Business Startup

Roofing Social Media Management – Top 5 Fails

Roofing Social Media Fails

Many roofers love to see images and video of roofing “fails”. Whether it’s a ugly repair job done by a homeowner, or a botched install by a “chuck in a truck”, these type of posts often get a lot of attention.  While roofing fails can draw a crowd, unfortunately, social media account fails have the opposite effect.  After reviewing thousands of social media accounts over the past few years, I have seen a number social media account “fails”.  While the buck ultimately stops with the business owner, sometimes the fail is caused by an employee, family member or social media manager who is running the account.  If used properly, social media accounts can be a very effective and economical way to generate roofing leads. When not managed properly, they can waste valuable time and money, besides missing out on connecting with potential customers.

While there are numerous mistakes that can be made when running a social media account, here are the top 5 fails I have seen in the roofing industry, in no particular order:

1 . NOT POSTING FOR THEIR CUSTOMER

roofing customer profile

While this should be obvious, many roofing businesses on social media don’t seem to know who their audience is. Roofing business social accounts will often post images and videos that will draw a lot of attention from other roofers (through love or hate), but these same posts have little or no meaning whatsoever to a homeowner.

It is important to research your target audience (age, gender, location, economics, residential, commercial, etc.). If you take the time to develop a customer persona (avatar), you will have more clarity when deciding what images, video, and text should be posted. Don’t fall into the trap of posting what you personally enjoy or what other roofers will like. If you want to do that, create a separate influencer account aimed at roofers. For the social media account for your roofing business, create posts with your potential customer in mind.  

2. NO POSTING STRATEGY

Another social media mistake some make is not putting much thought into what, when, and how they post. They will post various images or video throughout the week or month, seemingly without any rhyme or reason. These social posts may not even include any descriptive text or hashtags.

Planning and consistency are important for effective social media outreach. After developing a customer persona (mentioned above), creating a social posting calendar can help in organizing a variety of post types and content. With proper planning, content for a whole month (or more) can be created from just a few roofing jobs. When and how often you post can help improve the chances that a customer will see your post.

3. NO SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT

There are some who may actively post quality content, but never make the effort to interact with their audience. They post, and then disappear from their social account until they login to post again. Comments (negative or positive) are ignored, and they don’t even check their DM’s. Basically, they aren’t very “social” on their social media account.

If you are going through the work of creating high-quality content aimed at your audience, you need to do everything possible to prompt them to see your content. Be active on the social platforms you are posting on. Respond to comments, and definitely be checking your inbox regularly (although you may have to weed through the marketing spammers). Interact with your potential customers on their accounts, and on other primary accounts they are following. Responding to their posts with genuine comments can help build a relationship not only with that account owner, but also their followers.

4 . TOO MUCH SELLING/SPAMMING

spamming customers

Some fall into the trap of always using social to only promote their business. Their posts mostly consist of asking people to hire their roofing company. Their “engagement” on other social accounts is what most would describe as “spam”. They are more focused on trying to force an instant sale, than on first building a relationship of trust. They are constantly bombarding others with their sales pitch.

There are many creative ways to use social media to build brand awareness and trust rather than annoying customers by always trying to get them to hire you. Try to provide genuine interaction with customers without including any sales pitch. Contribute valuable input when posting or responding in social groups and on other business and personal social accounts. Building trust through relationships takes time, but is a much more effective sales strategy in the long run.  Many top marketers recommend that only 20% of your social posts should involve promoting your business and the remaining 80% should be used to educate and entertain your prospective customer.

5. NOT STUDYING ANALYTICS

One final mistake is to be working hard to consistently create and post content, and taking the time to engage with your audience, without knowing the effectiveness of what you are posting. Social media business accounts (along with some personal/creator accounts) provide helpful analytics which many business owners have never looked at, much less studied. Likes, comments, and views can easily be seen under a post, but they don’t necessarily give a complete representation of the impact a particular post has.

Don’t just focus on vanity metrics, or even “going viral”. There are other important metrics to study including impressions/reach, saved posts, shares, and the demographics of your viewers. You may be discouraged that a post doesn’t get many likes, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. You may have more potential customers checking out your business than you think. Most people aren’t going to be actively liking and commenting on posts from their local home improvement contractors. Don’t be discouraged by that. Instead, focus on increasing reach/impressions in your local area to draw attention to your business and build brand awareness.

Need help developing a solid social media strategy for your roofing business? CONTACT US

20 Proven Ways to Get Roofing Leads

This is one of the most-asked questions by roofing contractors: “How do I get more roofing leads?”  It’s a loaded question, as there are many methods to generate solid leads.  Often, the bigger problem is that contractors are already getting leads in various forms, but don’t know how to capitalize on them.

Another common complaint is cold-calling or door-knocking  While not for everyone, if done well, it is still an effective means of acquiring new customers.  Still, there are many ways to generate roofing leads without door-knocking or having strong sales skills.

Research and get references before handing over your money to marketers.  Marketing dollars can disappear quickly with no return.  Some marketers are scammers, while others may just be inexperienced or incompetent.  While not every advertising campaign will be successful, you need to make sure the company/individual you hire is trustworthy.

Here’s a list of proven paid and free lead-generation sources.

