BEWARE OF STORM CHASERS
You’ve heard of them, the roofing contractors who travel to suburban
neighborhoods and knock on doors, promising to save you thousands of dollars by
reroofing your home. Like most things in life, if it sounds too good to be true, it
probably is. Too often these “roofers” take your money, start the job, and then
leave town with nothing but a pile of shingles as evidence their presence. Should
anything go wrong with the roof, warranty information can be very difficult to gather.
Roofing scams are popular more popular than you may think and impact
communities throughout the nation each year. Most “roofers” go to neighborhoods
after they have been hit by a hurricane or a hail storm. These storm chasers target
elderly people and claim that they can fix a roof for $2,000-$3,000 dollars.
Avoiding Scams:
To avoid a roofing scam from happening to you, NEVER accept any unsolicited
offer for roofing work. Legitimate contractors are busy doing roofing work for their
clients, not going around the local neighborhood in search of work. Also, legitimate
roofers will be able to provide references, identification, and roofing credentials. To
avoid being a victim of a potential scam, always remember, a legitimate roofer
should never ask you to pay for the work up front.
Researching a Roofer:
To choose the best roofer to repair or install your roof--research! A good and easy
place to start is by asking your friends and neighbors for the names of reliable
roofing contractors they have used. Or look in your phone book’s yellow pages for
local roofers, and then look for customer reviews of roofers online in addition to
personally asking the roofer for references. When you contact roofers and get bids,
make sure the bid price is reasonable and pay attention to the roofer’s
professionalism. Often, you get what you pay for.
What to look for in a Roofer:
- Repeat business with a long term record of roofing in the nearby area
- Number of years in the business locally
- Professionalism
- Membership in local professional associations
- Knowledge of roofing materials and procedures
Evidence that your Roofer is Legitimate:
A professional roofer should be able to provide you with an up-to-date copy of their
references. Your roofer should also be able to show you a copy of his insurance
coverage. Look for a roofing contractor with sufficient liability insurance, such as a
policy with at least a $1,000,000 of coverage.
Indicators that a Roofer is Legitimate:
- Local references (jobs completed in the last 30 days and 1+ years ago)
- Business license
- Credentials
- Workers compensation insurance
- General liability insurance
The Contract and Costs of the Job:
Before any work is started, get a written contract. The contract should include
roofing estimate details such as hauling away the old roof, warranties, roof type,
roof brand, and a schedule for when the work is to be completed. Also, make sure
the price covers all materials, ventilation, and cleanup.
When choosing a roofing contractor, don’t fall for a scam. The tips provided should
help better prepare you to spot potential red flags infamous of “storm chasers” and
other deceptive roofers. Remember the importance of making sure your roofer’s
background is well documented and has experience with roofing that you can
review. Also, make sure you fully understand the contract before work begins so
that everything goes according to plan. By following these basic pieces of advice,
you are more likely to end up with a roof that you are happy with.
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