When it comes to your home, your roof is arguably the single most important piece of your home’s exterior. Your roof provides a number of benefits for your home, including protecting your home from the elements and pests, providing an additional layer of insulation, and also improving your home’s curb appeal and resale value. With so much to gain from having a properly installed roof, it is essential to ensure that yours is kept in good repair! However, from time to time, bad contractors will try to take advantage of this, convincing you that your roof is in bad repair to make repairs when it is still in good shape! However, it can be difficult to identify whether someone is trying to scam you! If you’re interested in learning more about roofing scams, take a look at our blog to learn how to spot one so you don’t get taken advantage of!
Storm Chasers
One of the most common roofing scams that homeowners run into is storm chasers. These scammers wait until an area is hit by a high-impact storm, such as extreme winds or hail storms, and then roll through the town going door-to-door to sell their roofing services. These roofers will show up to your door insisting that your roof needs to be replaced immediately, as it was damaged in the stormy weather. However, the installation itself will be shoddy, as they roll through the town installing as many roofs as possible before leaving. Your roof will far sooner than a typical roof replacement, and you won’t have any way to contact the roofers once they leave.
Large Down Payments
Another tactic used by scammers is, whether it is a door-to-door cold pitch or you called them for an estimate, is to demand a large down-payment before work begins, perhaps under the rouse that the rates will go up if you don’t lock in on that particular day and appointment. This may not be a red flag to homeowners at first as most roofers will require a down-payment before they begin work. However, the down payment that these roofers request will be an unusually large percentage and they will insist that you pay it that day. After collecting this check you will never hear from them again. If your contractor is every demanding an unusually large downpayment, be sure to properly vet them before handing over the check!
The Door-to-Door Salesman
Finally, some contractors will attempt to go door-to-door, cold pitching roofs to homeowners who don’t need them. Oftentimes, these homeowners use the fear tactic to make a homeowner scared that their roof is on the verge of failing when the roof is actually in good repair. Furthermore, these contractors will often insist they get on your roof to take a look, where they will create damage on your roof just for the sake of repair. If a contractor shows up on your door asking to get on your roof, at the very least ensure that you get a name, address, way to contact, and copy of their insurance information to make sure they are who they say they are. However, anyone coming to your door trying to cold pitch you a new roof is most likely a scammer!
Contact Us Today
If you need to replace your home’s roof, our team is ready to assist! We can be reached over the phone at (401) 255-2003 or by filling out our online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your roof replacement needs!