Mom's gutters are pulling away from the house, there is a soft spot in the fascia board under the back run, and somebody has finally said the word estimate out loud. You will be the one standing in the driveway when the crew hands over a folder. That folder is where the job actually lives, so read it like it matters, because it does.
Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.
Two papers, two promises
Most exterior repairs come with two kinds of warranty, and they often sit on different pages. The product warranty comes from the maker of the gutter, the fasteners, or the sealant, and it covers the material if the material fails. The workmanship warranty comes from the company doing the work, and it covers the labor: the hanging, the sealing, and the slope they set so the water runs toward the downspouts. A product warranty will not send anyone out to fix a crooked run. A workmanship warranty will not replace a cracked panel. Ask which paper covers the thing that broke, and ask who is the phone number printed on it.
Find where the clock starts
A long warranty can still be short in practice if its clock starts when the crew packs up and you do not notice a seam leak until the next big storm. Ask when the coverage begins, whether it runs from the finished work or from your invoice, and whether you must do anything to keep it alive, such as saving receipts or having a named person check the work each season. Ask whether the warranty moves with the house if it changes hands, and whether it is voided if another company cleans or touches the gutters later. That last one catches more families than you would guess, because the neighbor's cleaning service is always so helpful.
Make the quote name the job
A quote is not a contract, and a contract is not the job until it describes the job. Look for the exact runs and their lengths, the number of downspouts, and whether the fascia board repair is written as its own line or hidden under 'carpentry.' Check whether the old gutters and the rotted wood are hauled away, whether a permit is needed and who pulls it, and whether the crew checks the roof edge behind the gutter. If the paper says gutter replacement but the soft spot is in the fascia, that is a gap you will find in the rain.
Questions to ask before anyone signs
Ask who will show up for warranty work, and whether that is the same company or a subcontractor. Ask what happens if a seam opens a few weeks in, and whether a return visit is covered or billed. Ask for the warranty in writing, not a card with a phone number on it. Then compare two written quotes side by side on the same lines, because a quote that is missing the fascia line is not cheaper, only smaller.
For local names to call for a second look, see Local Help in St. Louis. Bring the written quotes to the walk-through, and keep the warranty folder somewhere your sibling can find it without calling you.