BBB Tips on Preparing Your Property for the Winter Ahead

Fall is the season to ready your property for the winter ahead. The Better Business Bureau offers this simple to-do list:

During the Fall:

• Clean gutters so melting snow and ice can flow freely.
• Prune trees and scrubs with particular attention to branches that could possibly break causing damage to structures, autos and passersby.
• Wrap water pipes with heating tape.
• Disconnect hoses from outside spigots.
• Have your autos winterized.

If you are concerned about the roof on your home many roofing contractors provide inspection service free-of-charge in an effort to solicit work. You should expect a roofing inspector to pay close attention to roof penetrations, flashings and distress areas such as blisters, curling and cracks. Tell the inspector about any problems you yourself may have noticed; particularly during the rainy or snowy seasons.

The inspector's findings will likely put your home's roof into one of the following categories:

• Materially sound not currently in need of repair or maintenance work.
• In need of patchwork and coating.
• Requires resurfacing with a new membrane.
• Deteriorated to the extent that it requires total removal and replacement.

Prior to hiring a roofing contractor, the BBB encourages consumers to do their homework and obtain as much information on the contractor as possible BEFORE entering into a contract.

The following guidelines will help in you choose a qualified, experienced roofer:

• Check for a permanent place of business, telephone number, tax I.D. number, and (where required) a business license.
• Insist on seeing copies of the contractor's liability insurance coverage and workers' compensation certificates. Make sure the coverages are in effect through the duration of the job.
• Look for a company with a proven track record that readily offers client references and a list of completed projects. Call these clients to find out whether they were satisfied.
• Check to see whether the contractor is properly licensed or bonded.
• Insist on a written proposal and examine it for complete descriptions of the work and specifications, including approximate starting and completion dates and payment procedures.
• Contact your local Better Business Bureau to check for a business report or any complaints that have been filed on a contractor at www.buffalo.bbb.org.
• Have the contractor explain his or her project supervision and quality control procedures. Request the name of the person who will be in charge, how many workers will be required and the estimated completion time.
• Carefully read and understand any roofing warranty offered and watch for provisions that would void it. The lowest bid is not always the best option. Remember that price is only one criterion for selecting a roofing contractor. Professionalism and quality workmanship also should weigh heavily in your decision.

This information is general in nature and is not intended as a reliability report on any company, product, or service.