As Hurricane Irma heads toward Florida, current predictions show the storm moving north, arriving in Metro Atlanta Monday night.
While we won’t be receiving anywhere near the monster that will be hitting South Florida, by the time is arrives here in Metro Atlanta it will barely be out of the Category 1 stage.
That means lots of heavy rain and wind. Storms like this affect so many home and building owners, local roof and other types of contractors get overwhelmed. Pushing inspections and repairs weeks away.
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 after really large storms like hurricanes that result in disaster, some out-of-state contractors may be there for the right reasons. It’s easy for the scammers to blend in with out-of-town good Samaritans, and they do.
Outside of emergency disaster areas, out-of-state contractors usually mean trouble, do your homework on whomever you hire but doubly so if they are from out-of -state.
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.