For most people, their home is the most expensive thing they own. For that reason, it only makes sense to take great care of it. Not only is it expensive, it is a tremendous investment. With proper care, you can turn your home into a personal pocket of wealth that grows throughout the years you are living there. One important part of that investment is the roof. A good roof keeps your dry, insulated, and keeps the house protected and looking good. To keep that roof maintained, you must seek out the services of a good roofing company. Here’s what to look for and how to find one when you’re ready.

The first step is to find people who have hired a roofing company recently that you can trust. This includes friends, family, co-workers, and others. Ask them who they recommend. Not only can they tell you who they used, they may have done their own research into the matter and can advise you who to steer clear of and any traps they might have fallen into or narrowly avoided. This can be invaluable information and you should take advantage of it before making your own decision. Ask them about how much they paid, what kind of work they had done, and whether they were satisfied with the job. If you have the time and they are willing, head out to their house and take a look at the job yourself. It may give you some further ideas.

One of the best and most underused tools when it comes to searching for a roofing company is the National Roofing Contractors Association. With a visit to their website, you can find contractors in your area and narrow them down according to a whole list of preferences. You can customize your search according to years of experience, how long they’ve been in the area, and much more. The NRCA will also be able to tell you important things such as whether or not a particular contractor has the appropriate insurance and whether they carry workman’s compensation. No search for a roofer is complete without at least one visit to this resource.

If neither of those resources help you find a good roofing company, try asking some local real estate agents and people who do house renovations for a living. Anyone tapped into the economy of fixing houses will know a thing or two about contractors. The only thing to be wary about is whether there are back end deals in place that promise a commission for referrals.