work than you can handle.  As a new roofing contractor, you don’t want your company to grow beyond your ability to satisfy demand so use a forward-focused business plan that will enable your company to grow at a steady rate.