Branding

Branding is an under-rated, but powerful source of leads.  A roofing brand that includes a good business name, quality logo, catchy tagline, and is backed up by a variety of well-designed marketing materials can generate countless leads.  Your advertising should center around your brand.  Invest in brand-building for long-term results.

A High-Quality Website (plus SEO)

Many times contractors overlook the power of a well-designed, SEO-optimized website because they are looking for the phone to ring immediately.  A quality website will bring in qualified leads consistently over the long-term.

A website with an attractive home page, an about page, a services-offered page, and a contact page is a minimum requirement.  roofing leads from your websiteA call to action along with contact information on every page is very important.  SEO (search engine optimization) will give your website an edge that other roofers may not have.  Search algorithms are constantly changing, so SEO is not a once-and-done thing.  Make sure the company you hire to do your SEO uses “white-hat” techniques (methods Google deems non-spammy).  Otherwise, your site could be severely penalized.

Don’t forget user experience.  Your website should load quickly, and be easy to navigate.  Make sure your website is responsive and mobile-friendly (adapts to various screen sizes and devices).  A well-designed website is a great form of advertising because it is promoting your business 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Also, in contrast to social media, your website is an asset that you own and have full control over.

Door Knocking

Although knocking on doors is difficult for some, taking an effective sales pitch to key neighborhoods is still a useful tool for lead generation for many companies.  Some roofing companies depend on door-to-door sales more than anything else.  Getting proper sales training will greatly increase your chances of signing up jobs.

Door Flyers

Well-designed flyers can be very effective in advertising your roofing services.  If you hate cold-calling/door-knocking, this is a gentler alternative.  Targeting the right neighborhoods is the key to getting the most bang for your buck.

Search Engine Marketing (SEM)

One way to get your company to the top of search engine results is through PPC (pay-per-click) advertising.  Google is the #1 search engine to use, but good results can also be had from Bing and Yahoo.  Costs per lead will depend on the competition from other roofers also trying to advertise.

Home Improvement Networks

There are multiple popular referral/review networks that connect homeowners with contractors such as HomeAdvisor, Angi, Thumbtack, Nextdoor etc.  Be aware that while some contractors are satisfied with these services, many others have had very negative experiences due to shared leads, poor customer support, billing issues, etc.  Due your research before signing a contract.

Google PPC Ads

PPC (Pay-per-click) ads can help bring traffic to your website or help get the phone ringing.  PPC ads can be costly, especially if not set up properly.  Make sure you hire a marketing company you can trust in order to get the best results from Google ads.

Google Local Service Ads

If your company passes the screening process, you may be eligible for Google Local Service ads.  Your company can get a Google Guaranteed or Google Screened badge, and potentially show up at the top of the Google search page.

Referrals

A happy customer can be one of your best roofing lead sources.  Don’t be afraid to leave some business cards and/or flyers with a satisfied customer and ask them to refer you.

Reviews

Reviews are a type of referral that can also provide leads for your roofing company.  Google and Facebook are two of the most common places for customers to leave reviews.  While some customers may leave a review on their own, many more will gladly leave positive feedback if you would simply ask them.  Sharing a link to the review page will make the process easier.

Get Featured on The Roofer’s Helper

Getting your company featured on The Roofer’s Helper not only exposes your brand to over 200,00 followers on social media, but also provides a custom landing page with company info, images, links, and contact information.  These landing pages will help boost your SEO and overall web exposure.  On top of that, your company will be featured in The Roofer’s Helper Directory. Find out more here: Get Featured

Google Business Listing

An often-overlooked powerhouse for roofing leads is the free Google Business Listing. Not only can you show up at the top of searches (even though your website might be on page 10), but potential customers can get all your contact information, see reviews, and more.

Positive Online Reviewsroofing leads through reviews

Often, one of the first things a potential customer will do when deciding on a roofing contractor is to look online for reviews.  Ask loyal customers to leave a positive review for you or to email you a review for your website.  Don’t forget to highlight your positive online reviews on social media and your website.

Facebook Ads

Facebook ads allow you to hyper-target your audience, so you can help determine where your leads are coming from.  You can choose how much you want to spend, and specify who you want the ad to be seen by (age, location, etc.).  If setting up an ad campaign seems too daunting, you may want to hire a marketing agency to run the campaign for you.

Yard Signs

Yard signs are all over the place because they are effective.  Make sure the sign is easy to read and provides basic contact information.

News Media

If you have donated to charity or done something else newsworthy as a roofing company, let your local newspaper or television station know about it.  They may just choose to run your story, for free!  roofing leads from the newsOther ways to possibly get featured are providing roofing-related information such as reasons to get your roof inspected, how to avoid a roofing scam, preparing the exterior of your home for winter, etc.

Vehicle Advertising

Vehicle wraps, or some other type of advertising on your vehicle will bring brand awareness everywhere you go, whether you are on a roofing job, parked at a local diner, or driving down the street.

Community Sponsoring and Events

Help sponsor a local sports team, or advertise at a community event such as a charity walk.  Having your business name fully or partially featured on a shirt or banner can help bring in roofing leads, while also benefiting your community.

Many communities have annual events where local businesses can set up booths.  This is a great opportunity to feature your business and get a chance to interact with potential customers.   Have people sign up with their emails.  You could offer a particular service or a gift certificate to the winner.  You could also choose to offer all contestants a consolation prize such as 10% off any roofing service.

