"Trust your gut—if they dodge questions or pressure you into signing something right away, move on."
Totally agree, especially about trusting your instincts. I'd also suggest quickly checking their website or socials for recent projects—real photos, not stock images. And maybe ask if they handle insurance claims directly? Had a friend whose roofer helped streamline the whole insurance mess, saved him a ton of headaches...worth asking about. Good luck, hope you get it patched up soon.
Good points, especially about checking socials—I've noticed some contractors post before-and-after shots that really help gauge their work quality. A few things I'd add from recent experience:
- Ask directly about their warranty policy (materials AND labor). Some places are sneaky and only cover materials.
- See if they'll provide references you can actually call. I did this recently, felt awkward at first, but the homeowner I spoke with gave me super helpful insights.
- Clarify timelines upfront—had a neighbor whose "urgent" fix dragged on for weeks because the contractor juggled too many jobs.
Curious though, has anyone here tried using online review sites like Angie's List or HomeAdvisor? Are they reliable enough for something urgent like roof repairs?
I've tried HomeAdvisor a couple times, and honestly, it's been hit or miss. One time, I got a roofer who was fantastic—fast response, fair price, and solid work. Another time though... not so much. The reviews looked good initially, but the contractor ended up being super flaky with scheduling and communication. Felt like pulling teeth just to get updates.
I think the problem with those sites is that contractors pay to be listed, so there's always a chance you're seeing skewed reviews or missing some red flags. Personally, I'd trust word-of-mouth recommendations or local community groups on Facebook more than those big review sites.
One thing I've wondered about lately: has anyone had luck hiring through Nextdoor? Seems like it might be a decent middle ground between personal recommendations and broader online reviews.
I've had mixed luck with Nextdoor myself. Last summer, right after we moved into our first house, we had a plumbing emergency—water everywhere, total nightmare. I posted on Nextdoor asking for recommendations and got flooded (no pun intended) with responses. Ended up hiring a guy who several neighbors vouched for, and he was great—fast, affordable, and super communicative.
But then a couple months later, I tried again for some landscaping work and it was a totally different story. The person I hired was nice enough but kept rescheduling last minute and took forever to finish the job. Felt like I spent half my time chasing him down.
Honestly, I think Nextdoor can be helpful because it's local and people are usually pretty honest about their experiences...but it's still hit or miss depending on who responds. Curious if anyone's tried Angie's List lately—is it any better since they merged with HomeAdvisor?
I've had similar experiences with Nextdoor—sometimes it's gold, other times...not so much. Haven't tried Angie's List since the merger, but I've heard decent things. Might be worth a shot, especially for something urgent like roof repairs. Good luck!
