Roofers

Avoid dealing with roofers who knock on your door or leave you flyers. Local roofing companies don’t look for work door-to-door, but drive-by roofers often try to drum up business that way. They claim to offer value and convenience, but many homeowners are dissatisfied with the results.

Some shady roofers study weather reports closely and target neighborhoods that have recently experienced stormy weather, especially hail. They tell homeowners that their roofs were damaged by the storm and that they need a new roof.

The roofers claim that they can help get a new roof that will be paid for by your homeowner’s insurance policy, and they’ll contact the insurance company on your behalf. If you will just sign the roofer’s contract, they’ll do the job for whatever the insurance company is willing to pay.

Tips to Avoid a Scam

The roofer’s pitch makes it sound like you’re getting a great deal. But there’s no such thing as a free roof, and this deal has a lot of drawbacks:

• The roofers usually require homeowners to sign an exclusive contract, making it impossible for you to hire a different roofer who offers to do the job for a lower price.
• The roofers often fail to mention that some homeowners’ insurance policies include a deductible that you will have to pay out-of-pocket.
• Insurance company adjusters don’t act as building inspectors or engineers. Their approval of a roof replacement claim is no guarantee that you actually need a new roof.
• Homeowners who file large insurance claims, like a claim for a new roof, usually see the cost of their premiums increase. So that “free” roof may cost you plenty in the end.
• Unlike your local roofing company, drive-by roofers don’t have a reputation to protect. So their work is often shoddy and they may use substandard materials.
• If your roof develops a leak or another problem in the future, it will be difficult if not impossible to locate the roofers who did the work and ask them to fix it.
• Drive-by roofers often try to get you to pay up front. If you do, they may disappear without completing or even starting the job.

Remember, under North Carolina law in some instances you can cancel a contract within three days of signing it. However, if you cancel a drive-by roofer’s contract after three days you may be hit with large fees.

If you believe your roof may be damaged, contact established roofing companies for estimates. Check references, licenses, and warranties before you hire. When it comes to an important and expensive investment like a new roof, choose a business that you’ll be able to contact easily if you have problems in the future.

We Can Help

If you have a complaint about a roofer and aren’t able to get satisfaction from the company, contact us for help or call toll free within North Carolina at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.

For more about avoiding home construction and renovation scams watch The Money Pit, an excerpt from our consumer protection video Standing Up, Fighting Back.