Home Improvements

How to Find a Good Roofing Company and Avoid Scams

By: Joseph Akintaju on April 21, 2013 @ 9:15 pm

The roof is the most expensive part of the house. It’s also the most important part of the house to maintain. It protects the rest of the house from damage by rain, snow, sleet, sun and falling branches. For these reasons, it’s imperative that homeowners keep the roof maintained so it can perform its other primary function, which is protecting the home’s market value.

Homeowners need two crucial pieces of information to maintain the roof. They are:

  1. How to avoid scams.
  2. How to hire a top company.

How to Avoid Roofing Scams

The first order of business in maintaining a roof is avoiding scams. Usually after a storm moves through an area, the roof scammers journey out.

The scam artist will claim he sees water damage and will point to spots on the roof, which are likely nothing more than mildew that can be taken care of with a washing and treatment. The con-man may claim some shingles are loose and need to be replaced.

Con-Men Scare Homeowners

Then the scammer will launch into a long list of damage that the home will suffer if a repair isn’t made immediately. These scare tactics are designed to frighten a homeowner into taking action. Finally, the con-man will promise that the repairs will only cost a few hundred dollars.

Most homeowners are not knowledgeable about roof repairs and are susceptible to these tactics, which is especially true for elderly citizens.

Scams Can Cost Thousands

As the scammer goes about the business of repairs, he will find more damage that needs repair. This continues until the bill for the bogus repairs runs into the thousands of dollars.

The end result will be that no repairs were likely made, and the homeowner will get hit with a huge bill. These scam artists can be forceful and nasty when demanding payment and even threaten violence.

If these scammers knock on the door, the homeowner should refuse the service, and call the sheriff. Many are criminals with long arrest records.

How to Find a Good Roofing Company

The best way to find a reputable company is to query friends and neighbors. Ask them how the company performed and if the experience was satisfactory. Ask how long the job took. Determine if the company cleaned up after the job was finished.

Drive Around the Community

A drive around town to watch crews work is a good way to find a roofing company. Talk to the homeowner, and ask if he’s happy with the job.

Get Testimonials

Ask the company for the names of homeowners where they worked.

Here are a few more tips on finding a reputable company:

  • Is the company licensed?
  • Does the company take care of permits?
  • Demand a lien release after the job is done.
  • Everything must be in writing as a contract.
  • Check for certification from a national company.
  • Is the company insured?
  • Ask for a warranty on labor and materials.

By avoiding scam artists and performing diligent research before hiring a company, the homeowner can be assured of seeing a professional job on the roof.

This article is provided on behalf of Titans RoofWorks. If you need a roof repair or are just looking to get it inspected to make sure it will last the season click here to contact them today

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