How to Avoid Roofing Contractor Scams

It's a sad but true fact that construction scammers exist. This is particularly so in the area of roofing. No matter what part of the country a person is in, if they own a home, they're likely to run into a roofing scammer at one point or another.

Roofing contract scammers tend to target the elderly, but no one is immune. In Florida, for example, these bad guys go door-to-door offering their services before or during hurricane season - right when homeowners are particularly paranoid about the integrity of their roofs. The "roofing contractor" offers to do a free inspection, reports trouble (sometimes creating that trouble themselves) and then offers to repair or replace it for a certain amount. Once the homeowner pays the advance fee, the "contractor" is never seen or heard from again. It's a sad tale that's heard the country over.

Avoiding a roofing scam isn't difficult if homeowners arm themselves with facts and take steps to only deal with reputable companies. A good rule of thumb is to never let anyone do a "free inspection" on your home unless their credentials have been checked out. If you didn't solicit them, be very, very wary. Absolutely, do not let someone on your roof to "inspect it" if you didn't call them in the first place.

Here are other things to avoid when dealing with roofing contractors to ensure a legitimate company is hired:

• Only employ licensed contractors. Check out their licensing with state or county agencies before even allowing an inspection.
• Insist on a written contract before work is performed and request a detailed, written estimate as well.
• Do not, ever, pay in cash.
• Don't pay more than 10 percent of the job's total as a down payment or more than $1,000. Scammers take the money and run.
• Be extremely wary of contractors who go door-to-door.
• Don't deal with contractors who require cash only payments.
• Don't deal with contractors who require that customers allow the use of "left-over" materials. These can possibly be stolen.

There are literally thousands of reputable and conscientious roofing contractors in the country. Sadly, there are some who are scammers and even those who present themselves as roofers who wouldn't know a shingle from a piece of plywood. Protect yourself and your home from these people by proceeding with any major repair or replacement job with extreme caution. A good roofing contractor will expect to be checked out and will understand and respect the wariness.