The roofing industry is a big one that is made up of many trustworthy and successful roofers. However, there are a few bad ones out there that love to take advantage of easy targets. As a homeowner, the roofing industry may seem very confusing, but it does not have to be. With so many different materials, options, and prices, it is easy to get overwhelmed, and understandably so.
Any reputable roofer should be more than happy to talk you through your options and the roofing process. The roofing process does not have to be one filled with stress and anxiety. Homeowners should not have to stress over being taken advantage of, but sadly it does happen. The only way to prevent this from occurring is by educating yourself and learning the warning signs of scams early on so that you do not fall victim to these companies. Today we will be talking all about what warning signs to look for in sketchy roofing companies, and how to protect yourself.
Avoid low bids or quotes
We get it, receiving a low quote for a normally expensive roof job may seem very tempting, but this is a major red flag. When bids are low that means something is taking a hit. In other words, there are corners being cut and steps being left out somewhere in the roofing process which is never a good thing. In roofing, you get what you pay for. A very low big oftentimes results in much poorer work that you will have to get repaired, costing you even more money.
Overall, ignore the extremely low bids. Roofs are truly an investment and trust us when we say it is worth it to invest the normal amount early on. While extremely low bigs are a big red flag, so are extremely high ones. That is why it is important to get multiple quotes, which we will cover more in-depth later on.
Any quote that falls very far on either side of the scale is a red flag and should be avoided. Just wait for the right quote and roofing company to come along and help!
Storm chasers
These types of storm chasers chase storms after they have already occurred. These are specific roofers that target areas that have been impacted by severe weather lately. They ask homeowners to inspect their roof and report back with false information, telling them their roof is damaged and making up lies. They then offer to repair the damage and oftentimes offer a lower rate as well.
Storm chaser roofers are amazing salesmen who are known to pressure people into agreeing to hire them. The work they do is not only not needed, but poorly done as well. They cut corners and then leave town and move on to the next stormy area. They do not stand behind their work or come with warranties most of the time. Overall, avoid storm chaser roofers. If you do suspect you may have roof damage, be sure to contact a local roofing company and have a proper inspection completed.
Hire local roofers
We briefly touched on this already, but it could not be more true. Local roofing companies tend to already be established and stand behind their work. Unlike storm chasers who appear at your door randomly, local roofing companies are able to be contacted directly via email or telephone and can be researched via the internet.
Local roofers of course know the area much better than out-of-town companies. This is a huge benefit because they are very familiar with things such as the weather and know what type of roof damage is common and during what times of the year. Everything is very transparent with local roofers and it is overall a much safer option.
Never feel pressure to sign
This is a big one to look out for. If any roofing company or contractor is very pushy about you signing a contract, walk away. As a homeowner, you should never feel intimidated or bullied into signing any piece of paperwork.
Companies that do go the pushy and aggressive route are oftentimes scammers or not legit. Any real and reputable roofing company will take the time to answer all of your questions and ease your mind prior to signing. A contract is legally binding, and once you sign it becomes real. Never sign anything unless you are 100% comfortable and certain.
Choose your roofer carefully
One of the easiest ways to avoid being taken advantage of is to do your research ahead of time. That is especially true when it comes to choosing a roofing company. There are a few important things to look for when researching potential roofers. For one, we strongly suggest looking at reviews ahead of time. A company’s reviews will tell you a lot about how they are to work with as well as what their results are. The way a company responds to its reviews will also tell you how much they value its image and customer service.
It is also extremely important that you decide to work with a company that is both Licensed and Insured. These help keep both the company safe, as well as you. Should something bad happen during the roofing process, that will not fall on you. Finding out if a roofing company is both licensed and insured is easy. Most of the time this information can be found on their website. If it can not, contact them and politely request it. Any reputable roofing company knows the importance of these things and will gladly provide you with proof. If a roofing company is at all hostile or aggressive when asked to provide proof of license and insurance, take that as a red flag and move on. These are just a couple of things to look for when choosing a roofing company to work with.
You may also want to work with a roofing company that has been in business for a longer period of time. This is not a jab at newer businesses, they could be amazing! It’s just that roofing companies that have been around for a while are extremely likely to produce rather fine-quality results.
Seek out multiple quotes
It is very important to not go with the first quote you receive. A quote is a general estimate from the company on how much it will cost to have the desired work completed. Some roofing companies may overcharge like crazy while others may offer a much cheaper price, but at the cost of the roof’s quality. We suggest receiving at least two quotes but ideally three before deciding on which company to work with.
It is also important to ask questions during the inspection process and clarify exactly what it is that you would be paying for. This is very important because some companies will add in charges when not needed while others will eliminate charges while decreasing the quality.
Wrapping it up
There are so many amazing and reputable roofing companies out there who would love to have you as a customer. Sadly, there are also some bad ones that are just in it for quick money. Just like everything else in life, you have to be careful and make informed decisions.
Never hesitate to do your own research and ask questions! Any reputable roofing company would be more than happy to give you more information and help you out. We said it before and we will say it again, educating yourself about the roofing industry is the best way to prevent yourself from being scammed, and this blog post is a great first step! Do not be afraid to say no if you are not comfortable and never sign anything until you are 100% positive about a company.
If you would like to learn other ways to avoid being scammed or taken advantage of, check out our Learning Hub. We post fresh roofing and solar-related content here every single week. It is an excellent way to learn more about the roofing industry and keep yourself safe. Educating yourself on roofing has been easier, thanks to there being so much information jam-packed into one user-friendly website. Check it out for yourself!
We are here to help!
At Liberty Roofworks we value both customer trust and customer service. With us, you will never feel pressured, rushed, or misinformed. We are a family-owned and operated business with over 20 years of professional roofing experience under our belts.
All of our roofing contractors are professionally trained, licensed, and insured. We provide our clients with thorough roof inspections prior to providing them with a quote. We will also go over their options with them as well as answer any and all questions they may have at that time.
Are you in need of any type of roof work? Contact us today and we will be more than happy to schedule an inspection! We are here to help!