A finished roof is a good moment to ask for a review. The customer can see the new roof, the yard is clean, and your crew is fresh in their mind. The goal is to ask every customer, the same way, every time. That turns reviews into a habit instead of a scramble.
Why a steady habit beats occasional pushes
Occasional review drives tend to depend on someone remembering. When the push fades, the requests can stop. A habit tied to each finished job keeps requests going in busy weeks and slow ones.
A habit also keeps you fair. When every customer gets the same request at the same point, nobody is picked or skipped based on a hunch.
Set a trigger at job close-out
Pick a single moment for the request: after the final walkthrough and cleanup. Put it on your close-out checklist next to final photos and the invoice.
Decide who owns the request. On some jobs that may be you, and on others it may be a crew lead. Write it down so nobody has to guess.
If your close-out steps already feel loose, that connects to the gap we call "Sold jobs slow to schedule and get paid." A clear checklist helps with both.
Make it easy with your Google link or QR code
The fewer taps it takes, the easier it is for a customer to follow through. Google's Business Profile help page notes that you can point customers to a review link or have them scan a code to post their feedback.
Here are a few simple ways to share it:
- Print the QR code on a small leave-behind card you hand over at the walkthrough.
- Text the review link the same day, while the job is still top of mind.
- Add the link to your final email with the invoice or warranty details.
Keep the message short. A thank you, a line about how honest reviews help other homeowners pick a roofer, and the link are enough.
Ask every customer, not just the happy ones
It can be tempting to skip the job that ran late or the customer who had a lot of questions. Don't. The FTC's guide on soliciting reviews warns businesses against limiting requests to people they expect to say good things.
The FTC is a US agency. If you work in Canada, check your local rules as well. In either country, asking everyone is the simplest way to stay fair and keep your reviews believable.
Keep it honest: no rewards and no scripts
Google's contribution policy lets a business invite reviews about real experiences. The condition is that you give nothing in return and do not steer the star rating or what the customer writes.
In practice, that means:
- No discounts, gift cards, payment, or prize draws tied to a review.
- No asking for a certain number of stars.
- No suggested wording or sample reviews for the customer to copy.
Do not pressure customers
A review is the customer's choice. Hand over the card or send the text, say thanks, and move on.
Avoid standing over someone while they type, asking them to post before your crew leaves, or linking a review to the final invoice or warranty paperwork. Pressure can make an otherwise happy customer uneasy.
Reply to every review
Replies show future customers how you treat people after the job is done.
For positive reviews, thank the customer briefly and mention something specific about their job if you can, without sharing private details.
For negative reviews, stay calm and polite. Acknowledge the concern, invite the customer to call or email, and settle the details offline. Don't argue in public or post anything about the customer's home or payment.
Check the habit with your crew
Set a regular time, such as a weekly meeting, to look at finished jobs and compare them with the review requests that went out. Look for gaps like these:
- Cards that ran out
- A link that broke or points to the wrong profile
- A crew lead who skips the request on busy days
- Texts that never got sent
Fix what you find, and keep the checklist current so the habit holds when things get hectic.
Questions roofers ask
When is the best time to ask a roofing customer for a Google review?
Ask once the job is finished and the customer has had a chance to see the completed work, such as at the final walkthrough or in a follow-up message that day or soon after. Make it part of your standard close-out checklist so every customer gets the same request.
What should I say when I ask for a review?
Keep it short and neutral. Thank the customer, say an honest review helps others choose a roofer, and share your Google review link or QR code. Don't offer a reward, ask for a particular star rating, or suggest what the review should say.
Take the quiz to see which gap needs your attention, or read The Three-Gap Fix for steps you can use this week.