The roofing industry is a big one and can seem very confusing to a lot of homeowners, especially new ones. A lot of roofers are legit and truly care about their work and their client’s satisfaction, and sadly, there are some who do not.
There are some roofers out there who just want to make a quick buck and are purely money-driven. They do not care about the quality of their work and will perform rushed roof jobs and then ghost the client after receiving their money. A roof is an expensive investment that most people have to make at some point in their life. Naturally, you want to make sure that your money is being well spent and you are left with a quality roof that will last for years to come.
Today we will be discussing some common scams that poor-quality roofers may try to pull on people as well as discuss what some red flags are when choosing a roofing company to work with.
Avoid Storm Chaser Roofers
This is a common scam that a lot of people sadly fall for. These roofers literally chase storms and go to places where bad weather recently occurred such as high winds, hail, and strong rain. They go door to door and essentially lie to homeowners about their roof being damaged and then offer to replace or repair it for a very cheap price.
Gullible homeowners sadly fall for this all the time. With roofing being so expensive, who wouldn’t want to save money? The people that do fall for this scam are almost always left with a poor roof job and no warranty.
The reason they are able to offer such cheap prices is because they file an insurance claim for “storm damage”. They do a rushed job, cut corners, and then leave town as quickly as possible. Storm chaser roofers’ goal is to replace or repair as many roofs in storm-affected areas as they can. These roofs will eventually start having problems, sometimes even right away. When homeowners try to contact the roofer who did the work there will be no response and no action taken.
These roofs last usually only about half of their lifespan and that would be considered good. Poor roof work can lead to damage to your roof and parts of your home, costing you even more money. Avoid these storm chaser roofers at all costs. If you fear that your roof has taken on damage, have a professional inspector come out from a reputable roofing company to check.
Avoid Large Down Payments and Pressure to Sign Contracts
If a roofing contractor comes to you asking for a substantial down payment this is a bad sign. Yes, down payments typically cost a good amount of money, but extremely large sums, typically 45 percent of your quote or higher, are not necessary.
When roofers ask for a large down payment they almost always take the money and disappear. It is plain down theft. Some might do the roof work, but they do an extremely rushed job and cut a bunch of corners leaving you with a terrible roof that needs to be redone entirely.
You may be asking yourself why people would even consider paying this much money upfront. Well, a lot of people are willing to pay this much money because they don’t know any better. They feel that they are getting a good deal or that this is standard for roofing companies when it is not. The people that work for these companies are also extremely persuasive. They have mastered their scam sales pitch and essentially convince the homeowner that they would be crazy not to work with them and have their roofing woes fixed.
Some of these people even get aggressive when it comes to finding victims. No matter how convincing they may seem or how annoyed they may get, never feel pressured to sign a contract. It’s your home and your decision at the end of the day. If you feel pressured or have a bad feeling about something, trust your gut. Any legit and reputable roofing company would never pressure you into signing and would gladly answer any questions you may have.
Educate Yourself
At the end of the day, the only person that can protect yourself from scams is you. The easiest way to do this is by making sure to educate yourself on roofing so that you know what is normal and what is not. Reading this article is the perfect first step. There are plenty of amazing online resources you can reference to get a better understanding of the world of roofing.
At Liberty Roofworks we thoroughly believe that all homeowners have the right to know about the roofing process and industry to keep themselves safe. Check out our Learning Hub where we post new roofing-related content weekly on everything you could possibly need to know.
Red Flags to Look Out For
There are some warning signs to look out for and take as a sign to step away from a company or contractor.
No Online Reviews, References, or Portfolios
Any reputable roofing company would have reviews available, a list of references to contact, and/or a portfolio to view. If a company fails to present any of these things then that is a bad sign. This means that they either have no prior work experience or no one that is happy with their work.
Unlicensed and Uninsured Contractors
This is a huge red flag. Only work with companies that are able to provide their license and proof of insurance. All contractors hired for a company should be licensed and insured with no exceptions. Without it, you as the homeowner are put at risk if anything goes wrong. An unlicensed roofer is also extremely likely to end up doing a poor job as they did not go through the proper process to work.
Most professional roofing companies will have proof of license and insurance on their website. If they don’t, any reputable roofing company would gladly send you it upon request. If they make any type of excuses or get defensive about you asking for proof, walk away.
Extremely Low Prices
Roofing is expensive and getting a very low quote may seem very tempting. The truth is any company that offers you a very low quote is able to do so because they are cutting corners somewhere. This can include using cheaper materials, not installing everything the best they can, and more.
When corners are cut at any point in the roofing process it will come back to haunt you. You will most likely have to have your roof replaced much sooner than normal and damage may be done to your home.
Some companies decide to start projects with their initial low quote and then change the price once work begins. They make up some excuse and blame it on something irrational. No contractor should change your prices once the work has begun. Overall, low prices are a red flag and you’re always better off paying the average roofing price with a reputable company.
Wrapping it Up
There are so many hardworking and outstanding reputable roofing companies out there to work with. Sadly, there are some who are not and try to take advantage of people. Don’t let the fear of scams turn you away from having roof work done. Every roof needs regular maintenance for it to stay safe and last its intended lifespan.
Instead, be sure to always do your research and trust your gut when choosing a roofing company. It doesn’t hurt to ask around and see what roofers your friends or family have used in your area. The right roofing company will work with you throughout the entire process and make sure you’re comfortable with the work being done.
We hope that you have a better idea of what warning signs to look for when hiring a roofing company. Remember to always be your own biggest advocate and do not be afraid to say no to a company if you are not entirely on board with wanting to work with them.
We are Here to Help!
At Liberty Roofworks we understand the importance of keeping our customers informed about the work being done to their homes and are happy to answer any questions they may have. We are a family-owned business with over twenty years of professional roofing experience under our belts. Customer satisfaction is our top priority and no roofing job is too big for us to handle.
Are you in need of any roof work? Whether you need a repair, replacement, or inspection, we have you covered! Contact us today and we will gladly send out one of our licensed and insured roofing contractors to perform a thorough inspection and let you know what your options are. With us, roofing is never stressful and you can relax knowing you’re taken care of.