How to Avoid a Fly-by-Night Roofer
Do you need to get your roof fixed? If so, you must make sure that you partner with the right team. There are a lot of people out there who are willing to help you fix your roof, but you need to find a qualified professional who can help you. For example, there is a chance that you may run into a fly-by-night roofer. This is a dangerous person (or group of people) who you do not want anywhere near your roof. You need to make sure the job is done properly, so how can you make sure that you avoid a fly-by-night roofer?
What Is a Fly-by-Night Roofer?
So what exactly is a fly-by-night roofer? These are people who typically go from door-to-door following a major storm. They will ask you whether your roof has been damaged, and they will provide you with a great price. However, there are several downsides that come with hiring this group of people.
In general, they don’t have insurance. That means that if they damage the roof, you will be out of luck. They also use low-quality materials, meaning that there is a high chance you will have issues in the future. They might even be scammers, meaning that they do not do any work at all. Because they are so untrustworthy, it is critical for you to stay away from them. How can you spot a fly-by-night roofer?
1. They Ask for a Large Down Payment
First, they will usually ask you for a large down payment. This means that they will have an overall low price, but they will ask for almost all of it up front. They are asking for all of the money before the work is even done, which is a bad sign. They might even offer to pay your insurance deductible for you, which is not a legitimate mode of doing business. Anyone who asks for all the money up front or offers to pay your insurance deductible for you is probably not someone you want to work with.
2. They Don’t Have Insurance
Another sign that someone is a fly-by-night roofer is that they do not have insurance. Even though you probably don’t think something is going to go wrong during the roofing project, it is always better to be safe than sorry. That is why all legitimate roofing companies will have licensing and insurance. If the people you are working with do not have insurance, that is a sign that they cannot safely do the job. If a mishap takes place, you could be left holding the bag. Therefore, you should only work with a professional roofing company that has insurance.
3. A Lack of Knowledge
Before you hire a roofing company, you need to ask questions. What materials are they going to use? How long is it going to take them to do the job? Are they familiar with the best practices in the industry? If the people you are talking to appear not to have a lot of knowledge related to roofing, this is a sign that you should be looking somewhere else. You should always make sure the people you are working with have the credentials necessary to do the job before they get started.
4. The Prices Sound Too Good to Be True
You have probably heard the saying that if something is too good to be true, it probably is. That is definitely true when it comes to roofing. If someone comes to your door and offers to do your roofing repair for you, you should get a quote ahead of time. If the quote sounds abnormally low, you need to be suspicious. Typically, if someone is offering a low price, it is because they are cutting a lot of corners along the way. That means that you might have an increased chance of dealing with problems in the future.
Call Total Roofing & Service for Help With Your Roofing Needs
In the end, these are just a few of the most important things you need to keep in mind when it comes to a fly-by-night roofer. It is always better to work with a professional in the local area who can make sure the job is done properly, and that is where we can help you. We are Total Roofing & Service, and it would be our pleasure to help you address issues related to your roof. We understand that you have questions and concerns, and we are here to answer them. We will provide you with a quote before we get started, and we will make sure you are satisfied with our work when we are done. Contact us today to speak to a member of our team!