The Importance of a Discovery Call with Your Roofing Contractor

As a business owner, you have likely suffered through a poorly-managed project run by an outside consultant or contractor - where the project goals and scope of work were not adequately defined, deadlines were not met, key stakeholders were not properly involved, or communication was poor. It was probably frustrating, and, even worse, it was an expensive waste of time and money. Don’t worry - we’ve all been there.

At GIDEON, we've delivered millions of dollars worth of successful commercial roofing projects for our clients, and one thing we've learned over that time is that success starts with the discovery call. Without it, a project is rarely a good experience for you or your contractor.

In this article, we'll discuss why the discovery call is so important, how you, as a building owner, can use it to vet your contractor, and how you can prepare for it.

Importance of the Discovery Call

1. Are You a Good Fit for Each Other?

The discovery call's primary function is to help you and the contractor discover if you're a good fit to work together. They need to understand your situation, your goals, your budget, and your expectations for the project. You need to know if they are capable of helping you achieve your goals. 

A good contractor will ask you questions about the age of your roof and building, what it’s used for, what kind of problems you've experienced, what kind of maintenance, repairs, and replacements you've done in the past, what your biggest concerns are, what your budget is, and what your timeline is. They are (or at least they should be) vetting you as a client as well as gathering the necessary information to see if they can deliver on your needs

You should also be vetting them. Ask your contractor the following:

• How many years have you been in business? How many projects similar to mine have you completed?
• Are you licensed and certified for commercial roofing work in this state?
• Do you carry liability and workers' compensation insurance?
• Can you provide references from recent projects, particularly those similar to mine?
• How would you approach my specific project? What potential challenges do you foresee?
• Do you use subcontractors? If so, how do you ensure their qualifications and reliability?
• Will you take care of obtaining the necessary permits? Are you familiar with the local building codes and regulations?
• How soon can you start the project? What would be the estimated completion date?
• Who will be my primary point of contact? How often can I expect updates, and in what form?
• What warranties do you offer on your workmanship and the materials used?
• How do you handle disagreements or issues if they arise during the project?
• What does your post-completion service look like? What happens if problems occur after the project is completed?
• How do you ensure the safety of your workers and others on the job site? Do you comply with OSHA regulations?

This screening process is the discovery call's first and most vital function.

2. Setting Up a Proper Inspection

Many contractors skip the discovery call and simply set up an inspection. But this can lead to much wasted time for both you and the contractor because they can't do an efficient inspection without preliminary information. 

Learning what kind of roof you currently have, any history of installations and maintenance, as well as your current problems and goals, will help the contractor determine what type of inspection needs to be done and what tools they need to bring for the job. 

It will also help you both understand if they're even the right company for the job at all - some companies work only on certain kinds of problems or certain types of roofs. The last thing you want to do is to waste time meeting them for an inspection, only to discover they can't help you.

3. Setting a Proper Foundation for the Project

If you do choose to work with the contractor, the discovery call lays the foundation for those crucial aspects of managing a successful project: project goals, scope of work, budget, timeline, how communication will be handled, who the key stakeholders are, etc.

What You Can Do to Prepare for a Discovery Call with GIDEON

At GIDEON, we do free discovery calls with all potential clients. If you choose to set one up with us, we recommend the following preparation:

#1. Set aside at least 30 minutes of uninterrupted time for the meeting so we can have a thorough discussion.

#2. Be prepared to answer questions about the following:

• The age of your roof and building.
• The date and details of the last roof installation.
• Any roofing problems you've experienced in the past and the outcomes.
• Your readiness and urgency to tackle the problem.
• Your biggest concerns regarding the roof.

#3. Be prepared to discuss past experiences with roof repairs or replacements, like:

• How you made decisions on previous repairs or purchases.
• How satisfied you were with those decisions.
• What you wish you or the previous roofers had done differently.

#4. Have important documents on hand, including:

• Warranty paperwork from the last roof installation.
• Previous estimates and contracts for repairs or installations.

#5. Recall any major weather events, like storms or hail, and whether the roof was inspected afterward. If possible, try to remember the dates of these events.

#6. Bring together key stakeholders who may have more information about the roof, like your head of maintenance. Having them participate in the call will ensure a more comprehensive understanding of the situation.

Remember, this discovery call is not about GIDEON; it's about you. Your input is essential for us to craft the right solution. The more information you can provide, the better the outcome.

The Upshot

We've all experienced the frustration of hiring the wrong company and dealing with delays, poor work, and unexpected costs. A good discovery call helps both you and the contractor set the foundation from the start and make sure the job gets done right. Now that you've learned about the importance of the discovery call, we recommend reading about the next vital step in the process of hiring a good commercial roofing contractor: the inspection.