Buying your home was likely the largest financial transaction of your life at that point. However, you have to keep spending money on it. The roof you bought with the home won't last forever. Roof repairs will occasionally be necessary, and knowing some tips on how to pay for them helps you manage your home and money better.
Get Multiple Quotes
Don't do business with any roofer that won't give you a free estimate for their work in advance. Know what you're getting into. It might seem like a hassle to get multiple quotes, but until you get at least three, you won't have any idea what the potential price point spread is for that kind of work.
Buy Your Own Materials
Sometimes, you might be able to buy roofing materials on your own. You can possibly do this online or through a local brick-and-mortar store. It might mean being able to skip the markup that roofers might have on material costs. However, they might also have volume discounts and industry connections that make their own materials cheaper, so take the time to verify which route will actually save you money.
Let Your Insurance Cover It
With some policies, insurance roof repair costs are already covered. You'll need to make sure you use an authorized contractor to do the work. You can either find out if a particular roofer is qualified when you have an estimate done by them, or you can contact your insurance carrier to get a list of authorized local professionals you can use to do the work.
Work With Your Neighbors
If your roof has suffered damage because of a recent storm, then it's likely other homes up and down your street have also suffered damage. Talk to your neighbors to see if they also need roof repairs. If they do, you might be able to group together and negotiate a bulk discount with a roofer where they work on multiple homes at once. They might offer all of you discounts for the chance to work up and down the same street on the same day.
A Symbiotic Relationship
You need to keep your roof covered financially with occasional repairs. Doing so means it will keep you and your family covered physically and protected from the elements inside your home. You and your roof are counting on each other for protection.
