How-To Avoid Roofing Scams
In the aftermath of a storm, it’s important to have an experienced and trusted contractor take care of your roof repairs. Unfortunately, the construction industry is home to many predatory contractors who try to take advantage of gullible Mansfield homeowners.
These scams are designed to take your money, do a poor job, and leave you with unfinished work. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to avoid them.
Beware of High-Pressure Salespeople
The roof is a major part of any home, and if it is damaged it can be expensive to repair or replace. This is why it is important to know how to avoid roofing scams so that you do not end up with a bad experience or worse, lose a significant amount of money.
Many scams are disguised as legitimate offerings, and one of the best ways to avoid them is to take the time to shop around. By doing this, you can ensure that you get the best deals from a trustworthy Mansfield Roofing company.
High-pressure salespeople are common in the roofing industry and they often come with big promises and gimmicks that are only intended to get you to sign up for a new roof or contract. The fact is that a roof is only replaced once or twice in most people’s lifetime, and the last thing you want to do is sign up for a new roof without taking the time to shop around.
Roofing is an extremely complex job, and it’s easy for a fraudulent roofing contractor to take advantage of homeowners who are unfamiliar with the process. Some companies use tactics like putting artificial timelines on their offers, or even going so far as to create a fake social media page to snag your attention.
Another trick is to make you feel overwhelmed with too many options. These contractors will try to get you to sign up for multiple estimates and payment plans, or they may even suggest that you make a downpayment right then and there.
You should always ask about customer reviews, and be sure to check the Better Business Bureau before making any decisions. Also, be sure to do your research and find out about any special deals that are being offered, such as a no-obligation inspection.
Finally, high-pressure salespeople are likely to charge you a premium for their services. This is because they know that you will be less likely to sign up with them if the price seems too good to be true.
Rely on Word-of-Mouth
The roof is one of the most important structural elements of your home. It protects your home and family from harsh weather, but it’s also a high-ticket item for many homeowners. That’s why it’s critical to pick a roofing contractor you can trust.
There are a lot of scammers in the roofing industry, and they give the industry a bad name. These con artists target budget-conscious homeowners trying to manage home repairs without breaking the bank. They often seek out neighbourhoods with a high percentage of senior citizens; areas in older neighbourhoods; and places that are prone to, or were recently hit by, major storms.
These con artists will often do fast work with poor-quality materials or simply take the money and run. This is one of the most common roofing scams, but it can also be difficult to spot.
Another type of roofing scam is known as bid rigging. This is when a roofing contractor bids too low to win the job and then goes back and raises their price after you agree to hire them.
To avoid being ripped off by a bid rigger, ask a few different roofing companies for quotes. Make sure to get a written contract that states a fixed price for the work.
It is best to go with a local contractor who has been in business for a while and has a good reputation. This will help you to avoid fly-by-night contractors who show up after a storm, perform superficial repairs and then leave.
If a company has a good reputation, it will usually have a website where you can check its credentials and read reviews. They should also be listed on websites like Angie’s List and the Better Business Bureau.
This will help you find a good roofing company that is worth your hard-earned money. It will also let you know if you should avoid working with them because they have a history of fraudulent behaviour.
Word-of-mouth referrals are a great way to get a new customer, but they’re not always reliable. This is why it’s so important to do your research and to get references from people you know and trust.
Don’t Sign a Contract on the Spot
If a roofing contractor comes to your door urgently promoting a “today only” deal that sounds too good to be true, don’t take it lightly. They may be trying to pressure you into a contract without giving you enough time to do your research and get quotes from other contractors.
One of the most common roofing scams involves contractors who show up to a homeowner’s property offering a low bid but then begin to increase their prices by adding expenses for undocumented problems that were not discussed in the initial meeting. This can lead to the final price being much higher than the homeowner was expecting and can be difficult for the consumer to dispute if they decide to file a claim with their insurance company.
Another common roofing scam is contractors who will offer to cover the deductible of homeowners’ insurance policies, only to submit two separate invoices to their customers. They’re inflating their service price to the insurance company and pocketing the difference, leaving the homeowner on the hook for any overpayments they receive from the insurance company.
Scammers who try to use your insurance to cover the cost of their work will also often ask you to pay a down payment before they start any work on your roof. This is a huge red flag, as a legitimate roofer will never request such a large sum of money before starting any work.
The same goes for contractors who will request that you agree to an assignment of benefits with your insurance company as part of a contract. If you agree to this, it will give them the right to deal directly with your insurance company and in some cases waive your rights.
A reputable roofing company will be happy to review any contract with you and answer any questions that you have. A contractor who is willing to put up with your skepticism and answer your questions will be worth their weight in gold.
A common tactic used by roofing scammers is to approach a home after a storm has hit the area, and claim that their clients’ roofs are damaged. They may offer a free inspection and climb up on the roof to look for damage. If they don’t find any, they will fabricate it by tearing off shingles to make it appear that there is hail or wind damage. Then they will take your money and disappear.
Don’t Pay Upfront
If you need roofing services, you want to make sure that you’re working with a reputable and honest company. Unfortunately, there are many scammers out there who are looking to take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners.
One way to avoid this is to avoid paying up front for roofing services. While this is not always possible, it is important to remember that most reputable roofers will not require any money up front before they begin work.
When a roofing contractor asks for a large deposit upfront, it is an indication that they are not legitimate. In most cases, a reputable roofer will not ask for more than a third of the total cost of the project.
Another red flag is if the roofing company asks you to cash your insurance check as a down payment. This is a form of insurance fraud that can result in your deductible being garnished by the scammer.
Scammers also may pressure you to sign a contract on the spot without conducting any research. This is an easy trap to fall into, and can lead to a bad experience for you and your home.
The best way to avoid this type of scam is to be sure that the person who comes to your home for a consultation or estimate has the proper license and insurance. You can do this by calling the Better Business Bureau in your area or checking online.
Storm Chaser Scams
During hurricane season, many homeowners are victims of storm-chasing roofers who travel door to door and offer to repair or replace your roof for free. The problem is that the work that these contractors do is usually poor quality and will shorten the lifespan of your roof.
They also sometimes try to collect more than your deductible by submitting two separate invoices. This is an example of insurance fraud, which can be prosecuted and could result in a fine or jail time for the scammer.
This is a big red flag that should be avoided at all costs. While some reputable companies will charge a small down payment for materials, this is a good rule of thumb to follow.
