There are many roofing companies that only care about money and not service provision. Such roofers give honest and hardworking companies a bad name. This is perhaps the main reason why a lot of homeowners are always skeptical when working with a roofing company. If you’re thinking of repairing or replacing your roof, there is a chance that you could be the victim of a scam. You will need to be vigilant, especially when searching for roofing companies online. Anyone good in SEO can rank lucrative roofing search terms. Such a person might not have a legally registered company and will not have the experience to deal with your roofing challenge. Here are some of the scams you should look out for when searching for a roofing provider.
Storm Chasers
You’ve probably heard or read about scammers disappearing with money after they’ve been awarded a roof replacement project. You might not realize that you’re working with a storm chaser. Some of the signs include:
- They will knock on your door after a major storm claiming that they can provide a solution for your non-existent roofing problem.
- Their goal will be to replace as many roofs as possible in a neighborhood before they disappear for good leaving no traces behind.
- They offer poor workmanship and the repair work may not even last for three months.
- They will want you to pay the majority of the money upfront before they can begin the work.
Fluctuating Bid
A contractor that is offering a fluctuating bid is not likely to be experienced with roofing work. They will offer a low estimate in order to lure you to work with them. Since roof replacement is something that doesn’t happen often, you might think you’ve found the best deal. It is important that you’re getting quotes from multiple roofing companies so that you can establish the average cost for the roofing project. A contractor whose estimate is way lower than the average industry standard should be a cause of concern.
Their bid will not include all the important details about the repair. They will then tell you about a problem that was not factored in the estimate which needs to be taken care of immediately. This will mean that you have to pay more for the roofing project. Such problems are likely to come up as they work on the roof and you will end up spending a lot more than anticipated even when you choose the contractor with the lowest quote.
Fake Damage
If there are no leaks or physical damage on the roof, chances are there is nothing wrong with the structure. There are aggressive salesman that will do everything to try and convince that there is something wrong with the roof. You should be wary of a contractor who knocks on your door claiming there is an issue with the roof when clearly there is nothing wrong. You can’t possibly know there is an issue with the roof if a full inspection has not been carried out.
Inadequate Repairs
If you’re dealing with scammers, they’d want to do the least work possible so as to maximize the payments. You could be having problems with shingles and they end up only replacing a few units. This will be on areas that are visible. It should be noted that the majority of roofing problems are under the surface. You will be depending on the experience of the roofing contractor to come up with a solution to the problem. The new shingles might look great but the contractor did not do the repairs for the actual problem.
We’ve covered some of the common scams you should look out for. You’re also probably wondering how you can avoid falling victim to such scams. Never rush the decision of hiring a roofing contractor or company. You will need to do research before making the decision. The reviews on their site should be taken with a grain of salt as they can be faked. The best way to determine the legitimacy of a roofing company is to ask for references. A company like A&E Queens Roofers – Asphalt Shingle Roofing that has nothing to hide will be more than happy to provide references.
You should never work with a company that wants an answer right away. They will be taking advantage of you. Make sure that the roofing company is licensed and has the necessary insurance. They should also have a physical presence in your area.