Roof scammers, also known as storm chasers, pay attention to weather forecasts to determine areas that will be hit hard by weather conditions that are likely to cause property damage. They then take advantage of homeowners by offering them quick fixes far below the prices offered by any other roofing contractor in Central Florida. However, these roof scammers only do the bare minimum required to do the job, or they don’t do the job at all before they disappear, leaving the homeowner with less money in his pocket and a roof that still needs repairs.
To help you avoid becoming the victim of a roof scammer, here are a few things you should do when approached by a roofing contractor in Central Florida.
Check for insurance
Be sure to ask any roofing contractor if he has insurance, and then ask for proof. Insurance protects your home in the case of damage, and it also protects you from any liability should someone be injured on your property. A legitimate roofing contractor will always be insured. If the roofing contractor has no insurance information to provide, that is a major red flag that they’re trying to scam you.
Ask to see their license
Any legitimate roofing contractor in Florida should have a license as well. Just as with insurance, be sure you ask to see the license up front before you agree to let the contractor do the job. If the contractor doesn’t have a paper copy, you can check with your local government office to see if he is licensed.
Never pay cash or pay up front
A legitimate contractor will never ask you to pay up front, especially not in cash. If the person approaching you to do your roof insists on being paid a high percentage of the total cost for the job up front, you can be pretty confident that person is attempting to scam you. Their method is to take the money you pay up front and then leave without doing the job or, at best, doing the bare minimum.
Ask for a detailed contract
A contractor who isn’t trying to scam you will be more than happy to provide a contract for the job because it protects him and you. If your contractor is avoiding discussing the details of the job or isn’t willing to sign a contract, it’s best to not proceed and start looking for a different roofing contractor in Central Florida.
Ask for references
If the person offering to repair your roof isn’t a storm chaser, than they should be local and have done jobs in the area before. Ask for reference information and then go check out the job sites yourself. A scammer will avoid providing references at all, or will provide fake references.
If you find yourself in need of roofing repairs after a storm, don’t allow yourself to be taken in by someone who offers to do the job quickly for a low price. By following the tips above, you can avoid becoming another victim of storm chasers. Contact the reliable team at Winter Springs Roofing & Repairs instead.