"Makes me wonder if there's a reliable way to spot who's cutting corners before signing anything... guess it's always a gamble to some extent."
You're spot-on about it being tricky. I've been in roofing for years, and honestly, price alone isn't always the best indicator. I've seen expensive contractors who just have slick marketing but don't deliver quality work at all. But generally speaking, higher bids often reflect better materials, more experienced crews, and proper insurance coverage—things that aren't immediately obvious but matter big-time down the road.
Asking contractors directly about shortcuts or materials is actually smart. Most reputable pros will gladly discuss their methods openly because they've got nothing to hide. If someone gets defensive or vague when you question their approach... that's usually your red flag right there.
So yeah, it's always gonna be a bit of a gamble—but you did good trusting your gut and paying extra this time. In my experience, that kind of upfront investment usually pays off in fewer headaches later on.
When we bought our first place, we went with a cheaper contractor for the kitchen remodel thinking we'd save some cash. Big mistake... cabinets started sagging within months, and the guy ghosted us when we tried to get him back to fix it. Learned the hard way that paying a bit more upfront usually saves you from bigger headaches later. It's tough to know for sure, but asking detailed questions definitely helps weed out the sketchy ones.
Did you end up asking about warranty coverage when you hired the cheaper contractor? I've found that asking detailed questions about warranties and follow-up service can really help filter out contractors who aren't serious. A few years back, I went through something similar with a roofing job—went cheap, regretted it big time when leaks started popping up after just one rainy season. Learned my lesson and now I always ask contractors things like: "What's your policy if something goes wrong after completion?" or "Can you provide references from jobs you've done 2-3 years ago?" It doesn't guarantee perfection, but it definitely helps narrow down the field. Curious if anyone else has specific questions they swear by when vetting contractors...
"Can you provide references from jobs you've done 2-3 years ago?"
That's a good one, but honestly I've found references can sometimes be misleading. Contractors generally only give you their best contacts anyway. Instead, I like to ask detailed questions about their crew—like how long they've been working together, or whether they subcontract a lot. Crews who've worked together consistently tend to have fewer communication breakdowns and mistakes... at least from my experience.
"Crews who've worked together consistently tend to have fewer communication breakdowns and mistakes..."
Good point. When we hired for our kitchen remodel, I asked about crew consistency too. The contractor we chose had a slightly higher bid, but his team had been together over 5 years with minimal subcontracting. Honestly, the project went smoother than expected—fewer delays, no major misunderstandings. Definitely worth paying a bit extra for that peace of mind.
