As a homeowner, you’re likely aware that your roof will need to be replaced from time to time. You’ve also seen various roofing companies and roofers travel door-to-door imploring you to get a new roof right away. Large storms that produce lots of wind and hail are generally followed by these types of tactics from roofing companies, and you should be leery…extremely leery.
We want to help ensure that nobody takes advantage of you. Replacing your roof is a major investment – you don’t want to pay for it when it’s not necessary. Furthermore, when you do pay for a new roof, it needs to be installed correctly and built to last.
Many roofing scams seem like great deals at first, you might not even realize you’ve been had until you need a new roof again just a couple of years later. Today, we’re going to take a look at some of the common scams – and give a few pointers for avoiding them.
Three Common Roofing Scams
The “Free Roof Inspection”
This is one is all too common. The door-to-door roof salesman shows up at your house with the promise of a free roof. Again, you’ll most typically these these salespeople after a big storm.
What to Watch For
The standard roofing scam is going to start with a free inspection. This is nothing to worry about when you’re dealing with a reputable roofer, but you shouldn’t let someone you don’t fully trust poke around on your roof.
Unethical roofers have been known to create damage on their own, pulling singles and fabricating other damage in order to make a sale. They might even show you pictures on their phone that aren’t your roof. Either way, it’s bad news.
Making claims with your insurance company impact your premiums and your coverage. You insurer keeps a record of claims – too many and they may drop you. Having multiple open claims can also influence future claims. In short, a less-than-reputable roofing company could cause you to file a claim needlessly, and therefore limit your options in the future.
Protecting Yourself
First, don’t let anyone up on your roof until you’ve verified their credentials and their companies. Avoid letting fly-by-night companies give you a “free” inspection. If you are interested in having your roof looked at, take down the salesperson’s and the company information and do some research. A quality company will be more than willing to schedule a time for the inspection.
The Down Payment or Deposit
Frequently you’ll find that roofing scammers will request a down payment or deposit to “help with initial materials cost” or something similar. Often this comes this promise of having the funds returned when the insurance company issues payment. The problem is, you never see the money again.
What to Watch For
This scam is more common for homeowners who have paid off their mortgage, but others are at risk as well. The roofing company will ask either that you give them cash upfront, or that you sign over your initial insurance check as soon as it comes. It is common practice for an insurance company to disburse partial payment to be used for a down payment, you just have to make sure the roofers don’t take it and run.
Protecting Yourself
The key to avoiding this scam is simple. Don’t provide any funds to the roofer until they’ve had supplies for the project delivered to your house. This scam is all about stealing your money and skipping town – so don’t provide payments until you see work has started or is ready to begin.
The High-Pressure Sale
Beware of the roofing salesperson who employs high-pressure sales tactics. Whether they’ve just knocked on your door or they scheduled a consultation, this is one tactic you do not want to deal with.
What to Watch For
When you’re dealing with a high-pressure salesperson, their tactics can be frustrating and exasperating. Sometimes they even work, the potential mark breaks down and agrees to service just so they can be left alone. They may also make dishonest claims or try to mislead you into thinking the situation on your roof is worse than it is.
Roofs usually only need to be replaced every 20 years or more, so many of us don’t have much experience dealing with roofers and roofing companies. For this reason, high-pressure sales tactics can be effective in the industry. Don’t let a salesperson get your worked up about the state of your roof, there is typically plenty of time for another inspection.
Protecting Yourself
First and foremost, don’t sign any papers until you’ve had plenty of time to review them. You may even want to talk to your insurance before making your final decision. Watch out for roofers who demand a down payment before starting work. Also, it may be wise to avoid meeting with roofers who display high-pressure tactics before they even meet with you. For example – some high-pressure roof salesman will request “both decision makers present” for a consultation. This is because they don’t want you to have the “let me check with my spouse” excuse at your disposal.
In general, if you feel comfortable at any point when meeting with a roofer, ask him or her to leave. They may try to stall, just remain stern and ask them to leave. If they refuse, simply call the police.
Work with Reputable Roofers
The best thing you can do when it comes to replacing your roof is research. The bottom line is this: If a roofing company is ethical and focused on your best interests, they won’t have to resort to tricks to earn your business.
Here’s what you should be looking for before you have someone start a roofing project:
- Well-established companies. Avoid doing business with traveling or “pop-up” roofers, as this greatly increases your chance of being scammed.
- Licensing and Insurance. Check the Colorado Roofing Association website, they maintain a full list of certified roofers and contractors.
- Get multiple opinions. Verify that you’re getting an accurate quote by checking with more than one company. You may find that scammers rely on your lack of information.
- Ask for references that are local to your area.
- Get a signed and ensure it goes over everything discussed and promised.
Don’t get burned by roofing scams. A new roof is a huge project, falling victim to one of these scams can be extremely costly.
If you think you’re in need of a new roof, whether from age or a recent storm, reach out to a qualified Littleton roof replacement expert National Home Improvement. We provide free consultations, high-quality service, and we always put our customers first.