Social Media

Social media is a great way to promote your brand, and it’s free!  Currently, two of the best social media platforms to advertise your roofing company are Facebook and Instagram.  If you choose to start a social media account, be sure to use the business analytics settings to see how your posts are doing.  roofing leads through social mediaThis will help you maximize your time and effort in order to attract quality roofing leads.  Also, it is important to post regularly (at least once every week or two at minimum) to let prospective roofing customers know the account is active.

Real Estate Agents

Teaming up with real estate agents can be a win-win for both parties.  Many times a roof needs to be repaired or replaced before a home sale can be completed.  Roof inspections can be a great way to get your foot in the door to sell a new roof to either the seller or the buyer.

Contractor Networking

Connecting with other home improvement contractors is an excellent way to generate roofing leads.  Often plumbers, carpenters, electricians, etc., get asked if they know a roofer, just like you may often get asked for a reference for another home improvement contractor.   Building a good relationship with contractors and other home-related businesses can help bring in a steady source of roofing jobs.

Need Help?

Contact us and we’ll do our best to refer you to an agency that can meet your marketing needs.

How to Explain Roofing Supplements with Homeowners

Supplements are an integral part of the insurance restoration process. So, why do we have such a hard time explaining them to our homeowners? It’s simple. We get scared. So, we either don’t tell them, or we brush over it so fast that they don’t really understand the process.

But, if you wait until the end to talk about supplements with your homeowners, they won’t understand and will be less likely to hand over the full depreciation check when they receive it. Alternatively, if you talk about it early and you inform them throughout the process, you will have an educated, informed customer, who trusts you, as the contractor, because you’ve kept them in the loop.

WHEN SHOULD YOU TALK ABOUT SUPPLEMENTS? 

Talk about supplements early and often so that they are prepared, and they understand why they are receiving more money on the final check and why that money needs to be paid to you.

  • During the contingency/contract signing
  • When a supplement has been submitted 
  • If/when it’s been approved 
  • When the depreciation is released

HOW SHOULD YOU START THE CONVERSATION?

You should have something about supplements on the form you ask them to sign – whether it’s on a contingency, contract, or agreement – it should be on there with a place for them to initial. When you’re talking to your homeowners and you’re getting to the point on the agreement where you need to talk about supplements, here are your talking points:

  1. GIVE THE WHY: Insurance Adjusters are busy, especially after a big storm and may miss things.

[INSERT NAME], listen, I’m pretty busy in this industry. In one day, I may get on four, 

five or even six roofs. Some of these adjusters get on 10 to 15 roofs a day. And then 

they go back to their hotel or back to their office and stay up until 2 a.m. writing 

estimates. So, as human beings, it’s inevitable that they’re going to miss things.”

  1. EXPLAIN WHAT A SUPPLEMENT IS: additional funds allowed by the insurance company for items that were not included in the adjuster’s original estimate.

So, the insurance company has created this mechanism called a supplement, so that 

when things are missed, or when there is a discrepancy on their estimate verse what it 

actually takes to fully repair the home, there is a way to go back to them and request 

those extra funds and extra items; and that is what a supplement is.” 

  1. EXPLAIN WHO ASKS FOR IT AND WHO APPROVES IT

So, [INSERT NAME], right here on our agreement, it says, ‘plus any supplements 

approved by the insurance carrier.’ Notice, it’s approved by the insurance carrier, 

[INSERT NAME]. Not by me. They decide whether or not this should be paid for. And 

they do that by me, as your contractor, providing them evidence as to why something 

should be paid for.” 

  1. RECAP THE WHY

So, that’s what a supplement is and that’s why it exists. It was created by the insurance companies because sometimes things are missed. Does that make sense to you? Great! Initial right here, and I’ll keep you informed about this throughout the whole process.”

So, now the homeowner understands why you will be supplementing. But you’re not done. Remember, you need to talk about it upfront, but you also need to talk about it often. You need to inform your client throughout the whole process.

At Elite, when we work with a contractor, we’re constantly updating them on each step of the process. “Hey, we just reached out to the adjuster with the new scope, here’s what the amount was. Hey, we just got word back…they didn’t take all of it, but they took these 10 items and it amounted to $4,500. Here’s what the items are…”

When you have that information, whether using Elite or a firm like Elite, or you’re doing it yourself, give that info to the customer.

If you talk about supplements early and often, your homeowners will be prepared and will understand why they are receiving more money and why that money needs to be paid to you.

Want to hear the pitch? Watch this video: https://youtu.be/P9mHmibOcy8

Need a cheat sheet to keep when you need a refresher? Download it here:  >FREE CHEAT SHEET<

How To Get A Flat Roof Insurance Claim Approved

How to get a Flat Roof Insurance Claim Approved

On the surface, flat roofs seem simpler than your average sloped roofs. But, with several different types of flat roofs and three different ways to install them, flat roofs are far from simple. Many adjusters don’t understand the intricacies of flat roofs and will often select the cheapest materials in Xactimate (i.e., Roll Roofing) – which often isn’t the correct material.

Because adjusters don’t have in-depth knowledge when it comes to flat roofs, the burden of proof falls heavily on you as the contractor. For example, if the adjuster doesn’t include enough modified bitumen, because he/she doesn’t understand how it is installed or ordered, you need to submit supporting documents – measurements, code requirements, core samples, invoices, etc. – that prove these funds and additional materials are needed.

