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Three Common Roofing Scams

Worker making notes on how to avoid roofing scams on clipboard

 

Unsuspecting homeowners can fall victim to roofing scams. Roofing scams rob homeowners of their hard-earned money while compromising one of the most important structural elements of their home. Your roof is one of the key features that stand between the interior of your home and the volatile Florida weather. That’s why it’s so important to choose your roofing contractor carefully.

Roofing scams can happen anywhere. However, they’re particularly common in areas vulnerable to heavy rains, high winds, and hurricanes. Large cities with a dense population tend to experience more scams then rural areas. But you should always be wary when a stranger comes to your door promising to fix your roof. We’ve highlighted three of the most common roofing scams to help spot scammers before you’re tricked. Read more about them below.

 

Roofing Scam 1: The Storm Chaser

Perhaps the most publicized roofing scam, the “storm chaser” will arrive on your doorstep after a weather advisory has been made for your area. While many local companies go door-to-door in a neighborhood, the “storm chaser” will arrive at your home with out-of-state license plates on their vehicle or an out-of-state phone number. It is unlikely these individuals will have proper licensing or insurance coverage and will struggle to provide homeowner references.

A great way to protect yourself from falling victim is to do your research when approached by a contractor. A good place to start your research is by looking at company reviews online. Another key factor in determining the legitimacy of a contractor is ensuring they have the proper liability and workers compensation insurance and verifying they are licensed to perform the work in your state. You can verify a contractor’s license by visiting the DBPR website. A reputable contractor will never shy away from providing you with all the information you require to feel comfortable with choosing them.

 

Roofing Scam 2: Vanishing Deductible

An insurance policy is an outlined contract between the insurer and the homeowner to protect assets in the event of an unforeseen circumstance. The homeowner is held responsible for part of the damage costs (deductible) and the insurance company covers the rest. For example, on a policy that covers $10,000 worth of damage, the homeowner pays the deductible of $1,000 and the insurance company pays the remaining $9,000.

Be cautious of contractors offering to “waive” your deductible or give you a “free” roof. Although tempting, by doing this they are lying to the insurance company and submitting a false invoice for more than the cost of service in an effort to “waive” the deductible. This puts both you and the contractor at risk and should be avoided. Contractors attempting to cheat the system are also likely to perform low quality work.

 

Roofing Scam 3: Inadequate Repairs

Inadequate repair scams are more difficult to spot because the damage isn’t seen until long after the scammer is gone. In this scam, homeowners get a cheap quote from a roofer, who does the work. The homeowner is happy for a while before realizing they have a problem. For example, scammers may put new shingles on the roof, making it look great without addressing the underlying issues. You could pay for the service and never notice that anything’s amiss until a big storm hits.

 

One of the easiest ways to avoid getting scammed is by working with experienced, reputable roofing companies such as Carroll Bradford Roofing. We’ve been experts in the field for decades and we have the reputation and references to back that up. We also have all the necessary credentials and experience to handle any roofing issue you may have.

 

References:

 

https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/roofing/install-a-roof/

https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/common-roofer-scams/

https://www.angieslist.com/articles/roofing-scam-storm-chaser.htm

https://www.wmar2news.com/business/consumer/3-of-the-most-common-roofing-scams

http://blog.gaf.com/are-vanishing-deductibles-legal-in-the-construction-business/

 

 

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Carroll Bradford Roofing is a full-service roofing company proudly serving Florida. Unlike others, we are more than JUST a roofing company though. We provide end-to-end solutions that address our customers’ issues and requests along with the answers they need to get the job done well. As we continue to grow throughout the state of Florida, our quality will never be compromised, and our commitment to helping you get the job done right will always remain at the very top of our priority list.

Contact us today to see how we can assist with your commercial or residential roofing needs!

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