Value is not just determined by the price. One could buy a cheap drill, which may seem like good value, but if it stopped working suddenly for no good reason, how much value is that tool? It has zero value at that time.
Roofing is really the same, but perhaps a little more complex as there are quite a few variables that make up the value of one contractor verses another. The things that need to be considered include:
- Scope and detail of the quote
- Reviews/referrals/testimonials
- Experience and skill
- Attitude, trustworthiness, communication and friendliness.
- Does the contractor hold the correct license(s), insurances and does their ABN match their name?
The relative importance of these things varies from person to person, so what makes a thing good value in the end comes down to one’s own judgement. However, there are a couple of items above that may mean the quote you have received effectively has no value. For example, the contractor is unlicensed, or the quote is very brief and does not give sufficient detail = no value.
If one was to proceed with a “cheap” quote, it might work most of the time, but like the cheap drill, if it fails when you really need it, what value does it have? And what good is the warranty? Do you really want another cheap and unreliable drill or a roof that might leak again?
I don’t think so.
Any product or service that doesn’t work when you really need it too, has a very low value. You’ll find good tradesmen will spend money on good tools for this very reason. You can’t even compare the price of a cheap drill to a good drill as it’s actually not comparable. One performs what is needed, the other might, but there’s too much chance it won’t.
Trades are very similar. Beware the tradesman that doesn’t tick all the boxes or seems very cheap. They might be terrible value!
N.A. Gladesville
D.P. Northbridge
G.N. Leichhardt