So, what do you need to submit to get your flat roofing jobs approved?

1. Inspection Checklist & Measurements.  At Elite, we require a filled-out inspection checklist for all flat roof jobs. Why? We need to know what types of products are currently on the roof and how they are applied. We also need to know what type of penetrations the roof has. For example, the number of drains, pipe jacks, exhaust vents, etc. 

Measurements are super important when it comes to ordering the correct amount of materials, and for proving to adjusters why you need that amount. For flat roofs, the wall height is especially important to determine how much material to install. The wall could be anywhere between 1 and 6 feet high and most times this is left off an adjuster’s scope of loss.

Download Elite’s Roof Inspection Checklist.

2. Photos from the photo checklist. As always, you will need photos to prove your case. Damage photos, flashing photos, photos showing access issues, core sample photos, etc. will be necessary to show why you need what you’re asking for.

Download Elite’s Photo Checklists

3. Roof Core Sample. We recommend taking a core sample to give us a better indication of what lies beneath the top layer. A roof core sample is a process in which you bore or drill out a two-inch diameter hole in the flat roof, from the top layer to the deck, to see how many layers of roofing material and insulation exist. Core samples are critical to establish how much labor and debris charges should be included on the Xactimate estimate and, when documented correctly, it is very difficult for the adjuster to deny those funds.

Core samples are typically taken with a tool known as a core cutter, roof core sample tool, or a roof core sampler.  Roof core sample tools can be manually operated or attached as a drill bit and range in price from $50 to $200. 

Example of manually operated core sample tool

Example of power drill core sample tool

Remember to take pictures showing you completed a core sample and to prove the number of layers present!

roof core sample

roof core sample thickness

4. Thermal Imaging. There are a couple different ways to detect a leak, but we recommend using thermal imaging. In fact, we’ve gotten total roofs approved based on thermal images. When moisture penetrates the membrane, it causes the area to hold heat. So, if there are red areas on the thermal image, it means water is underneath the cap sheet/flat roofing system. If the image is as red as the image below, code will require the roof to be replaced. 

roof thermal image

Photo Caption: The red across the roof shows areas where moisture has penetrated the membrane

There are plenty of services out there that you can use to have thermal images taken for you. You can also ask your local supplier if they have a thermal imaging camera for purchase.

For more information about flat roof supplementing, check out Elite’s Flat Roof Supplementing page.

What Can A Contractor Do If The Insurance Claim Is Denied?

There are a variety of reasons WHY an adjuster denies a roofing or siding insurance claim; they dispute the storm date, they didn’t perform a thorough inspection, there wasn’t enough damage to warrant a replacement, or maybe they felt that the roof could be repaired instead of replaced. The WHY doesn’t really make a difference. What matters is what the contractor can do about it.

Some roofing contractors and sales reps view a denied claim as the end of the road for that job, potentially missing out on thousands or even millions of dollars per year. Savvy contractors who understand what damage looks like and perform thorough inspections view a denied claim as just another minor setback and actively work to appeal a denied claim and convert it into a profitable job. 

Supplementing a denied roof or siding claim is the best way for you to bring an insurance storm claim back to life, but as Kenny Rogers used to say, “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em, Know when to fold ’em, Know when to walk away, And know when to run.” roofing insurance claim denied

Denied claims are more work for the contractor AND the homeowner. The denied claim supplementing process involves submitting a detailed Xactimate estimate with corresponding photo documentation and educating the homeowner on how to challenge the adjuster’s initial findings. If you don’t want to lose credibility with carriers, you should only supplement denied claims when you feel confident the house has enough damage to warrant an approval. By choosing the right denied claims to challenge, you will increase the likelihood of getting approvals, but even if you eventually lose the fight, you will likely have gained a long-term customer and even get referrals.

What Are Your Options?

When you want to convert a roofing insurance claim from a denial to a full replacement, there are six main options at your disposal: Re-inspections, Estimates, Engineer Reports, Public Adjusters, Arbitration, and engaging State Insurance Regulators.

