Whether you’re buying a car or buying a roof, there’s no question it’s a big investment. Everyone’s buying process is different. If you’re like most people, you get a couple of quotes, compare totals and make a decision. While this common method is effective at getting the lowest cost, it usually doesn’t provide you with the best value.
Time isn’t free, right? Neither is energy or resources for that matter! When it comes to most buying processes, whether it’s for personal or professional purposes, large amounts of your time, energy and resources are required especially if you chose the wrong contractor.
There are often times a handful of crucial details that get overlooked when you jump right to the cost at the bottom of the proposal. Please consider these tips before your next purchase evaluation:
- An “apples-to-apples” comparison is usually not as straight forward as you may think, reading each company’s proposals thoroughly and asking questions about products are vital. A small wording difference in the product or application process can add up to thousands of dollars.
- The efficiency of a contractor makes or breaks a project for you as the owner or project manager. If you have to babysit a contractor all day long, you won’t get anything else accomplished. This is one of the biggest hidden costs when selecting a low-cost contractor.
- Have you thought about change orders? When the company you are purchasing from encounters unforeseen costs to a project or product, they issue a change order, essentially more invoices. Hence the importance of evaluating the proposal with a fine-toothed comb, make sure they know what they are doing and that you can trust them to be fair if something unforeseen does arise.
- How is the contractor’s safety record? Are you exposing your company and employees to dangerous conditions and potential liability by choosing the wrong vendor?
- How well does the contractor communicate and keep you informed during the process? In order for a project to be a success, it has to be a collaborative effort. Being left “in the dark” during the re-roof process creates more headaches for you and others in your building.
- Who am I comparing? The size and skillset of contractors vary greatly. Knowing a contractor is used to working in your environment and installing that type of product on a regular basis is important.
- What happens if there is a problem? Will the contractor stand behind their work or will they turn their back as soon as they get the final payment? Selecting a contractor with a long, proven track record is crucial for a major investment like a roof.
There are many factors to evaluate when making a purchase, which is why it is crucial to have a good relationship with providers that you trust. If price and lowest cost is the only thing that matter in your decisions, ask yourself how it’s working. Do you spend more time and incurred costs while not getting solutions? Is it really worth the hassle?
Instead of investing time, energy, and resources into finding the cheapest option, find a company that you can trust to get the job done and always go the extra mile for you.