Your roof protects your most valuable investment—here’s how to find contractors who’ll protect both your home and your wallet
When storm damage strikes or your aging roof starts showing its years, finding a reliable roofing contractor becomes a critical decision that can impact your home’s safety, value, and your family’s comfort for decades to come. With so many options available and horror stories about fly-by-night contractors, knowing how to research local roofing companies effectively is essential for making an informed choice.
The key to finding trustworthy contractors lies in using a combination of online resources, professional ratings, and neighborhood connections. By leveraging Google Reviews, Better Business Bureau ratings, and local references, you can build a comprehensive picture of potential contractors and avoid costly mistakes.
Start with Google Reviews: Your Digital Detective Work
One of the most telltale signs a roofing company is legit is by looking at their online reviews and ratings. You can check these on Google, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau. When searching for a Roofing company near me, Google Reviews should be your first stop, as the most prominent review platform by far is Google. Because it is the foremost source of roofing leads and the number one global search engine, its testimonials hold more weight than other platforms.
For Google Reviews, you’ll usually want roofing companies with at least a 4.0/5.0 and a fair number of ratings. While a 5.0 score is nice, it doesn’t mean much if a company only has a handful of reviews! Look beyond the star rating and read the actual content. In most cases, people are looking at 3 things: the average star rating, the total number of reviews, and the most recent reviews.
Pay attention to patterns in reviews that mention specific services, communication quality, timeline adherence, and how contractors handled unexpected issues. Five-star ratings are desirable but be skeptical if a contractor has an unusually high number of perfect scores that lack specific details. These reviews often include just a star rating, or a star rating with a vaguely worded review that could apply to any kind of business. At worst, a lot of positive feedback without details can be a sign of purchased reviews, where the company pays people who have never worked with them to leave positive reviews.
Better Business Bureau: Professional Accountability Matters
The Better Business Bureau provides an additional layer of professional oversight that many homeowners overlook. On the BBB website, you’ll be able to find out if a company is BBB accredited, its BBB rating, customer reviews, and even customer complaints. This nonprofit organization has developed its own rating scale, ranging from A+ to F. The rating a company receives is determined by criteria such as company performance, ethics, ratings, reviews, and more.
Typically, you should look for BBB rating in the “A” range in order for roofing companies to make your shortlist. Visit the Better Business Bureau’s website to see their grade as well. If a roofing company sports a high letter grade such as an A+ from the BBB, it’s a good sign.
The BBB also shows how companies handle customer complaints and whether they resolve issues promptly. To become BBB accredited, a company must be appropriately licensed, resolve all client complaints (if any), and be sure to adhere to the BBB advertising guidelines. This accreditation process adds credibility to a contractor’s reputation.
Neighborhood References: The Power of Local Connections
Word of mouth remains one of the most effective ways to find a trustworthy roofing contractor. Ask friends, family members, neighbors, or coworkers who have had roofing work done recently. Their firsthand experiences can give you insight into a contractor’s professionalism, workmanship, communication, and pricing.
Begin by asking friends, family, and neighbors if they have recommendations. This word-of-mouth approach often provides more candid feedback than anonymous reviews online. Before you go online and use your favorite search engine, look around your neighborhood for any homes with recent roof work. If you remember seeing a neighbor having roofing work done in the past few years, consider them a source for a contractor.
Modern neighborhood networking platforms like Nextdoor have revolutionized how homeowners share contractor recommendations. Nextdoor comments are from actual community members who are previous roofing contractor clients, so you can trust their opinion. Soon you’ll likely see suggestions pouring in from your fellow neighbors about their favorite roofing companies.
Additionally, local contractors rely heavily on reputation within their community. Because their business depends on word-of-mouth and reviews, they are more likely to provide reliable service and customer support. This local accountability creates a natural quality control system that benefits homeowners.
Combining All Three Research Methods
Finding reliable contractors involves combining online research with offline recommendations. While digital platforms provide convenience and access to reviews, personal referrals often offer deeper insight into workmanship and customer service. A balanced approach increases your chances of discovering trustworthy professionals.
Create a shortlist by cross-referencing information from all three sources. Rather than just picking the top score, however, it’s a good idea to use Google Reviews and grades from the BBB to generate a shortlist of the highest-quality roofing companies in your area. A contractor that appears highly rated across Google Reviews, maintains BBB accreditation, and comes recommended by neighbors represents your best bet for quality work.
What to Look for Beyond Ratings
While researching ratings and reviews, also verify essential credentials. To check if a roofing company is legitimate, verify they have proper licensing and insurance, look for a good volume of positive online reviews and ratings (on sites like Google, Yelp, and BBB), ask for and check references from past clients, and examine their local presence and experience.
Legit roofing companies often have a list of references you can contact to verify their quality of work. Don’t overlook this step; ask for and reach out to these references to verify the roofing company you are debating on hiring. Companies like Roofing All Stars, which serves Phoenix, Chandler, Gilbert, and surrounding Maricopa County areas, understand that homeowners getting burned by fly-by-night contractors who disappeared faster than morning dew in the Sonoran Desert has created demand for local companies that prioritize long-term relationships and accountability.
Red Flags to Avoid
Your research should also help you identify warning signs. If the company you are prospecting has either little to no or negative reviews, you should avoid them and go in a different direction. On the other hand, if a company has an overwhelming amount of positive reviews, scores, and examples of great work by the reviewers, these are the signs that showcase that your roofing project will be in good hands.
Be wary of contractors who refuse to provide references, lack proper licensing and insurance documentation, or pressure you for immediate decisions. Common red flags include high-pressure sales tactics, lack of documentation, unusually low pricing, and requests for large upfront payments. Contractors unwilling to provide written estimates or references should also raise concerns.
Taking time to thoroughly research potential roofing contractors using Google Reviews, BBB ratings, and neighborhood references creates a comprehensive evaluation system that protects your investment. Around 99% of people read online reviews before hiring a local service provider. Many trust reviews as much as personal recommendations. By combining these research methods, you’ll find contractors who not only deliver quality work but also provide the peace of mind that comes with hiring truly reliable professionals.