breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,890 
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Apr 30, 2015 2:47:07 GMT
Long story short... one of my neighbors is a contractor. He has a friend who offered to re-roof a bunch of houses in the neighborhood for a really good price because he'd be ordering in bulk.
We said, sure we're interested (did not sign anything), contractor neighbor said we'd get a quote once the roof had been measured. That was probably 2 months ago and we haven't heard anything, seen anyone out measuring, or any word about roofs. We didn't even know what company was being used or if this would be happening this year or next so weren't expecting today to see the roofing truck pull up to a neighbors house and start yanking the roof off.
Turns out they are installing roofs this week, and apparently somehow we missed out. I'm kind of disappointed because now we'll have to go through the whole annoying getting estimates process and it's going to cost at least a few thousand more dollars if not more.
On the other hand, I watch a lot of DIY shows and it could be a scam and we'll be the only house in the neighborhood who didn't get ripped off...
It's been a bad week so far and this is just one more disappointment... is it Friday yet?
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Post by zztop11 on Apr 30, 2015 2:58:03 GMT
It may turn out to be a blessing. I guess you'll know in a few days.
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Post by mom on Apr 30, 2015 3:00:03 GMT
I'm going with too good to be true...
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 3, 2024 10:13:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2015 3:03:35 GMT
I'm going with too good to be true, also. I think it all works out the way it is supposed to, and that deal sounds fishy.
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Post by eebud on Apr 30, 2015 3:32:15 GMT
I would be concerned that it was at least shady. Fly by night roofers are very common and people get screwed frequently..........especially after something like a big hail storm and there are lots of homes that need new roofs.
I would not want to just accept whatever roofing product this persona was ordering in bulk. When we had to replace our roof, we used that as an opportunity to upgrade to a more hail resistant roof. It cost us more but we get a nice insurance discount.
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akathy
What's For Dinner?
Still peaing from Podunk!
Posts: 4,546
Location: North Dakota
Jun 25, 2014 22:56:55 GMT
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Post by akathy on Apr 30, 2015 3:42:20 GMT
I would be concerned that it was at least shady. Fly by night roofers are very common and people get screwed frequently..........especially after something like a big hail storm and there are lots of homes that need new roofs. I would not want to just accept whatever roofing product this persona was ordering in bulk. When we had to replace our roof, we used that as an opportunity to upgrade to a more hail resistant roof. It cost us more but we get a nice insurance discount.  |
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Post by 950nancy on Apr 30, 2015 3:45:05 GMT
Sometimes avoiding what just might be a bad thing is good enough. Get a good roofer. That is one thing you don't want to have go wrong with your house. Big $$$ to fix leaks or mistakes.
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,890
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Apr 30, 2015 14:44:31 GMT
We first heard about the possible bulk neighbors last Spring. DH wanted me to go out and talk to them but I'm going with we missed out, probably just not meant to be... maybe we will learn how to reroof our own house on a DIY show ha ha ha. DH hates climbing on the roof so probably not.
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Post by annabella on Apr 30, 2015 15:39:16 GMT
I think he was disorganized and just forgot to add your name to the list to call for measuring. Is there really "bulk" ordering with roof supplies?
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Post by mikklynn on Apr 30, 2015 16:13:52 GMT
I am skeptical about a "bulk order" discount. My brother is a licensed contractor specializing in roofing. He has a standard discount with his supplier.
There may be some savings in doing a number of homes on the same block because you would not have to move the dumpsters and equipment, but I don't think you missed out on the deal of the century.
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Loydene
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,639
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Post by Loydene on Apr 30, 2015 16:27:43 GMT
Also -- my insurance company sent out its own estimator -- deciding for itself whether or not I "needed" new roof, without regard to what the "roofer" said.
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Post by hennybutton on Apr 30, 2015 17:03:07 GMT
I think it may have been a matter of disorganization. Did you ask the person who put this together?
About 20 years ago, we went in with about 8 other homeowners in our tract and got all our roofs redone by the same contractor at the same time. We all had cedar shake roofs with lathe, not plywood underneath. Replacing those old roofs in our tract is quite expensive as we can't go with the cedar again, the HOA doesn't allow asphalt shingles (which would look terrible on our houses anyway), and plywood has to be laid down under the paper and tile. There's a lot of structural involved. Going in at the same time as our neighbors did save about 15-20%. I'm going to guess that the contractor saved on delivery charges and got a lower price on the plywood. (DH is in industrial lumber sales and trucking costs are always worked into lumber prices, so a bigger load costs less per unit.) He probably saved some labor cost too as the workers gained experience with these particular homes. It worked out well for us.
