As fall approaches, home maintenance tasks become a priority for homeowners. And because gutters protect your home’s exterior from expensive-to-repair water damage, gutter cleaning is one of the top five on your list. If you don’t DIY, like climbing a ladder, or wonder when you’ll be able to get around to it, hiring someone makes sense. Here is a brief guide on choosing the right gutter cleaning company for your home this fall.
Getting Recommendations
If you have never hired a gutter cleaning service before, getting a referral is a good way to find a company that customers have dealt with and had a good experience.
Do you know someone who recently hired someone to clean their gutters? Ask for a reference
While online reviews have a mixed reputation, if you know what to look for (multiple overly positive reviews on different sites; bad spelling and grammar; just the pros, no cons), they can be helpful.
Check the company’s website for testimonials. When you’re still unsure after reading the company’s profile, experience and and posted testimonials, ask the contractor if you can leave your contact info and have one or two of the testimonial people contact you.
The “Right” Experience
It’s not just about the number of years a gutter contractor has been in business. Before hiring a gutter cleaning company, consider the following:
- Residential, commercial, or both? – confirm what type of building they have the most experience in servicing; if they do both, the company might charge more for residential gutter cleaning than one that focuses only on houses
- Proper techniques – if you have copper gutters or galvalume steel gutters, a contractor should know the specific cleaning techniques for these gutter materials
- Extensive knowledge about drainage issues relating to annual rainfall, climate, and microclimate
A good gutter cleaning company doesn’t just clean the gutters. If they see something that needs fixing, notice that you don’t have a sufficient number of downspouts, or tell you that in the next 18 months you will experience problems because of advancing moss growth, they will let you know and give you an estimate on how much it will cost to fix.
Standards and Best Practice
A professional gutter cleaning service should be transparent about who they are and how they do business. A dependable and trustworthy company will:
- Give you a free estimate
- Confirm the price in a written contract you both will sign upon being hired
- Keep appointments and be on time
- Take before and after photos so you can see the work that was done
- Be transparent about payment amount and method – typically ask for a downpayment with the remainder due after the work has been finished.
- Have a crew dressed in a uniform; arrive in a van/truck clearly marked with company’s name and logo
- Provide reliable customer service (say what they mean; mean what they say)
Up-To-Date Paperwork
Is the contractor accredited, insured and bonded? Ask to see any relevant licenses. Check to see if the insurance coverage is up-to-date and includes everyone from the company that will be on your property while they clean the gutters.
Before deciding on a gutter cleaning service inquire about any warrantees they offer.
Affordability
A gutter company’s estimate will outline the details of the work you are hiring them to do. Go over the document carefully. The total estimated price quoted should be reasonable for the service or services they intend to provide.