  1. REINSPECTION: A reinspection is when a homeowner requests that a different adjuster perform a second, full inspection of the property. You should come to the reinspection prepared to walk the adjuster through all the documented damage. Clearly marking damage and performing test squares can give you credibility with the adjuster but be careful and know your local adjusters; this can sometimes backfire if they want to be the ones to mark any damage found. When re-inspections are done correctly, you can expect conversion rates as high as 50%.
  2. REQUEST AN ESTIMATE: Requesting an estimate from a 3rd party supplementing company is a great option for contractors who do not have experience challenging denied claims or lack experience writing Xactimate estimates. Having a well written Xactimate is the first step in the denied claim supplement process. During this stage, a 3rd party supplementing company will also be able to quickly look at the existing documentation and provide their professional opinion on the damage photos and the case to move forward. An honest 3rd party can save contractors time just by helping them avoid denied claims that have a low probability of approval.
  3. ENGINEER REPORT: Engineer reports are another tool to challenge a denied claim. If the adjuster and contractor cannot agree on whether the damage is storm related or if there is enough damage to warrant replacement, then in most cases the homeowner may hire an engineer, at his or her expense, to inspect the property. In most cases if the engineer determines that the damage warrants replacement then the insurance company will reimburse the cost of the engineer. However, if it is determined that there is not enough damage to warrant replacement, then the homeowner will likely be out the expense of hiring the engineer.
  4. PUBLIC ADJUSTER: Another option is to get a public adjuster involved. The public adjuster works on behalf of the homeowner to provide another expert inspection and has the ability to negotiate with the insurance carrier. It is a good idea to have a few vetted, trustworthy public adjusters ready to recommend. Public adjusters can be very expensive and typically should be a last resort as in most cases if there is valid damage on a property then any one of the other items mentioned in this post should ensure a similar outcome at a fraction of the cost.
  5. ARBITRATION: Arbitration is the formal means to dispute a denied claim. The process involves both parties sending an arbitrator to inspect the property in question. Typically, the carrier is represented by a senior adjuster or some other highly credentialed inspector, while the contractor represents the homeowner. Remember arbitration takes time (hours and hours in most cases), time that could be spent going to find another deal instead of fighting a tough battle that distracts you from helping more clients. It is warranted in some cases however we at Elite feel that arbitration and public adjusters for that matter, have become vastly overused in our industry when a contractor’s focus should be on getting the next deal and repairing as many homes as possible. Like Kenny said…know when to fold ‘em.
  6. DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE COMPLAINT: In cases where storm damage is obvious, well-documented, and there exists a clear storm date, etc., and the carrier refuses to engage the claim in good faith, a contractor could recommend that the homeowner file a complaint with the Department of Insurance in that state. This action is not intended to change the outcome of a specific claim, but more so to level the overall playing field moving forward. This could help state regulators identify and weed out bad actors on the insurance side. 

No matter the step, denied claims require more buy-in from the homeowner. Sometimes the homeowner will not want to move forward with the claim but when they do, they often become more emotionally invested and determined to get the denied claim overturned. That’s why it’s so important for the contractor to educate their clients on the process, set expectations and communicate every step of the way. Remember it all starts with being well-trained on how to identify damage, performing an accurate thorough inspection, and only working on properties with valid damage. If you start there, your likelihood of having a denied claim overturned goes up significantly. 

How Roofing Contractors Can Turn Partial Approvals into Full Approvals

When it comes to storm related insurance claims, partial approvals are going to happen. Some contractors just accept the adjuster’s initial findings and leave thousands or even millions of dollars on the table. Experienced contractors view a partial approval as part of the process and actively work to convert those initially small claims into large, profitable jobs. 

What are partial approvals and what can contractors do about them?

A partial approval is when an insurance carrier only approves replacement for part of the roof and/or siding. If the contractor feels strongly that the job requires a full replacement or additional trades, he or she can submit a partial approval supplement along with supporting documentation to attempt to get approval for a full replacement. 

Let’s say you’ve inspected a 30 square roof and found enough storm damage to warrant a claim. An adjuster may agree that a section of the roof was damaged by hail but will only approve replacement of 5 of the 30 squares. In order to get the other 25 squares approved, you need to determine if the supplement is Product Related or Damage Related. (In our experience, it’s about a 50-50 split.) Both scenarios require additional documentation. 

What type of Documentation do you need?

If the argument is Damage Related, additional damage photos and photos of test squares need to be taken and submitted along with a thorough list of accessories and components not included in the original scope of loss. (This is why you should use your inspection checklist on your inspection!) Some states even have building code requirements that limit the number of repairs that can be made on a roof, like the Florida Building Code 25% Rule. If there is a code requirement in your area, submit that, too.insurance approval roof

If the argument is Product Related, then you need to include documentation that the shingles or siding are discontinued, unavailable, etc. ITEL reports with the receipt, letters from the supplier, or “do not mix” documentation from the manufacturer should be included with the supplement.   

How many partial approvals should you supplement?

Experienced contractors will know from the inspection if the house has sustained enough damage to warrant a claim. That, combined with proper documentation will allow you to easily know which partial approvals to focus on fighting and which ones to shift to retail jobs if the homeowner still wants a full replacement. 

Should you use a 3rd party supplementing company to process partial approval jobs?

For contractors that are inexperienced with challenging roofing and siding partial approvals or repairs, a 3rd party supplementing company can be a good option. A roofing supplement company will be able to quickly determine if enough documentation exists to move forward. 

Learn more about documentation you should use on every job on Elite’s YouTube channel.

What Is Supplementing, And How Much Can Roofing Contractors Make If They Do It Right?

If you’re new to the roofing business or just getting into storm restoration, you’ve likely heard the word “supplement” (or Supplement) thrown around but probably don’t have a good grasp on what it means. Let’s walk through what a supplement is and how supplementing will benefit your roofing company.

What is a supplement?

A roofing supplement or contractor supplement is when a contractor asks for additional materials, labor, or trades to be added to the insurance claim. An adjuster may not include enough shingles, ice and water shield, siding, etc. on the scope of loss to get the job done correctly. In some cases, these missing items are required by local building code. When this happens, a contractor writes a new Xactimate Estimate to include those missing items and submits it to the insurance company for approval. Contractors must also include supporting documentation such as photos, measurements, local code requirements, and invoices to explain why these funds are needed.insurance supplement wood damage roof

Why should you supplement?

Well, the simple answer is so you get paid what you deserve.

