Believe it or not, roof repair services have so many tricks up their sleeves to rip you off and getting roofing done that you do not want to believe anyone anymore, which makes the job even harder. This can be alarming if you are in a hurry and need to get the roof replaced immediately. While you are out there looking to choose someone, you should also know whom not to choose. Therefore, we have gathered some tips for you to consider so that you can avoid roofing scams and make your money worth it. Let’s begin!
Storm Chasers
Storm chasers are those who visit different neighborhoods each day, knocking door to door, advertising their services, and telling everyone that they are the best in business. These people will show up at your door right after your home and the entire neighborhood has been hit by a big storm. They know that after this, homeowners will be coming out to get their roof repaired, so why not show up at their door.
With that being said, if a roofer shows up at your door and tells you that your roof is damaged, which it might be, and it needs to be fixed as soon as possible, you would not want to believe him unless you have checked it out yourself. The reason is that a roofer cannot tell the intensity of the damage by standing on the ground. He will need to get on the roof to perform a thorough roof inspection. Therefore, if you observe some huge claims and exaggerated buttered conversations, you might want to stay away.
Low Starting Bid Technique
You have worked hard for your money and you would not want it doing down the drain just because you were careless. Homeowners are naturally attracted to quotes and prices that are cheap. Unfortunately, this is another way for roofers to scam you. Initially, they will quote you a cheap price and then raise it in the middle of the project, leaving you with no option but to complete the project. In the long run, it is going to cost comparatively more than the initial quoted price.
Roofer Inflicted Damage
Assuming a roofer knocks at your door and claims that your roof is seriously damaged. You ask him to get up on the roof in your absence and he voluntarily inflicts some damage to tell you later on that the damage is there when they were not in the first place. You should not be doing this at all. Never let a stranger get up on your roof and avoid their high-pressure tactics.
Insurance Fraud
If you observe that the roofer is giving free incentive or offering to cover your insurance deductible, you should halt the process right away. Frauds will bill you less and your insurance company comparatively more. At the end of the day, part of the surplus will cover the free incentive they had offered you. Whereas, the surplus of money from the insurance company will land straight into their pockets. Therefore, if a roofer is offering an insurance deductible, you should turn the other way around.
Asking For Payment Upfront
If a roofer asks you for a huge payment upfront or a sum that is more than 15%, you should know that this is not the way it works. Of course, you can pay a deposit but you should not be making full payment until the job has been completed and done according to your satisfaction. If you end up making full payment, chances are that the roofer will disappear.
Contractors Without A License
There are a dozen states that do not require a roofing license. However, Florida is not one of them. Florida does require a roofing license and if you are someone who is living in Florida, you can ask the repair service to show their license according to the law. You will come across many reputable roofing companies, therefore, you should check their reviews online and maybe give them a call to check how they respond. If you feel that a company is trying to push you, you would not want to choose them to fix your roof.
Final Word
Avoiding roofing scams can be easy if you were to thoroughly consider the tips mentioned above. Remember, it is your money and your roof and only you get to decide who works on it. Do not rush and do not allow others to push you. Keep looking for good roof repair contractor and pick the one that fits perfectly.