Hugo Flores of Vora Exteriors at Win the Storm
Photo: Patricia Soto Servin | RC

In slower markets, contractors lean on trust and retail work

Hugo Flores of Vora Exteriors in New Orleans said the season was unusually quiet.

“If you ask me specifically about this year, it was too quiet,” Flores said in Spanish. “We had some heavy rain, but that was all.” He added that many contractors depend on storm damage to help homeowners, which makes a quiet season especially challenging.

To stand out, Flores said, his company educates customers and delivers a strong experience rather than focusing only on making a sale.

“It’s not just selling to them but providing a service and showing them that they really matter to us,” he said. “The customer wins because they have peace of mind. We win because after a service comes a reward, which is monetary.”

He advised contractors to build their expertise rather than compete by continually lowering prices.

Alex Rodriguez (right) of Elite Restoration
Photo: Patricia Soto Servin | RC

Alex Rodriguez of Elite Restoration in North Carolina also described the season as slow, but he said his first year in roofing sales went well because he stayed disciplined.

“I know I can make some good money from it, and this might take a little while,” Rodriguez said. “But if I stay disciplined and keep going consistently, it’s eventually going to pay off.”

That approach, he said, helped make the year successful. “It’s just staying consistent and disciplined,” he said.

David Simbayna Loja (right) of Stormcare Roofing
Photo: Patricia Soto Servin | RC

David Simbayna Loja, owner of Stormcare Roofing in Boston, said this season was not like those of a couple of years ago. He also called storm chasers and scammers a challenge, saying they can weaken homeowners’ trust and damage the industry’s reputation.

“We’re always trying to be behind our customer, keeping our own reputation,” he said.

Stormcare offers both insurance restoration and retail work, along with financing and promotions. David said those options have helped the company continue to grow.

“We keep growing either way,” he said. “So, insurance and retail. We’re growing.”

Related services give crews another way to stay busy

Aaron Sanchez (left) and Gage Pruitt (second left) of Sanchez Services
Photo: Patricia Soto Servin | RC

For Aaron Sanchez of Sanchez Services in Del Rio, Texas, finding work before a larger storm meant taking on related jobs. The company handled gutters, fascia, siding and soffit work.

“I would advise them to find other things to do, kind of related,” Sanchez said. “Something that’s more familiar to what you do.”

Those jobs can also help contractors build relationships with customers, he said. “And, hey, I do roofing. Whenever there’s a storm season, call me.”

Sanchez’s company later had a busier stretch. He and Gage Pruitt said an early storm brought smaller hail, but a larger storm in April caused significant damage. They spent the rest of the year working on insurance claims.

In busier markets, follow-up still matters

Joaquin Garza (right), Christopher Perez, and the crew from X Roofing and Solar
Photo: Patricia Soto Servin | RC

In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Joaquín Garza and Christopher Perez of X Roofing and Solar said a slowdown does not necessarily mean business has disappeared. Garza said his team improves its follow-up by reaching out to homeowners who may not have received help after earlier storms.

Perez said many homes in the region may have been missed or never followed up with after a storm. He estimated the company had handled more than 100 claims that month, including about 60 in the first week.

“There’s still a lot of business out there,” Perez said. “Not every house is going to be touched. And even if it was touched, maybe it was a no answer. And not every house was followed back around.”

He said the company stayed in the area while others traveled to Florida after a major storm. “In DFW, there’s never a lack of business.”

Garza said the opportunity depends on whether contractors keep looking for it. “The business is out there. It’s just whether you’re out there to look for it or not.”

Devin Ishmael of Miller Storm Roofing and Reconstruction
Photo: Patricia Soto Servin | RC

Devin Ishmael of Miller Storm Roofing and Reconstruction also described a strong season, with storms affecting DFW and other parts of Texas. His company sent workers across the state to help homeowners.

“You’re out to help people,” Ishmael said. “The main goal is just to genuinely help people and make sure that they’re happy with your work.”

The interviews pointed to different approaches for different markets: contractors in quieter areas described expanding services and strengthening customer relationships, while those in storm-hit markets focused on following up and helping homeowners across a wider region.

In both cases, keeping customers at the center of the work remained a common theme.