SCAM 1 - MAJOR STORMS & CHEAP MATERIALS

You’ll notice more roofers flocking your neighborhood after a major storm hits. Some of these roofers have the purest of intentions, only wanting to help protect you and your home, while others see you as a vulnerable homeowner, scheming for a way to scam you out of your money. Also known in the industry as “storm chasers” or “roofing gypsies,” these scammers travel around based on storm paths and go door to door preying on homeowners’ fears - using scare tactics to sell new roofs/repairs.

Oftentimes, they guarantee the cheapest price for the quickest turnaround, however, once you hand over your money, they’re immediately on the path to the next storm. In the small chance they do replace your roof, it’s done the cheapest way, leaving you with a faulty roof that needs to be replaced again in as little as a month. At first, these repairs may appear to have solved the issue cosmetically, but in reality, the underlying internal damage is still present and needs to be fixed in order to protect you and your family.

SCAM 2 - TODAY-ONLY DEAL, JUST FOR YOU.

It’s hard to know what price is fair when only speaking with one roofing company. That’s why reputable roofers allow you time to do your research and ask around for quotes. However, scammers will often offer you an extremely low price that’s far below any competitors in the area, exclaiming a “today-only deal.” They may offer you a discounted price only if you accept it right then and there. But once the work begins, the immoral roofer will find “unforeseen problems” and “inflated material costs” that cause the price to rise. Over the span of the job, so many surprise costs will pop up, that you end up paying even more than a trustworthy roofer would have originally charged.

SCAM 3 - MYSTERY DAMAGE

Always do your research on a contractor before allowing them on your roof. Unethical roofers will aggressively request to get on your roof quickly for an inspection. These cons may inflate your damage, claiming there is a big issue when there is none. They may even worsen existing damage or create new damage to get more money out of your pocket. Shady contractors have been caught showing customers pictures of ‘their’ damaged roof when in reality, it’s a picture from the internet! For these reasons, please take your time when making a decision on a roofing company, and especially, do not give permission to anyone being pushy about getting on your roof.

SCAM 4 - INSURANCE FRAUD

An unethical roofer may attempt to commit insurance fraud by making two separate invoices - one for your insurance company and one created to deceive you. This is their sneaky way of offering you extremely cheap or even free roof repairs and replacements. The contractor will provide your insurance company with a highly inflated bill so they can collect the money from your insurer. Some cons will even try to persuade you to have them pay your insurance deductible, which is a fraud and completely against the law. That means that both you and your roofer can be prosecuted since you willfully accepted a waived deductible.

SCAM 5 - MONEY UPFRONT

A major red flag is when a roofer asks for your full contract’s price upfront. If this happens, it’s crucial to do more research to ensure the company is credible. In most cases, an honest roofing company will allow you to make a deposit or even offer payment plans. You should never pay for a full job before it’s completed. This gives the con artist an opportunity to run off with your money before the job is even performed. Some of these scammers may try to fool you by using cheap materials and only doing a partial job. These scammers have no integrity in their work, so oftentimes they feel no obligation to stay and complete the work if you pay in full beforehand.

AVOID THESE SCAMS!

- Ask your family and friends for recommendations on who they’ve used in the past.
- Do in-depth research before calling a roofer or accepting an offer from one that comes knocking on your door. Visit their website and read their reviews.
- Make sure there is a contract involved and read it over multiple times before signing.
- Keep your options open and get multiple estimates.

YOU CAN PUT YOUR TRUST IN US.

At Roofing for Hope, we put people first, always making sure you and your family are covered. Because unethical roofing is so common in our industry, we understand the hesitancy of some customers. That’s why we are committed to providing honest and credible service, every time.

We’ve been repairing properties and protecting families since 2015 and strongly believe in the integrity of our team and the quality of our work. If you are in need of any property repairs or renovations, please reach out to us. We’ll use the highest quality materials and guarantee the best price to keep you and your family safe.