While we don’t believe the insurance company is the enemy, they sometimes make mistakes. It’s up to the contractor to find and correct those mistakes, not just for their business but also for the homeowner. Homeowners hire roofing contractors to be the expert on filing, settling, and managing insurance claims. Supplementing is a great opportunity for roofing contractors to demonstrate their expertise. When done correctly, it can improve customer service and even generate more referral leads.

How many of your jobs should you supplement?

You should review all your jobs to see if there is a need to file a supplement (there usually is). Supplementing roofing jobs is all about consistency and process. Having a standardized process for more thorough inspections makes it easier to determine if an insurance job requires a supplement and makes it easier to file one.

The best way to do this is to give your sales reps very clear rules on how ALL roof inspections are performed. Top contractors use inspection checklists and photo checklists to make sure they correctly document all of the damage and materials required to install the job. The person putting together your supplements will then compare the adjuster’s scope of loss to the inspection checklist and photos taken by the rep to see if there are any discrepancies.

While this type of process may add an additional 15-30 minutes to what your sales reps are currently doing, it will benefit your roofing business in several ways. In terms of supplementing, contractors will earn more money and get paid faster. When it comes to operations, the same process used for supplementing can also result in more accurate material orders and prevent “fire drills” like driving to a supplier to pick up materials when a crew is waiting on the roof.

How much can supplementing really make you?

At the end of the day, supplementing is like anything else – you get what you put into it. Roofing Contractors will typically earn $2,000-$6,000 per job when they supplement. That means a possible 10-25% increase in yearly revenue.

This increase in revenue means you get paid what it actually costs to do the job correctly. You spend time and money to make sure you have the right amount of material, follow local building codes, use installation best practices to comply with manufacturer warranties, etc.insurance supplement shingle roof

Even the insurance carriers agree you should be paid for those things. But the catch is, you must ask for it. Bottom line, if you’re not taking the time to supplement, you’re losing money on every single job.

Why should you consider a 3rd party supplementing company like Elite Claim Solutions?

It takes time to learn the intricacies of supplementing. You need to know Xactimate and Symbility, code items in your area, how to document and so on and so forth. AND you have to learn how to ask for supplements using the carrier’s language. Now, some contractors have the time, dedication, and staff to do it on their own. More power to them.

But if you’re a small roofing company or a contractor just getting into insurance restoration, you may not have the time to do it yourself. After all, storm roofing is all about sales. Anything that takes you away from sales hinders your revenue and business growth. 

You need somebody on your side who has a solid background in supplementing and gives you all the tools you need to get the supplements approved. If that is the case for your business, using a supplementing company like Elite Claim Solutions is a good option for you.

With Elite, there is no need for you to have in-depth Xactimate supplementing knowledge. We do all the heavy lifting and build honest supplement packages for you.

Solar Business Name Ideas

Solar is a growing source of energy and a solar business can provide year-round income.  Besides solar installation, services can include solar cleaning, and solar repairs and maintenance.  Sometimes a solar company can be integrated with a roofing company.

Choosing a good name for your new solar business is one of the first steps when starting your business.  You could use your own name in the business name, or the name of the town or city where you are located.  You may also try to come up with a creative solar name or logo. You could also have a catchy tagline connected to your business name.  Try to choose a name for your solar installation or service company that is easy for potential customers to remember and to spell.  If you are specializing in a particular solar service, you can focus just on your specialty.  If you want to offer a variety of services such as consultation, installation, cleaning, maintenance, etc., you should pick a broader name.  Make sure the name is not used by any other solar contractors in your area.

Below are some examples of solar business names you can use as a guide in choosing your own name.  Some names may be already used in your area, or might be trademarked, so make sure you properly research the solar company name you choose before registering it and having any marketing materials printed.  There are a number of reasons why you should register your own website domain name for your business at this time also.

You can get a FREE domain with web hosting purchase and check for website name availability here.

How To Start A Business In Your State

For more tips on choosing a new business name: How To Choose A Business Name

Solar Business Name Ideas

  • Bright Eye Solar
  • Evoke Solar
  • Keystone Renewable Energy
  • PA Michael Solar Electrical Systems
  • Sonic Solar Energy
  • Solare America
  • Sun Run Solar
  • SunPower Builders
  • SUNation Solar Systems
  • GreenLeaf Solarsolar business name ideas
  • PowerLutions Solar
  • Solar Me
  • Geoscape Solar
  • Son Energy Systems
  • Solar Energy World
  • Standard Solar
  • Helios Solar Systems
  • Sun Up Zero Down
  • Vivint Solar
  • Off Grid By Design
  • Future Renovations
  • ION Solar
  • Convert Solar
  • Affordable Energy Concepts
  • POWERHOME Solar
  • US Solar Supply
  • Sun Dollar Energy
  • Green Power of North Carolina
  • Sun4Light Inc.
  • Get Solar
  • Boss Energy
  • Alder Energy Systems
  • Solarize U.S.
  • Coastal Solar Power
  • Solapros LLC
  • Wayne’s Solar
  • All American Solar
  • Sunvena Solar LLC
  • Simpler Solar Systems
  • Elevate Solar Energy
  • Energy Center
  • Go Solar Power
  • All Pros Solar
  • Solar Alternatives
  • Awake Solar
  • Uptown Solar
  • Rising Sun Solar
  • Hesolar
  • Texas Green Energy
  • Solar CenTex
  • Encore Electric Delivery
  • Taylor Electric Cooperative
  • Alamo 6 Solar Farm
  • Xcel Energy
  • Endless Energy
  • Infinity Solar Solutions
  • Front Range Renewable Energy
  • Sierra Electric Co-Op
  • Net Zero Solar

Branding/Marketing

WEB DESIGN / SEO
Let us design a website that can help promote your brand and generate targeted leads.
SOCIAL MEDIA
With over 125,000 followers on our social accounts, we know a little about social media. Let us help you use social media to build trust and generate leads.
BRANDING
We can help develop your brand to show potential customers you are THE roofing authority.
Previous
Next

BRANDING and MARKETING HELP

New Companies

Not sure where to start when creating your business? We can help provide direction and focus when building your brand, including advice on choosing a business name, logo, services offered, social media setup and promotion, website, lead generation, and more.

