Orientation — What This Is

Slate Asset Group works with property managers and building owners across the region to identify reliable contractors for maintenance and improvements. Over time, property managers ask us similar questions about how we evaluate contractors, what our standards look like in practice, and how to use our recommendations on their own properties. This page collects those common questions and gives direct answers.

If you're new to property management, these answers explain what to look for in a contractor and why documentation matters. If you've been managing properties for years, they clarify exactly how our evaluation process works and why we recommend certain contractors over others.

The Reference Table

Service Type	What We Look For	How We Verify It
Roof Inspection	Detailed written report with photos, clear condition assessment, actionable recommendations, no pressure to proceed with repairs immediately	Documentation from property managers; comparison against industry inspection standards; follow-up on whether inspection findings prove accurate
Roof Repair or Replacement	Installation that meets manufacturer guidelines and applicable building codes; professional safety practices; proper material disposal; clean site after completion	Before/after photos; manufacturer warranty documentation; references from completed projects; site visits when available
Skylight or Window Installation	Proper flashing and weatherproofing; alignment and operation; sealing details that prevent leaks; compliance with current building code	Inspection of completed installations; review of building permits and completion documentation; feedback from property managers on long-term performance
Gutter or Drainage Work	Proper slope and connection; secure fastening; protection of foundation and landscaping; appropriate sizing for local rainfall	Site inspection; review of installation standards; long-term performance feedback from properties where work was completed

All service types require current licensing, proof of liability insurance, and documented track record of completed work.

The Detail

Our evaluation process is straightforward: we gather project documentation from property managers and building owners, we compare what they report against industry standards and manufacturer guidelines, and we track performance over time. When a contractor consistently delivers work that meets those standards, we mention them to other property managers. When patterns of problems emerge, we adjust our recommendations.

We build our recommendations through direct feedback from property managers and building owners who have actually hired these contractors—not from the contractors themselves.

This approach has a built-in delay: we can only recommend contractors after we have multiple property owners willing to vouch for their work. It also means we're cautious about new entrants, no matter how professional their marketing. It also means our recommendations shift as we learn more—a contractor who impressed us with their first three jobs might lose our confidence after a fourth project goes badly. We track these changes and update our content when the evidence calls for it.

Common Sticking Points

Why don't you recommend more contractors?: We only recommend contractors we have direct evidence about. A contractor might be excellent, but if no property managers we work with have used them, we can't verify their work. We'd rather be incomplete than inaccurate.
Can I negotiate a lower rate because you recommended me?: Our recommendation doesn't come with any expectation on pricing. We recommend contractors because they do good work. How they price that work is between them and their clients.
What if a contractor on your list did poor work for me?: Contact us with documentation. We take this seriously. A single complaint might not change our assessment, but patterns matter. We adjust our recommendations when the evidence shows performance has declined.
How recent does the feedback need to be?: We weight recent projects more heavily than old ones, but a contractor's long-term track record matters too. A contractor might have done excellent work five years ago and still be doing it. Conversely, a contractor's performance might have slipped recently even if they were once reliable.
Do you charge contractors to be recommended?: No. Slate Asset Group has never accepted money from a contractor in exchange for a recommendation. Our only interest is identifying which contractors actually do good work for property managers.

Experienced roofing contractors performing installation work with professional coordination and safety practices visible — Contractors we recommend consistently demonstrate the professional coordination, safety standards, and attention to quality that we evaluate and track across projects.

How to Use It

Use this page to understand our evaluation process

This page explains the criteria we use to assess contractors and how we verify that they actually meet those standards. When you're evaluating a contractor yourself, you can apply the same criteria: Do they provide detailed documentation? Can they explain their work against industry standards? Do they have references you can actually contact? These questions help.

Check this page when a recommended contractor underperforms

If you've hired a contractor we mentioned and they didn't deliver, this page explains why performance feedback matters to us and how to report it. Documentation is the most useful input: photos, communications with the contractor, what you had to fix. We use this information to update our recommendations.

Share these standards with contractors you're considering

A contractor worth hiring should be comfortable with these standards and able to walk you through how they meet them. If a contractor dismisses these concerns, that's useful information. The contractors we recommend are generally eager to explain their processes and provide documentation.