8 Roof Scams Homeowners Can (Easily) Spot And Avoid
Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home. And, as a homeowner, it’s going to be your responsibility to ensure that it stays healthy and safe from storms and damage.
But ultimately, there’s only so much you can do to keep it in good condition. So, when things happen, and your roof needs work done, who will you turn to and trust? It’s essential that you know about some of the common roof scams on the market and how to avoid them.
1. STORM CHASERS
When roofers talk about storm chasers, we’re not talking about the people that drive around looking for cool tornadoes. We’re talking specifically about roofers that drive around, sometimes far outside their service area, to pressure homeowners into working with them.
After a big storm, there’s likely a lot of damage done to several roofs throughout your community. Sometimes that damage can be easily fixed, and other times an insurance claim could lead to a full roof replacement.
PROBLEMS WITH STORM CHASERS
- They aren’t local, and you likely won’t have any references.
- Sometimes will leave jobs unfinished or take payment and run.
- They won’t be around to check on the job after it’s completed.
2. CHEAP BID WITH “UNEXPECTED COSTS”
If a roofer approaches you with a bid that seems far too good to be true, then it probably is. Home projects aren’t cheap, and repairing your roof is no exception. A lot of work has to be done, and the materials used for roofing aren’t cheap by any means.
One common roofing scam or home improvement scam is to bid a job low and then find different problems or unexpected costs that lead to more costs for the homeowner. By doing this, the contractor will secure your business and money and then add more charges later on.
3. A ROOFER THAT CAUSES DAMAGE
If you’re not home and not watching the roofer‘s every step, you have to be able to trust them. A local company that has a reputation for excellence and a long-standing business is much easier to trust because you don’t have to worry about them damaging your property.
Unfortunately, some roofers will actually purposefully cause damage to your roof so that they can get paid to fix it. This is a really poor representation of the roofing industry, so we hope you don’t get the wrong impression. But it’s good to be aware that some individuals don’t always have the best intentions.
4. INSURANCE FRAUD
Working with insurance really isn’t as difficult as some make it out to be. But, it is important that if you let your roofer help with insurance that you still have a good idea of what’s going on with it.
Roofers can easily commit insurance fraud by exaggerating damages, quoting two different prices, or lying about the material that’s going to be used for the roof. Thankfully, your biggest concern only needs to be that you’re aware of what’s going on with insurance. Keep an eye on it and make sure that your roofer is telling you the same things as the insurance company.
5. ASKING FOR PAYMENT UPFRONT AND LEAVING
This roofing scam is a little rarer, but it does happen. Usually, this happens when the roofer asks for an unusually high amount of money upfront and jumps town, leaving you with no way to get ahold of them.
This is yet another reason why it’s so important that you vet and know your roofer before you choose them to work on your home. Ask if they have a website, social media, or other real customer reviews.
6. ROOFERS THAT WORK WITHOUT A LICENSE
Along with being a bit shifty, some roofers will save money by not working with a license. Avoiding the costs of a license might seem great in the short term, but it can lead to many problems for you as the homeowner.
One potential problem is property damage or an accident on your property that you end up responsible for. If that happens, it could cost you a significant amount as you may need to pay for the medical bills and damages out of pocket.
It’s always important to ask your roofer if they’re fully licensed and insured.
7. HIGH-PRESSURE SALES TACTICS
Some roofers will use high-pressure tactics to try and get the job. They may promise you a great roof at a low price or try to scare you into getting the roof done as soon as possible. While yes, they do need to sell the roof, they also need to respect that it’s your home, and you need to make a decision that’s best for you.
Don’t let high-pressure sales get to you. Instead, communicate firmly with the person you’re talking to and tell them that you need time to make the right decision.
8. USING CHEAP MATERIALS
Last but not least, you’ll need to watch out for poor quality or cheap materials. Sometimes you might get a competitive bid, but the roofer will turn a better profit by only providing you with a subpar roofing job and cheap materials.
Make sure that you ask your roofer about the type of materials they’re going to be using and get a sense of what the roof will be made up of. You shouldn’t be expected to know all about roofing materials, but you can Google the brand’s name to find reviews from customers.
At MARS Roofing, we want to do everything to be an honest, trustworthy, and upstanding roofing company. Sometimes that means helping to educate our customers and other potential customers, and other times it just means that we need to continue to provide good work.
If you’re looking for a Maryland roofing company that’s trustworthy, local, and professional. Reach out to MARS Roofing! We’d be happy to help with your next roofing project.
