What should I check about a roofing company’s online reviews before buying?
Read every review you can find across sites, not just the average, and look for repeated themes such as missed schedules, leaks after a job or billing disputes. Check how the owner replies. Then compare what customers say with warranty and callback records the seller can show you.
Reviews are free information, so use them thoroughly. Read the lowest ones first and look for the same complaint appearing again: damage to a customer’s property, a crew that did not show, a quote that grew, or a leak that returned. One angry review means little, but a pattern points to a process problem.
Look at how the owner answers. A calm, specific reply that offers to fix things suggests a company that stands behind its work. Defensive or missing replies tell you something else. Also notice the dates. A cluster of glowing reviews posted in a short window may deserve a gentle question.
Then test the reviews against the paperwork. Ask for warranty claims, callback logs and any refunds, and see whether the numbers fit the story customers tell. Find out who handles reviews today and whether the accounts belong to the business or to the owner personally. A buyer should know that the online reputation will transfer, and who will answer new reviews after closing. Look at several review sites and the company’s own social pages, because unhappy customers do not always post in the same place.
Key takeaways
- Read the worst reviews first and look for repeated complaints.
- Judge the owner’s replies as well as the ratings.
- Check that review accounts belong to the business and can be handed over.
- Check more than one review site, not just the busiest one.
Related reading
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentAfter buying a business, what is the next step?
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