It’s normal to feel apprehensive when looking for roof contractors to hire for your roofing project. It is not an easy task finding the roofing company you can trust, and that would do quality and excellent job. Putting your trust in a total stranger is difficult. This is why a lot of people suggest referrals, although not all referred roofers do well in the long run. This article is about the things you should beware of in a roofing company, and also the things you should consider before hiring a roofing contractor.

       Things You Should Watch Out for Before Hiring A Roofing Company

  1. Contingency contracts: This is common practice, which homeowners must learn to identify and avoid. Contingency contract is the type of contract in which the roofing company hides the language in a contract, and rushes the homeowner to sign it without thoroughly discussing, negotiating, and making the homeowner understand every part of the contract. Some roof companies do this to play a smart one on homeowners. It’s a shady business practice. As an illustration, a roofing company may offer services such as “free inspection, emergency repairs, roof tarping, if a homeowner would sign an agreement.” However, there is always a part of the contract that would demand that the homeowner’s insurance company pays for a roof replacement. This is why it’s always important to thoroughly read through the contract, including the fine prints too, before signing it.
  2. Contractors that demand money upfront: One of the signs to know when a roofing company might be shady is when they demand money upfront. The main targets of this kind of practice are the elderly. This type of people usually demands an upfront payment, and never return to do the job. It’s one of the most common scams in the roofing industry that is reported. It’s important to note that this doesn’t apply to all roof companies. Some legitimate companies do have the policy to demand an upfront payment before carrying out their service. In this type of situation, the upfront payment may be required for materials, after they’ve been delivered to the project location, and also when a high-end material is required. You should carry out sufficient research on the roofing company you’d be hiring to work on your roof.
  3. Sales lead generation companies: Another tactic some roofing companies use is sales lead generation companies. They work by cold calling the telephones of people living in an area affected by the storm. They usually identify themselves as roof experts, but often carefully avoid answering questions such as “where they are calling from” or “where their office is.” This sales generation company do try to get an appointment with homeowners, which they subsequently sold to legit roofing experts, or not. You should immediately hang up the phone if you ask these questions, and they couldn’t give you a direct answer.
  4. Roofing Companies Acting As Insurance Adjusters: This is another red flag homeowners should look out for. Roofing contractors sometimes do act as insurance adjusters, and they make claims that they can help homeowners negotiate their claim. This sort of practice is illegal, and this set of people are out to take people’s money by crook. It’s impossible for an individual to act as a roofing contractor and an insurance adjuster. Roof contractors and insurance company agents are different entities. You should only talk with agents sent by your insurance company. You should only involve your roofing contractor with the scope of the work to be carried out, while you discuss your insurance claims with your insurance company agent.
  5. Storm chasers: Storm chasers are individuals that go wherever there is a storm. They usually don’t have a permanent office or address. All they do is chase money wherever it is. This sort of people can be in Texas today, and be in Florida next week. This is common practice, as there is always an influx of roof contractors whenever there is a storm, mild tornado and so on. They go to wherever there is a storm but leave immediately the storm They do not offer any follow-up service, neither can you contact them, because they don’t have a permanent address. In most cases, they don’t have sufficient knowledge and skills to carry out roofing jobs. They only do it because of the opportunity to make money. This is why it’s always best to hire a company that is local, experienced, reliable and has a good standing with a professional roofing body.
  6. Exaggerated damage claims: There are some roofing contractors that like to inflate the extent of roof damage, in a bid to get the homeowner to replace the existing roof, even when the roof still has a lot of useful lifespan remaining, if well maintained. It’s essential to hire a roofing contractor that is reliable and would give you a true and accurate evaluation of the condition of your roof, and also make necessary recommendations on how to fix and restore your roof. One of the ways of doing this is to get an estimate from multiple roofers, so you can have an idea of what to expect.
  7. Unrealistic low bids: There are some roofing contractors that tempt homeowners with ridiculous offers, hoping that the homeowners would take the bait and sign a contract quickly. This leaves homeowners little time to think through or identify any loopholes in the contract presented to them. As an illustration, once the old roof has been torn off, this roof contractors makeup and add some more “damages” that isn’t in the contract, which the homeowner would sign too. This mostly works with elderly patients. It’s important for you to stay away from any roofing contractor that displays this type of tactic. You should take your time to research a company before hiring them.

 What Are The Things You Should Look Out For In A Good Roofing Contractor?

Below are some of the things you should keep in mind when looking to hire a local roofer after a storm:

  • Interview and get estimates from multiple roofers before choosing one.
  • Pick a roofer that is invested in the community. This gives you the opportunity to reach them easily if a problem develops in the future.
  • Get a roofer that knows a lot about the management of roof storm damage.
  • Choose a roofer that belongs to a trade association. These associations do have rules that bind them, which the roofers can violate.

References

Insurance | NRCA, National Roofing Contractors Association. (2019). Retrieved from http://www.nrca.net/roofing/Insurance-631

Roof system types | Everybody Needs a Roof. (2019). Retrieved from http://www.everybodyneedsaroof.com/roof-system-types

Roofing. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.angieslist.com/roofing/

The Best Roofing Contractors Near Me (with Free Estimates). (2019). Retrieved from https://www.thumbtack.com/k/roofing/near-me/