IL License Number: 104.017181

January 8, 2026
Roofing

How to Choose a Roofing Contractor You Can Actually Trust

A step-by-step guide for Illinois homeowners

When your roof starts leaking, shingles blow off in a storm, or an insurance adjuster mentions “possible hail damage,” you suddenly enter a world most homeowners never think about: roofing contractors. Your mailbox fills with flyers, your doorbell rings more often, and your social feeds start showing “Top-Rated Roofers Near You.”

That’s when the most important principle comes into play:

The Golden Rule of Roofing:

WHO Installs Your Roof Matters More Than WHAT You Install

The best shingles in the world will fail if they’re put on by the wrong crew. On the other hand, even mid-range materials, installed by a verified, quality contractor, can protect your home for decades. Your job as a homeowner isn’t to become a roofing expert—it’s to become an expert at choosing the right company.

This guide will walk you through how to do that, step by step.

The Truth About Online Reviews (And Why Stars Aren’t Enough)

Online ratings are a useful starting point, but they’re not the whole story. Many homeowners don’t realize how heavily marketing money can influence who appears in “top lists” and “best of” directories.

On some lead-generation platforms and directories, the companies you see first are often the ones who pay the most to be featured. Advertising packages can push contractors to the top of search results, highlight them as “preferred,” or give them special badges. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the best—it often just means they have the biggest marketing budget.

Review platforms can work similarly. Contractors who spend money on advertising may receive better visibility, while non-advertisers are harder to find. Even organizations that offer letters or grades can be influenced by membership fees and participation, not just performance and complaint history.

The result is simple but uncomfortable:

- Excellent local contractors who quietly do great work and rely on referrals may be almost invisible online.

- Poor performers who invest heavily in advertising can appear flawless at first glance.

So yes—read reviews. But don’t stop there. Treat online ratings as one piece of the puzzle, not the final verdict.

The result is simple but uncomfortable:

Red Flags: Signs You Should Walk Away

Not all roofing companies are scammers—but the industry attracts more than its fair share of bad actors, especially after storms. Some signals are mild concerns; others are reasons to walk away immediately.

Immediate deal-breakers

If you run into any of the following, it’s best not to move forward:

If the contractor cannot provide an Illinois roofing license, refuses to share a license number, or tells you “we’re working under someone else’s license,” that’s a serious problem. The same is true if they demand more than one-third of the total price upfront, insist on being paid in cash only, or can’t give you a physical business address you can actually visit. Be very cautious with trucks that show up with out-of-state license plates right after a storm or salespeople who pressure you with “today-only” prices if you sign on the spot.

A reputable company should have no problem showing proof of insurance, offering a proper written contract, and calmly answering your questions. If someone gets defensive when you ask about licensing, insurance, or registration—or tells you that “insurance will pay more than what we wrote anyway”—that’s a sign to move on.

Serious warning signs

Other issues don’t automatically mean “scam,” but they should make you slow down and look closer.

A brand-new business with no history under its current name deserves extra scrutiny. If the company uses only a cell phone with no business line, drives unmarked vehicles, and can’t provide several local references, that’s a concern. A suspiciously low bid—30% or more below others—is another classic warning sign; it often means someone is either cutting corners or planning to hit you with surprise change orders later.

Pay attention to their online footprint as well. If all their reviews appear in a very short time frame, or they have no manufacturer certifications, treat that as a caution light. Door-to-door tactics after storms and aggressive offers to “handle your insurance claim completely” are also reasons to slow down and verify everything carefully.

How to Properly Verify a Roofing Contractor

Instead of trusting your gut alone, follow a clear process. Think of it as your personal verification system.

Step 1: Gather basic information before they ever visit

Before you schedule an in-home appointment, ask for a few essentials:

The company’s full legal name
Their Illinois roofing license number (which you can verify with the state)
Their physical office address and how long they’ve been there
A business phone number
The name of their insurance carrier and confirmation of coverage
Any bond information, if applicable

A professional contractor is used to these questions and will answer them quickly and confidently.

Step 2: Do your own research—quietly

Once you have the basics, take a little time to investigate on your own.

Look up their Google reviews and start with the one-star and two-star comments. These often reveal patterns: poor communication, messy job sites, surprise charges, or warranty issues. Check their Facebook page or other social channels to see how long they’ve been active and whether they’re posting real project photos from local jobs.

Search the Illinois Attorney General’s site for complaints, and your county court records for lawsuits connected to the business. Use Google Street View to look at the address they gave you—does it show a real office or something that doesn’t match their story? Finally, check with the Secretary of State to confirm the business is properly registered and in good standing.

This may feel like a lot of work, but you’re about to trust someone with one of the most expensive systems on your home. A little homework now can save you from years of headaches.

Step 3: Request real references—recent and long-term

A good roofing company should be proud to share references. Don’t just accept a couple of names on a card; ask for a mix of recent and older projects.

You want to see how their roofs are holding up over time, not just whether the crew was friendly last month. A strong contractor should be able to connect you with homeowners from the last few months, jobs from a year or two ago, and projects completed five or more years back. Whenever possible, get names, phone numbers, and addresses so you can drive by and look at the finished work.

Step 4: Ask the right questions when you call references

When you talk to past customers, specific questions will give you better insight than a general “Were they good?” Ask what the final price was compared to the original quote and whether there were any surprise charges. Ask if the contractor finished on the promised date and whether there was any damage to the property during the project.