Get valuable help in managing your own marketing or in choosing the right marketing company.

Fill out the form below for a free pre-consultation.

Established Companies

Do you feel your branding/marketing is not working? Are you throwing money away on failed marketing campaigns? Looking for leads? Need to re-assess your company’s direction? Bad reviews and need to repair your image?  Let us help!  We can analyze your current marketing and provide a marketing blueprint with changes needed to meet your goals.

right tools, wrong usage  Maybe you already have the right tools, but are using them in the wrong way.  Website issues, failed ad campaigns, and poor social media management, among other things, can be much more costly than the $$$ you already spent for those services.

Fill out the form below for a free pre-consultation.

Let us help your company with your:
  • BRANDING

  • MARKETING

  • WEBSITE/SEO

  • SOCIAL MEDIA

Please provide as much detail as possible about your current branding/marketing needs:

    General location of your business (required)

    Website (if applicable)

    Social Media Accounts (if applicable)

    What help you would like? (required)
    Marketing AnalysisBrandingBusiness PlanWebsiteSocial MediaMarketingOther

    How To Start a Roofing Company – Roofing Business Resources

    Table of Contents

    If you want to start a roofing business, you must realize that running a profitable roofing company is a lot more than knowing how to find a leak or replace a roof. Just because you can do a great job installing shingles, managing a crew as a foreman, or selling roofs, doesn’t guarantee that you will be effective at running a roofing company.  Being a successful roofing business owner involves discipline, organization, both business and general roofing knowledge, patience, perseverance, people-skills, and a number of other traits.  A majority of roofing businesses fail within the first few years of business. This is usually not because the owner wasn’t skilled in their roofing craft, but because they were not skilled in running a business.

    On this page, and throughout The Roofer’s Helper website, you will find valuable tips and helpful information to get your business off the ground.

    There are basically 3 steps for how to start a roofing business:

    1. Plan your roofing company. This is a major step, and will help guide the direction of your business.
    2. Register your business with proper government institutions.  You need to make sure your business is operating legally in your area.
    3. Promote your business.  A solid marketing and sales strategy is critical to attract new customers.

    1. PLAN YOUR ROOFING BUSINESS

    Develop a Business Plan

    Before diving in to any business, you should develop a business plan.  Roofing equipment and vehicles can cost a lot of money.  Don’t forget about insurance costs, not only for you, but for any employees.  A business plan doesn’t have to be anything complicated, but is something that will help organize your goals and priorities and help you make wise decisions.  It is important to know how much you will need to spend to get started, and how much you will need to make (after expenses) to support yourself.

    Not everyone wants to have a multi-million dollar roofing company with hundreds of employees.  If your goal is to have a small to medium sized  business, then the goals you set will be much different from a business plan for a large corporation.

    Either way, you need to have a solid plan set in place that will help you achieve the goals you set for your business.

    The larger you want your company to be, the better you need to be as a business owner, as the responsibility will be greater.  It is not wrong to dream big, but if you are a new business owner, it is best to start small and work your way up. 

    Finding a mentor can be a huge asset when starting your roofing company. The ability to learn from another successful roofing business owner can save you time, and help you avoid many costly mistakes.

    Research

    When starting your business, an important part of planning is research.  Depending on your location, a running a successful roofing business can potentially be difficult.  You may want to find answers to these questions before starting your company:

    • What is the competition?  How many other roofers are in business in my area?  What are they charging? Would commercial roofing be a better option than residential?
    • What types of roofs are in your area?  Are these the types of roofs you want to repair/replace? Is there a certain type of installation/repair you can specialize in?
    • How old are the homes in your area?  Is there a great need for new roofs, or mostly repairs?
    • How many homes are in your proposed service area? Are there enough potential jobs to sustain a full time business?
    • What are the economics of your area?
    • If a full-time roofing business can’t be supported, are you willing/able to offer additional services (snow removal, painting, siding, windows, etc.) in order to produce a full-time income?

    Below are some additional points to consider in the research/planning process:

    • Set short and long-term goals – Plan your roofing business before you spend a dime.
    • Decide what services you will offer – Decide the scope of your business.  How many different services and options will you offer customers?
    • Find a niche – What will be your specialty?  What will set you apart from the competition?research online how start a roofing company
    • Choose a business name – Put some thought into deciding your company name.  You could always change it later, but a name change could hurt your business.
    • Decide what you will charge for your services – What you charge will vary depending on location, economics, products used, and your skill level, among other things.  You can’t just set your prices based upon what some other roofer charges 1,000 miles away.

