Start with asking your boss. You already have an understanding of materials and likely the costs. Then understanding the time line for the project. Being able to do accurate quotes that takes into account man-hours (an addition to each actual labor hour that covers the business overhead spread out over each job), the actual labor cost, material cost and an appropriate timeline for the execution of the job takes some training that either your boss or someone on the sales team if one exists could provide without going to school. You can also do courses in sales in your own time to learn essential elements like client questions/objections, generating and following up on leads in a timely fashion, etc.
It also doesn't hurt to reach out to other companies in your area to see who has spots and if there is a demand for it. Also, just because roofing has been your main wheelhouse for however long you've been in the trade does not mean you need to move into sales in this field.
Start pricing jobs on your own and learn how to use what ever software they use in your office. When you’re ready tell your boss what you’ve been doing on your own time and show him what you’re capable of. Best way to get into a position is to start doing it by yourself as if you’re already in that role. Start thinking like a sales person. Look at logistics, tear off cost, safety, etc etc etc… You’ll only get better with time. I been in sales 10 years now pricing large commercial projects and I still miss stuff and I ask questions.
Most salesman dont price jobs.
We submit an eagle view or equivalent > company dictates price per square > close the deal + upgrades
OR
File insurance claim, collect first check,sell upgrade, do job, collect deductible, collect 2nd check + supps
I personally went from zero roofing experience to becoming an estimator. I was in the office doing IT work in the beginning and my boss asked me to start shadowing the estimators. Over the years I’ve shadowed field guys and studied our P.M’s. Anything is possible just got to stop limiting yourself.
I couldnt find a single company that wanted to take on the big jobs and new con. Fucking floored me.
I would get invited to 500 home neighborhoods going up or new box stores being built and nobody would take the deals.
Ive since left the industry, and to be faiiiir. Claims chasing is probably the easiest six figures a man can make
That’s very very odd. I’m not sure how it works where you’re located I’m in south Florida and all the larger commercial roofers have in house estimators like me who do take offs from architectural drawings or on occasion go on site to do cores and take off. Getting a price together is only a small portion of the project. The rest of it is dealing with permits, architects, GC’s, our own PM’s, contracts etc etc etc. the in house estimators are needed because they know everything about the job and all the communication that lead up to the sale. We do get a ton of emails from sales folks saying hey I got a job for you here and there but that doesn’t really mean much to us because those jobs are usually not profitable. Our average all in TPO tear off number for a highrise for example is around $30-$35/SF. We are doing a very large tile job in Miami now with copper gutters, copper flashing, copper downspouts $120/SF tear off and install. The numbers are just wild.
I'm your neighbor to the north. Florida roofing is a nightmare to how is it here in georgia. Hell most of the time we dont need permits, its just a reshingle and maybe a redeck depending on rot/spaced decking.
every time I go to florida I'm struck in a sense of awe, so many homes with materials filling the drive way and the roofs with just underlayment nailed on.
Uphere everything is done in a single day.
Call any roofing company and ask them about becoming a salesman. Welcome to the fun.
Start with asking your boss. You already have an understanding of materials and likely the costs. Then understanding the time line for the project. Being able to do accurate quotes that takes into account man-hours (an addition to each actual labor hour that covers the business overhead spread out over each job), the actual labor cost, material cost and an appropriate timeline for the execution of the job takes some training that either your boss or someone on the sales team if one exists could provide without going to school. You can also do courses in sales in your own time to learn essential elements like client questions/objections, generating and following up on leads in a timely fashion, etc. It also doesn't hurt to reach out to other companies in your area to see who has spots and if there is a demand for it. Also, just because roofing has been your main wheelhouse for however long you've been in the trade does not mean you need to move into sales in this field.
Start pricing jobs on your own and learn how to use what ever software they use in your office. When you’re ready tell your boss what you’ve been doing on your own time and show him what you’re capable of. Best way to get into a position is to start doing it by yourself as if you’re already in that role. Start thinking like a sales person. Look at logistics, tear off cost, safety, etc etc etc… You’ll only get better with time. I been in sales 10 years now pricing large commercial projects and I still miss stuff and I ask questions.
Most salesman dont price jobs. We submit an eagle view or equivalent > company dictates price per square > close the deal + upgrades OR File insurance claim, collect first check,sell upgrade, do job, collect deductible, collect 2nd check + supps
Ahhh got it. So we’re just in two different worlds. I’m assuming this is residential sales?
You dont go from labor to commercial. Hell the path from residential and retail to commercial is fucking hard.
I personally went from zero roofing experience to becoming an estimator. I was in the office doing IT work in the beginning and my boss asked me to start shadowing the estimators. Over the years I’ve shadowed field guys and studied our P.M’s. Anything is possible just got to stop limiting yourself.
I couldnt find a single company that wanted to take on the big jobs and new con. Fucking floored me. I would get invited to 500 home neighborhoods going up or new box stores being built and nobody would take the deals. Ive since left the industry, and to be faiiiir. Claims chasing is probably the easiest six figures a man can make
That’s very very odd. I’m not sure how it works where you’re located I’m in south Florida and all the larger commercial roofers have in house estimators like me who do take offs from architectural drawings or on occasion go on site to do cores and take off. Getting a price together is only a small portion of the project. The rest of it is dealing with permits, architects, GC’s, our own PM’s, contracts etc etc etc. the in house estimators are needed because they know everything about the job and all the communication that lead up to the sale. We do get a ton of emails from sales folks saying hey I got a job for you here and there but that doesn’t really mean much to us because those jobs are usually not profitable. Our average all in TPO tear off number for a highrise for example is around $30-$35/SF. We are doing a very large tile job in Miami now with copper gutters, copper flashing, copper downspouts $120/SF tear off and install. The numbers are just wild.
I'm your neighbor to the north. Florida roofing is a nightmare to how is it here in georgia. Hell most of the time we dont need permits, its just a reshingle and maybe a redeck depending on rot/spaced decking.
Wow man no permits?! That sounds like a dream come true. Sometimes we wait 3-4 months for a permit to get approved!
every time I go to florida I'm struck in a sense of awe, so many homes with materials filling the drive way and the roofs with just underlayment nailed on. Uphere everything is done in a single day.