It’s also important to ask whether they’ve had any issues since the work was completed and how the company handled it if they did. Ask about cleanup—nails, debris, and how the job site looked when the crew left. Then ask the big one: “Would you hire them again?” If the answer is anything less than an enthusiastic yes, take note.

Finally, ask if you can see the roof in person. Many happy homeowners are willing to let you drive by and take a look.

Step 5: Visit their office if you can

A stable roofing business usually has more behind it than a truck and a ladder. If possible, visit their actual office.

When you arrive, notice whether it appears to be a functioning workplace or just a mailing address. Look for marked company vehicles, licenses, and certifications displayed on the walls, and real office staff handling calls and scheduling. Ask how long they’ve been in that location and how they handle materials, permits, and supplier relationships.

Your goal here isn’t to interrogate anyone—it’s to understand whether this is a real, established operation or something temporary that might disappear when problems arise.

What Your Contract Should Include (So You’re Truly Protected)

Once you find a contractor you like, the contract becomes your protection. A strong company will welcome detailed paperwork because it protects both sides.

Your agreement should clearly state which material brands, product lines, and colors will be used, along with an estimated start date and completion date. The total price and payment schedule should be spelled out in writing. The contract should specify whether the roof will be fully torn off, how old materials will be disposed of, and exactly how additional work—like replacing rotten wood—will be charged if it’s discovered.

There should be a clearly written workmanship warranty and an explanation of what it covers and for how long. Cleanup responsibilities, including debris removal and nail pickup, should also be described. The contract must specify who is responsible for obtaining permits and should include a promise to provide lien waivers as you make payments, so you’re protected from claims by suppliers or subcontractors later.

If any of these details are vague or missing, ask for them to be added before you sign.

The Verification Scorecard: How Confident Should You Be?

As you go through this process, you can mentally “score” each contractor.

Give them credit when they’ve been licensed under the same name for several years, when they have a physical office you can visit, when they provide several verifiable references that all speak positively, and when their team appears to be more than a one-person operation. Add points if they are certified by major manufacturers, if they provide a detailed written contract, if their insurance policy names you as an additional insured for the project, and if they have a professional website with real project photos and clear payment terms.

A contractor who checks nearly all of these boxes is usually a safe choice. If they only meet a few of them, you’re better off getting more quotes and continuing your search.

Payment Protection: How to Structure Your Payments Safely

Money is where many homeowners get hurt, so it’s worth having a plan.

You should never pay more than half of the total amount upfront; in fact, many homeowners prefer a 25/25/50 structure:

25%

A 25% deposit when the contract is signed

25%

Another 25% when materials arrive and work begins

50%

The final 50% upon satisfactory completion

Using a credit card for the initial deposit can give you useful protection. Many reputable contractors accept cards and charge a small processing fee—often around three percent. On a $3,000 deposit for a $12,000 project, that fee might be about $90. For many homeowners, that $90 is a form of “insurance” on their deposit, giving them recourse if something goes wrong before work starts.

Once the contractor has earned your trust by showing up on time, delivering materials, and beginning quality work, many homeowners choose to pay progress and final payments by check to avoid additional fees. It’s a balanced approach that protects both you and your contractor.

As the job progresses, ask for lien waivers tied to each payment and consider holding back a small percentage—often around ten percent—until everything is fully complete and you’re satisfied. Document the project with photos before, during, and after, so you have a clear record if questions ever arise.

A Serious Warning About Insurance Claims

Storms and insurance claims bring out both the best and worst in the roofing world.

If a contractor offers to “cover your deductible,” that is not a favor—it’s a form of insurance fraud. If they ask you to sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB), you may be giving them broad control over your claim and your payout. And if they insist that they will “handle everything with insurance” and discourage you from being involved or informed, that’s a red flag, not a relief.

A trustworthy contractor will help guide you through the claim, answer questions, and provide documentation, but they won’t ask you to participate in anything dishonest or hand over all control.

The Time You Spend Verifying is an Investment in Peace of Mind

At the end of the day, the shingles on your roof are only as good as the people who install them.

A basic roof, installed by a verified, quality contractor, will almost always outperform premium materials installed by someone you didn’t properly check out. The time you spend verifying your contractor becomes years of peace of mind. The time you “save” by skipping due diligence often turns into years of leaks, repairs, and frustration.

Need a Trusted Local Roofing Partner?

If you live in or around Palatine, you don’t have to start from zero.

Holda Roofing & Siding is a local, licensed Illinois roofing contractor rooted in the community—not a storm chaser that disappears when the weather clears. We invite you to verify us using the same process outlined in this guide:

Visit our local office:

317 W Colfax St, Suite 102
Palatine, IL 60067

Call us:

847-847-2883

Verify our credentials:

Illinois Roofing License #104.017181

We’re proud of the roofs we’ve installed within just a few miles of your home. Ask your neighbors about their experience, drive by our completed projects, and put us through your own checklist. We welcome it—because a well-informed homeowner is our best kind of customer.

Contact us today!

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info@holdaconstruction.com

About Us

With over twenty years in business and hundreds of satisfied customers, we know what it takes to properly maintain a home. Join the family of satisfied homeowners who trust Holda Construction Roofing and Siding for all their roofing and siding needs.