It is an excellent job for college graduates who have not yet found their place in their chosen career. Available in all parts of the country, large insurance companies hire fresh out of college students who are anxious to make a lot of money quickly. The pay is not quite double the minimum wage for the first 40 hours a week and the overtime pay is time and a half. These money hungry recruits are trained in disaster insurance adjusting. Inspecting both cars and homes that have been damaged by strong spring and summer stores, these young employees are also offered $40 a day for meals.
After a ten day intensive training session, the teams are sent out to make adjustments for anxious home owners who are hoping to get their homes and vehicles fixed as quickly as possible. The most eager employees frequently work 70 to 80 hours a week knowing that the window for the work will disappear as soon as summer ends. Left with some excellent sales, time management, and customer relations skills, as well as a healthy savings, these students are now able to breath a little easier. They have some money set aside for those first college loan payments that will start soon and they have a great job to list on their resume as they search for a career in their chosen field. Some will stay and continue working in the insurance business, some will will go onto graduate school or start a new job, and, interestingly enough, some will actually get hired by construction crews who are fixing the roofs and siding that has been just adjusted.
Spring Storms Drive Much of the Roof Work That Goes on Around the Country
A strong hail or wind storm that triggers a flurry of insurance claims and settlements, turns into a multi million dollar industry as contractors across America order and install both residential and commercial roofing materials. In fact, current estimates indicate that as many as 50,000 companies do nothing more than install roofing, siding, and sheet metal work. The demand is high and the competition can be intense. In areas of the country where many clients are trying to all get their roofs replaced, both residential and commercial roofing materials can be seen piled in driveways and parking lots as crews begin their jobs.
Commercial roofing contractors and residential roofing repair contractors take on the enormous task of scheduling jobs and trying to complete them as long as the weather cooperates. Commercial roofing materials are often ordered with the 50% down payment that is required for most jobs. The rest of the charges, however, are not paid until the job is complete. Between those two payments, contractors hope that the rain will stop long enough so that individual jobs can be completed and the schedule can go as planned. Workers also hope for many days of work, rather than inclement weather with no opportunity to get in the much needed hours.
Shingle Selections Are Often Influenced by Price, Maintenance, and Building Codes
Although many home owners are limited in their roofing choices by subdivision coeds and guidelines, low maintenance choices are often the goal. Nearly three of every four home owners indicate that one of the things they care the most about in roof replacement is maintenance. When given the choice, 72% indicate that they will select a roofing material that requires little or no maintenance. Even commercial roofing materials are often selected with maintenance in mind. Metal roofs for commercial buildings and the newest composite shingles for residential homes require very little, if any follow up work.
Both durability and longevity are also major concerns of both home owners and business owners who are replacing roofs. In fact, durability was identified as the number one factor by 88% of survey participants when determining what kind of new roof to purchase. Additionally, 83% indicate that longevity is also a major deciding factor. Although cost is important, most residential and commercial owners understand that paying for quality roofing materials is an investment with a fairly high return. In fact, a new low maintenance roof is a major selling factor for both homes and office buildings.