    Financial Considerations

    It can be scary to start a roofing business from scratch.  Even if you already have experience as a roofer, or in managing a roofing company, you will need to consider the time it will take to get your business off the ground, and to make the income you will need.  Often a new business will take longer to grow than you planned, and may bring in less income than you planned.

    It is generally advisable to not quit your job and then start your roofing business.  If your business doesn’t make it for whatever reason, you may regret letting go of the job you had.

    A safer financial decision is to keep your day job (if possible), and start your roofing company slowly.  This can be difficult, as you will have to work around your normal work schedule, but a lot can be done on weekends, evenings, or mornings, depending on what your work schedule is like.  Another option is to at least keep a part-time job (such as an evening shift) to help provide funds to pay the bills while your roofing business is growing.

    Another possible option is to obtain financing.  You may want to consider a business loan depending on what your needs will be for equipment, vehicles, and a business location.  Once again, be careful that you don’t get over your head in debt.  Be sure to get a loan only for what you absolutely need to get started.

    how to set roofing business goals

    Get Organized

    As soon as you start your roofing business, you will need some sort of organizational structure so you can keep your customer communications and roofing-related paperwork in order.  You won’t necessarily need a full office when starting out.  An office desk dedicated to your business paperwork would be helpful.

    Get a daily planner or use your smartphone to schedule estimates, jobs, and other work-related appointments.  An easy way to lose customers is to arrive late or even forget a scheduled appointment.  A schedule will help you plan your day, week, and month, so you can make best use of your time and your customer’s time.

    There are many helpful software programs that can be used for accounting, estimating, customer communications and more.  Some software is especially designed for contractors.  You probably don’t need to invest in expensive software right away.  This would be a consideration as your business grows.

    • Set up an office- this can even be a home office
    • E-mail- have an email dedicated to your roofing company
    • Business phone- if you don’t have a separate phone, make sure you answer your personal phone in a professional manner.
    • Roofing Estimate and Bill forms- You can order custom forms online, or create your own.
    • Roofing Software – Track leads, sales, jobs, create estimates, and more in a single program.  Try JobNimbus for Free!

    Equipment needed when starting a roofing business

    You can’t start a roofing company without roofing equipment.  Equipment will probably account for the largest portion of your startup costs.  Starting out, you don’t necessarily need all brand-new equipment.  You will save thousands of dollars in startup costs by purchasing a used truck, used ladders and ladder rack, and other miscellaneous tools. tools needed for roofing business startup Another tip is to only buy tools as jobs require them.  This will help keep you from going into debt for tools and equipment you may end up never using.  Some of the tools and equipment you will need will vary according to what roofing services you plan to specialize in.

    Hiring

    When just starting out, you will be able to work solo, or with a small team.   If you are going to grow, you will need to hire additional laborers, sales staff, and office staff.  The larger you want to grow, the more employees you will need.  Obviously, the more employees you will have, the higher the payroll will be, so a good sales team, along with solid marketing is key to bring in enough work to meet payroll requirements and continue to grow.

    Suppliers

    Pricing can vary among roofing supply companies in various regions.  When starting your roofing company, you’ll want to save every penny possible.  It pays to shop around and take advantage of competitive pricing.  You may notice a significant cost difference in materials when comparing prices at big box home improvement stores and roofing supply warehouses.  You may even notice price differences from one city to another because of local competition.

    A good supplier can help keep you aware of roofing trends and new products. Many suppliers will offer a credit line, product discounts, customer management, online ordering, and more.

    • Build a relationship
    • Know your costs

    2.  REGISTER YOUR ROOFING BUSINESS

    Make it legal

    how to register a roofing businessMake sure you are following proper protocol in your region.  This means having necessary insurance, following tax codes, getting proper licenses and permits, etc.  This applies even to a part-time roofing business.

    Some steps (not necessarily in order) to starting your roofing company legally:

    1. Select your business structure (sole-proprietor, LLC, Corporation, etc.)
    2. Register your roofing business name
    3. Register your business entity
    4. Register as a roofer or home improvement contractor with your state (US)
    5. Open a business bank account for your roofing company
    6. Taxes- either get an accountant, or do research on filing yourself
    7. Liability Insurance
    8. Worker’s Compensation
    9. City Licenses and Permits
    10. OSHA
    11. Health Insurance

    Register A Roofing Company In: The United States

    Click on a state to find out how to start a roofing business in your area:

    Register A Roofing Company In: Canada

    Register A Roofing Company In:  The United Kingdom

    3.  MARKETING YOUR ROOFING BUSINESS


    In order to grow your roofing company, you will need to work hard, have people skills, and be patient.  You will also need to market your business effectively.  Success and profit won’t come overnight.social media marketing for a new roofing company

    Customers


    Beside employees, dealing with customers can cause a great amount of stress.  Learning how to communicate well with customers can help boost sales and increase word-of-mouth leads.  Good customers can be one of your greatest sources of free marketing!

    Advertising/Marketing

    roofing company marketing ideas

    After you start a roofing business, you need to market it.  Some low-cost advertising to get started can include a basic 1 or 2 page website, setting up a free business listing for your roofing company on Google and other online directories, social media accounts, business cards and a few yard signs.

    Resources

    The Roofer’s Helper on Instagram– Giveaways, the best and worst of roofing, business features, and more!

    Helpful roofing-related websites

    Roofing education and training websites