While not as bad as hurricanes or blizzards, Georgia get’s it’s fair share of strong storms that pop up and wreak havoc with our trees, homes and roads.
Even a quick storm can cause so much damage that contractors can get a behind servicing everyone. Depending on the storm this can be a couple of days to as long as 3 weeks or longer.
People want their problems fixed quickly and waiting for a repair can cause frustration and when roof contractors are behind, people get impatient.
This is the perfect time for scammers, storm-chasers and fly-by-night companies to swoop in and take advantage of the situation.
If you find yourself with storm damage and in need of emergency repairs, be aware of the situation and shop carefully.
Vigilance Pays! Check Your Potential Roof Contractor Out
If you find yourself considering someone who has approached you about your roof check their car tags.
While the larger storms bring in legitimate roof contractors from other states, some of these are there to help. others to get their money and run. It’s easy for the scammers to blend in with out-of-town good Samaritans, and they do.
Out-of-state contractors never really come around after smaller storms. Usually it’s the big disasters that bring help from other states. Outside of these times, out of state contractors should be viewed with a critical eye.
As most roofing scams involve non-locals, if you’re approached by a door to door roofer after a storm or other event, it’s best to do your homework on them before you sign anything to be sure you get what you pay for!
Get References & Reviews From Previous Customers
They should be able to produce hundreds of local, recent references that you can verify randomly or all of them.
Verify All Of Their Company Information
If they claim they are local, find out where their physical office is and verify it. Many will give addresses of known contractors and claim they represent them or they will fulfill the warranty when needed. If it is a known contractor, contact them and verify the information. If a physical location doesn’t exist or you are given a PO Box or other address, walk away.
Research Your Potential Contractor Thoroughly
Use the Internet. Google them. Check out their website. Does it look “thrown together”? Does it list their credentials with links to verify them? How is their BBB Rating? Are they BBB Members? What associations do they belong to? Are they Manufacturer-Certified? How long have they been in business, can you verify it? How are their reviews on Angies List, Kudzu, Google, other websites? Are they even listed?
They are slick. They are convincing. They can be charming and seemingly good people. However, bottom line is, you don’t know them, you don’t know their company and trusting something a critical as your roof to a total stranger is a bad idea with potentially costly consequences should the roof fail.
Don’t trust your roof to just anyone “Do Your Homework!” know who you are hiring and be sure that your investment is in the right hands.
If you are in the Metro Atlanta area, call Atlanta Roofing Specialists at 770-419-2222. We offer free estimates, emergency roof repair services 24 hours a day, and are Atlanta’s Trusted Roof Contractor since 1993.