For Andy Near, President of Empire Contractors, becoming part of the Choice Roof Contractor Group in 2015 has had a direct and significant impact on his business.
“It has definitely played a key role in our growth, and is probably the single reason we are now doing large commercial roofs consistently” he said.
During 2017 alone, Empire completed dozens of large commercial jobs, and more than half of those jobs were the result of marketing help he obtained through the Choice Roof Contractor Group. Empire achieved year-to-date sales of $1.75 million during the last week of 2017.
Beyond the impact the group has had on his own company, though, Andy sees huge value in what the group offers to the roofing industry in general.
“I think it’s going to be the Google of the roofing industry in a few years,” he said. “It’s going to be that important and that big and an industry changer.”
Betting on a Winner
For Andy, one of the standout benefits of Choice Roof Contractor Group membership is the availability of valuable resources. When he encounters an unfamiliar roofing problem or scenario, he can get help from various contractors within the group who have encountered that kind of situation before and can advise him.
Though Andy has been in the roofing business for 20 years, it wasn’t until he found Choice Roof Contractor Group that he discovered the wealth of knowledge a coalition like the group can offer. In the past, his limited resources included social media and product manufacturers, and neither source could answer questions like:
- “What kind of pricing should I use?”
- “How should I hire?”
- “How should I structure the programs and agreements/contracts within my company?”
“Certain things you just can’t ask other roofing contractors that are kind of your competition,” Andy said, “and you can’t ask your manufacturer, because they don’t know—they are a totally different type of business than you are.”
“I like the fact that Choice Roof Group has filled a void,” he said. “They’re taking the hand of a manufacturer and contractors, and then contractors across the board are reaching out and taking each other’s hands to say, ‘We’re all in this together, and we’re going to share all of our experiences and give access to new contractors so that they can grow faster. We can keep them accountable.’ I think the idea is so fresh and new that it’s just going to take a little while to get people to grasp it, but it’s one of the purest forms of mentorship in the roofing industry that I’ve seen so far, so that’s why I’m a huge advocate of it.”
Andy is a paying member of Choice Roof Contractor Group and doesn’t receive any kind of compensation through the group. Nevertheless, he has thrown his time and energy into helping the association grow. He will host a national workshop for the group at his business this month, and he has set a personal goal to help the group’s membership grow to 300 members.
“I believe in the program so much,” Andy said, adding, “I do it all from my heart and also from the idea that I know we’re onto something big, and I know I’m betting on a winning horse with Choice Roof Group.”
Big Rewards
Andy greatly values his membership in the Choice Roof Contractor Group, and he says the annual membership fee he pays to be part of the association is nominal in comparison to what he gains from the group.
“The value that I get back is tens of thousands of dollars more than my initial investment, so that’s really peanuts compared to the value I’m getting back,” he said.
In addition to the many benefits of group membership, such as receiving qualified leads through the association, exclusive training opportunities and having access to shared knowledge among the contractors, Andy and other group members have also received incredible sales bonuses through Conklin. In 2017, Andy won not just one but two trips to Branson, MO, through the Conklin company and was able to take his wife with him on those vacations at no additional cost.
Our Group of Contractors Can Help You Succeed in Commercial, too!
Like Andy, you, too, can benefit from membership in the Choice Roof Contractor Group. Many contractors throughout the United States are discovering the various advantages of membership, such as:
- Off-site and on-site assistance from veteran roofing contractors
- Commercial roofing marketing strategies
- Our popular roofing lead generation program after qualification
- Helpful support from strategic partners and suppliers
- Additional credibility due to our nationwide reputation for excellence
- Professional commercial roofing training
- Discounted pricing on energy-efficient, long-lasting roofing products
- Job referral opportunities through connections in our network
- And much more!
If you would like to talk to Andy about these benefits and the best things he learned since joining in 2015, call him directly at (231) 578-4760. He would be glad to speak with you!
For 2018, the average cost of a metal roof in the United States can range from about $4 per square foot (installed) all the way up to $13 per square foot. The economy of the area in which you live can, of course, play a part in the final price for your building.
Many building owners aren’t aware that an outstanding alternative to roof replacement exists, costing much less than roof replacement and greatly extending the life of an existing roof. This solution is called a roof coating, and older metal roofs can be good candidates as long as they are not rusted or corroded to the point that it isn’t safe to walk on them.
John was one of the earliest members to join Choice Roof Contractor Group. Prior to belonging to the group, he was struggling to gain traction in commercial roofing and to make ends meet, getting only small jobs for small buildings in a small town. He ended up taking some residential roofing work just to help generate cash flow.
While prequalified leads, respected training, group credibility, shared knowledge and the other many benefits of membership can be game-changers for a roofing contractor, John advises that it is up to the individual to become successful.
John has certainly seen success since joining the Choice Roof Contractor Group. He foresees bringing in millions of dollars in revenue in the coming years. He counts himself blessed that instead of being out in the cold working just to make it through, he is now able to strategically use the winter months to prepare for next season and to line up spring jobs.
Because A-1 Roofing Systems achieved a large sales volume this year, John earned a free trip to Cancun, Mexico, through Conklin—a vacation he and his family recently returned from. This is yet another achievement he said would never have happened without the group.
Flat roofs are prone to a common set of problems, any of which will require flat roof repair solutions administered by an expert commercial roofer.
Some common repair solutions administered to flat roofs to address problems include replacing metal flashing, caulking protrusions and repairing seams. One of the best roofing solutions available in the industry is a roof coating, which can effectively address all of a roof’s problems and add years to the life of a flat roof. This is the choice is a viable option approximately 80% of the time (if the roof’s condition is too far deteriorated, full replacement will be required).
Hiring a commercial roofer can be a real crapshoot, unfortunately. There are many scammers out there looking to make a quick buck at a building owner’s expense. There are also many inexperienced roofers who claim to have expertise but aren’t knowledgeable about commercial roofing and, therefore, don’t perform the work correctly. Having work performed by either type of roofer almost always leads to huge problems down the road. By the time the issues begin to rear their heads, however, a scammer or an amateur will likely be long gone, leaving the building owner with no recourse.
Most insurance companies are good about dealing fairly when a claim is made, but there are always those occasions when a claims adjuster is unreasonable, a claim is handled unjustly, or a customer has been underpaid for the roofing work they need. When such an occasion arises, you can turn to the Choice Roof Contractor Group for expert help in getting the insurance claim payout you need and deserve.
In addition to offering expert help with insurance claims via this key relationship, Choice Roof Contractor Group also provides access to a network of trusted roofing professionals in order to help safeguard you never become the victim of a roofing scam.
Flat roofs are one of most common types for commercial buildings. Strictly speaking, flat roofs aren’t actually “flat” but have only a very slight pitch. Because they aren’t as pitched as other roof types, they don’t drain as efficiently, and this can lead to the problem of ponding water.
There are a lot of roofing contractors out there, no doubt about it. When you own or manage a commercial building, part of your job is finding one that is reliable and properly qualified.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just snap your fingers and a listing of pre-verified roofing contractors in your area would suddenly appear? As it happens, there is such a resource that will point you to verified roofing experts near you—and all you have to do is call or click to meet one of them in person.
You may be the best, most honest roofing contractor that ever picked up a hammer, but if you aren’t effectively getting your message out to potential customers your business will not thrive.
The average Joe or Jane doesn’t understand the technicalities of roofing—all they want is someone who can solve their problems. Effective advertising can help convince prospective customers that you are that person.