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,890
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Apr 30, 2015 19:45:33 GMT
I guess one of our neighbors mentioned we hadn't gotten a quote and we're being measured today or tomorrow... The company does not seem to have a website and only has had a Facebook page since March which I don't like, but I'd be interested in what the quote is to compare when we call other roof companies... We have a different roof than most of the neighborhood so I can't go off what the neighbors are paying.
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Post by annabella on Apr 30, 2015 19:50:36 GMT
I guess one of our neighbors mentioned we hadn't gotten a quote and we're being measured today or tomorrow... The company does not seem to have a website and only has had a Facebook page since March which I don't like, but I'd be interested in what the quote is to compare when we call other roof companies... We have a different roof than most of the neighborhood so I can't go off what the neighbors are paying. I don't expect small contractors to have a website. A facebook page is free for them to setup. |
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Post by femalebusiness on Apr 30, 2015 19:54:20 GMT
I think you probably dodged a bullet. At least you are no worse off than you were before.
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Post by elaine on Apr 30, 2015 19:59:39 GMT
Sometimes it really does work out.
Six years ago, we decide to get our monstrosity of a tree in our front yard trimmed down. After several estimates, the best we could get was $400 to have it professionally trimmed. We decided last year that we wanted to get it removed and replace it with another tree. All estimates were between $800-$1K to have it completely removed and the stump ground. We decided to wait.
Last month, there was a tree crew working on the next street over, that a neighbor's husband got together to trim and remove a bunch of neighbors' trees. While walking our dogs, neighbor said she could ask if they could do my tree. Called her husband who said they could remove the tree and grind the stump for $300. We said YES immediately. By 11 they were removing said tree and by noon they had removed it all and ground the stump and all the big roots. They did an excellent job. For less than it cost to trim it.
The group deal certainly worked in our favor.
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Post by alittleintrepid on May 1, 2015 1:11:06 GMT
I am skeptical about a "bulk order" discount. My brother is a licensed contractor specializing in roofing. He has a standard discount with his supplier. There may be some savings in doing a number of homes on the same block because you would not have to move the dumpsters and equipment, but I don't think you missed out on the deal of the century. |
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freebird
Drama Llama
'cause I'm free as a bird now
Posts: 6,927
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Post by freebird on May 1, 2015 1:21:33 GMT
I know not all roofers are shady (my son will be roofing with his construction company tomorrow actually!), but they are the contractor I probably least trust. They can pull the wool over your eyes SO EASILY. They are up high where you can't see what's going on, and they assume you're really stupid about roofing. I'm not stupid about roofing and I'd climb a ladder randomly to watch. They'd hate me as a client. lol
too cheap? Means they cut costs somewhere. Not sure I want someone cutting costs when it comes to my roof.
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Post by mom on May 1, 2015 2:49:02 GMT
I guess one of our neighbors mentioned we hadn't gotten a quote and we're being measured today or tomorrow... The company does not seem to have a website and only has had a Facebook page since March which I don't like, but I'd be interested in what the quote is to compare when we call other roof companies... We have a different roof than most of the neighborhood so I can't go off what the neighbors are paying. The info you added about them just getting a Facebook account is a huge red flag for me. I'd pass. |
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Post by crimsoncat05 on May 1, 2015 3:01:44 GMT
I'm going with 'too good to be true' as well... maybe not an out-and-out scam, but I'm betting there's something not right about their licensing, or perhaps they're making people pay $$ for new roofs that didn't really nee to be replaced.
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luckyexwife
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,067
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Post by luckyexwife on May 1, 2015 3:09:08 GMT
Take a walk around the neighborhood and really look at the roofs that have been replaced. Are the lines straight? Do they look smooth or are there gaps/bumps/ridges on the roof line? Are the workers making an effort to keep the lawn neat, or are they making huge messes and leaving them? I'd look at all that, as well as the price quotes, and the quality of materials. I'd also ask how long they have been licensed.
Just a side note...the business that replaced our shingles last year has been in business 50+ years, but the don't have a Facebook page, nor do they have a website. It is strictly word of mouth, and they are consistently booked for months.
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