We always love featuring other family run businesses, and Bill Ragan Roofing is one of the best there is. He is honest, hardworking, and very experienced in not only the roofing industry, but also in the entire construction industry as well. We highly recommend reaching out to him for a quote for your next roofing need. Enjoy this Q&A on how they got started and some great advice for what to know when filing an insurance claim for your roof.
1) Tell us about Bill Ragan Roofing and how you got started.
Before starting his business, Bill Ragan worked as a superintendent with a very prominent home builder here in Middle Tennessee. With that company, Bill built over 500 homes which makes Bill an expert in the construction field, not just roofing.
Bill worked hard for this other company but every payday was the worst day of the week for him because of how very little they paid him and they would not allow him to have a side job. So Bill went out on his own and on July 17, 1990, started Bill Ragan Construction. He wanted to build custom homes like he had been doing. The very first job he got was a roofing job in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. He got a referral off of that job and then a referral off of that job and before he knew it, he had a roofing company. That is how Bill Ragan Roofing Company was born.
For 21 years the company’s phone number was unlisted. It was strictly a referral-based business. When Taffy joined the company in April 2011, she started trying to get Bill’s name out there a bit more by setting up a website and doing some advertising and marketing.
The company has seen some uphill battles and downward slopes over the years but the one thing that has always remained constant is the stellar reputation of Bill Ragan, his work ethic, and the fact that he does what he says he’s going to do.
2) Outside of what the name would suggest, do you offer other services as well?
- Besides roof repairs and roof replacements, we also offer insurance claim assistance, skylight services, gutter cleaning, and general roof maintenance.
3) What’s your favorite thing about your job?
- By far, my favorite thing about the job is helping and interacting with homeowners. There’s nothing better than taking a customer’s stressful situation and turning it into a positive experience.
4) Is there anything you would want potential clients to know?
- We don’t focus on “selling” our services. Our main job is educating and giving expert advice to homeowners; we just happen to offer roofing services. We understand we’re not going to be the roofing company for everyone, but we can still provide them the knowledge they need to make the right decisions. If someone does think we’re the right fit, they can count on our expertise, customer service, and high-quality workmanship that comes with a lifetime warranty.
5) Many home service providers are moving to an annual contract for inspection and maintenance of a home (HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical). Do you see value in those services for roofing? Do you offer them?
- Absolutely! The Overhead Care Club maintenance program provides an annual roof check-up, lifetime repair guarantee, gutter cleaning, discounts on services, and more.
6. What would be three things you would want a homeowner to know before/during the process of an insurance claim for a roof?
-Find a roofing company that deals with insurance claims and knows the process. It’s important to hire a company with experience working with insurance adjusters and knows how to supplement claims if the adjuster leaves anything off.
-Be wary of door knockers from out-of-state storm chasing companies. They undercut prices of local roofing companies to win your business and then leave their behind crews to do shoddy work. As soon as the workers leave the job site, I guarantee the storm chasing company will quit answering their phones and won’t be there when a problem shows up.
-Only an insurance adjuster can approve your insurance claim. A roofing contractor can inspect for storm damage, advocate for you, and provide proof to the insurance company. However, the insurance adjuster has the final say whether or not your claim is approved.
