Most roofing contractors are always looking for more work. Unfortunately, this is a simple reality of the business that most independent businesses are in. However, this does not have to be a tedious or negative process for you as a business owner.
You should have a positive feeling about the value that you bring and how to pitch yourself to potential customers who need your work. If you are confident about the value that your business brings as well as the high quality work that your business provides, it should be no issue to approach a potential customer and to walk through the sales process with that person.
In this article, we are looking at potential hail damage and how it influences both the sales process and the actual structure damage that can happen with a roof as well. If you’re looking for ways to find more customers and provide more value to your community, you should keep reading on below!
Spotting Hail Damage
Hail damage is one of the most straightforward issues that a homeowner can have, but there is no reason not to be informed about the process. Hail damage can be easier to spot than other kinds of damage that may be hiding away out of plain sight.
Even though it can be easy, it’s still important to make sure that you can tell the difference between hail damage and other issues, so that you are providing correct information to your customers.
We have four signs of hail damage listed below:
Dented Metal Materials
One of the easiest signs to look for when looking for hail damage involves the metal material that you can find on the outside of the house. You should look for things like air conditioning units, gutters, or anything else that is made out of metal. Check to see if there are any dented surfaces which is a cornerstone sign that there has been a strong hail storm in the area.
Sometimes dented metal materials can actually be easier to see than roofing materials, so it is a great way to do a search without doing a full roofing check.
Damaged Roofing Material and Siding
This is one of the most obvious signs that a hail storm has been through the area and may have damaged roofing systems in the neighborhood. You should look for dents and chipping in both the roofing material and the siding of houses after a storm. The damage to siding can be a strong indicator that the roof may have the same type of damage since the durability is often of similar nature.
You can also look for signs such as paint chipping, dented shingles, or even other structural damages as well. If you see most or all of these things, you should feel confident that the home has experienced some level of hail damage.
Broken Windows or Doors
Sometimes, windows and doors are actually easier to see than other elements. If you see broken glass on either the windows or doors of houses, it would be a clear sign that hail damage is present on the home. While the roofing may look unaffected, if the hail storm was strong enough to break glass, it probably has had some effect and it would be wise for a roofing contractor to take a look at the property.
Cracks in Exterior Walls
When thinking about exterior walls, you should look to see if there are any cracks or holes in vinyl siding or other materials. The most important thing to think about is to use the entire property as a checkpoint to consider if there may be potential roofing damage.
If you are confident in what you offer, you should be able to take a look at the roofing structure and make a recommendation that actually helps the customer. Telling someone that everything is safe and sound can give your business a boost to your reputation because your customers will know you as trustworthy.
You should keep in mind that you always need to evaluate properly to both protect the customer and keep their best interests in mind!
Approaching Potential Customers With Hail Damage
Roofing contractors are in an interesting position as they deal with customers who may have potential hail damage.
On one hand, you need to be cautious and proactive on the customer’s behalf. As a roofing professional, you know that small problems can grow and you know about things that customers may not be able to see on their own. However, you don’t want to go overboard and suggest fixes for things that are not truly problems so that you can protect your reputation.
If you’ve been in business for awhile, you certainly have plenty of experience dealing with customers in all kinds of different situations. This will be the rule here as well and you may need to think about how homeowners feel after experiencing an event that could have been dangerous and could have impacted the single biggest way they live their life.
You should keep these tips in mind as you engage with your previous and potential future customers!
Explain Everything In Detail
This may be obvious, but the more you can explain and show your customers, the better.
To earn a potential customer’s trust, you need to help them see why you are the right person for the job. To do that, you want them to have a great understanding of the services they need, the systems that you use, and why you are the right person for the job.
If you have certain guarantees or warranties that you offer, then you need to be persistent in explaining those benefits. Giving your customers the confidence that they are getting excellent work when they book you is the biggest strategy that your business can use to its advantage.
Understanding How They Feel
Two customers may be experiencing hail damage but have different concerns about their home. As an example, one customer could be worried about immediate problems and another may be worried about long-term effects.
It’s extremely important that you are listening to the specific words that your potential customer uses to ensure that you are speaking to them about a problem they have concerns about.
Adding benefits that they aren’t thinking of is great – but you need to address their primary concern or else they are likely to look elsewhere for a roofing contractor.
Be Solution-Based
It’s best to avoid being vague when dealing with customer concerns. You should have an immediate action plan and be prepared to tell your customer about both the short-term benefits and long-term benefits of the work that you perform.
Follow Up On Time
Never leave a customer hanging!
If you say that you are going to follow up for a call on Tuesdsay Afternoon, be sure that you are reaching out appropriately. Everyone gets busy and everyone has jobs that take longer than they’d expect – but a customer left hanging and waiting on your call is one that is highly likely to be upset by the time your project is over.
Always communicate delays, issues, and even unexpected positives to your customer ASAP – they’ll appreciate it!
