You just want a quality roof at a fair price, but that’s not as easy as it seems. It’s no secret that plenty of scams exist, especially regarding home improvement. Check your local neighborhood groups, and you will find plenty of posts warning homeowners away from one contractor or another, asking for advice on how to proceed if they’ve been the victim of a scam, or looking for advice on how to separate the good contractors from the bad. When you know that plenty of less-than-honest contractors are out there, how can you determine if the roofing contractor you’re looking at is trustworthy or just good at getting homeowners to believe their shady tactics? Bringing a polygraph to your estimate may be going too far, but there are some signs that you may be setting yourself up to be scammed.
With the many different marketing tools business owners have, no reputable roofing contractor will spend their days wandering through your neighborhood looking for roofing projects. Yet, this does happen. You’ll get a knock on your door, and the salesperson will tell you they were “meeting with a neighbor” and “noticing the damage” you need to take care of. This scam is especially popular after extreme weather events. You may worry that if your roof is damaged enough to be noticed by someone passing by, you must take care of it immediately. Don’t engage with unsolicited sales pitches. If you are worried about the state of your roof, make the calls yourself to get a contractor out for an inspection.
If a sale is too good to be true, it probably is. Many roofing contractors will inflate their prices to an absurd amount and then offer you a 50 percent discount – but only if you sign today. These tactics are intended to pressure you into acting quickly for fear of missing out without taking time to research. If you take the time to compare quotes from several reputable roofers, you’ll get a good idea of the actual cost – and they’re hoping you won’t do that. If a roofing contractor pressures you to “act now,” steer clear. If they’re a reputable contractor, their offer will stand up when you take the time to do your research.
Many roofing and home improvement contractors have a P.O. Box on their website. This isn’t necessarily a red flag. However, if the roofing contractor you’re considering has no local address listed, that’s an issue. A roofing contractor from outside your area has no reason to travel unless they are trying to escape a poor reputation or are a fake contractor targeting easy marks. If they don’t have a physical, local address, the contractor is likely not reputable.
Most reputable roofing contractors do not ask for full payment upfront. A deposit may be required, but full payment is generally not due until the project is complete. If you pay the full cost of your roof replacement in advance, there’s a risk that the work will not be done, or won’t meet the specifications you agreed to. Once that money is paid, recovering it can be extremely difficult, even if the contractor didn’t finish the job.
You and your contractor should always have a contract to protect both parties. The agreement will outline the exact scope of the project, including materials, process, disposal procedures, and payment schedule. If there’s no contract, that’s a major red flag. Never let anyone convince you that a contract isn’t necessary.
Don’t let a storm chaser, scam artist, or shady contractor take advantage of you and steal your hard-earned money. When you’re ready for a new roof, make sure you do your research and find a contractor you can trust.
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