The end of the summer is quickly approaching. Autumn officially begins on September 23, even if temperatures along the Gulf Coast won’t make it feel like fall right away. But that’s probably a big reason you live here. If you wanted mid-September highs in the 60s, you could move to Boston right now. But that’s not going to happen.
One big benefit of this “extended” warmth is the opportunity to start home improvement projects here while homeowners in other regions of the country are ending theirs. Many of your Gulf Coast neighbors are beginning to repair, replace and beautify parts of their property. You can, too!
That doesn’t mean you want to rush out and hire the first contractor who drives by. You want a professional contractor that comes equipped to handle the project and delivers on a promise to provide the materials and workmanship for which you’re paying. Wait, you’ve heard this before?
Sure, how to avoid to scam artists is a topic that gets mentioned a lot after tropical storms and hurricanes. But it’s always a good time to remind our Tampa Bay neighbors about the need to be vigilant when hiring anyone to handle home improvement projects. Education is a key part of the process.
Get acquainted with the particular project you want completed. When roofing is the focus, use reliable resources to become better informed about your options. For example, as a GAF MasterElite Roofing Contractor, we share the resources of GAF, North America’s largest roofing manufacturer. The company has a feature on its website that allows you to see how different options would look on a home.
This feature allows you to see several categories of home products, from stone options to brick and siding. Among the roofing options, you can view a variety of Slate choices, such as Bristol Gray and Sheffield Black. You can even upload an image of your own home to use, then print and save a project thanks to the site.
You can also educate yourself about the work involved. The more you know about the process, the less likely you are to be susceptible to a sales pitch from a less-than-scrupulous person. Of course, it’s always wise to ask for references, get a written agreement, and avoid paying a large amount of the bill up front.
