The Crazy Uncle: How to Avoid a Roofing Scam

27 Aug The Crazy Uncle: How to Avoid a Roofing Scam

Roofing scams are far more common than realized.

Every family has a crazy uncle. He usually drives an ’85 El Camino and spends most of Thanksgiving dinner trying to sell the one rich guy in the family on his latest pyramid scheme. The roofing industry is no different, except our crazy uncle is usually two men supplied with a bucket of tar and a rusty ladder rack.

The Roofing Scam Defined:

“Traveling Roofers” and their shoddy workmanship are an unfortunately common problem in the roofing industry and, because many legitimate roofing companies and roofing contractors do go door-to-door during storm season, it can be difficult for homeowners to recognize the difference between a quality roofer and someone just out to make a quick buck. Have no fear, though! To keep you and your home safe, we’ve put together a list of red flags that could indicate the man on your front porch is not someone you should trust with your home.

AVOIDING ROOF REPAIR SCAMS:

1. No verifiable address – Seems like a no-brainer, right? If their business address matches that of a vacant lot or of a motocross track two states away, or if your “roofer” has zero online presence, do not sign on the dotted line. These roofers generally come with vague, extremely limited, or nonexistent warranties and, once the roof is on, you won’t be able to find them again, should something go wrong. A good rule of thumb is, if you can’t Google them, don’t trust them.
2. Asking for money before the job is done –Financial instability is a huge red flag. Any roofing company worth its salt should not only have the capital   necessary to pay for the materials but also, potentially, eat the cost. If one fiscal misstep will break their bank, they won’t have the money to fix any unforeseen issues not covered by insurance. Additionally, they either haven’t    been roofing very long or they haven’t been roofing consistently, neither of which is a good thing.
3. Charging more than the deductible – Homeowner’s insurance exists to provide coverage for unexpected repairs. The better the condition of your home, the smaller the chance they’ll have to pay for more repairs in the near future. This is true of roofing, especially. Cheap roofing correlates directly to storm and wind susceptibility. If your insurance is willing to approve your claim, the check they write you will be a fair price for the purchase of a new, quality roof. Otherwise, they’ll wind up having to shell out another few thousand dollars just 5-10 years down the road, instead of 30.
4. Outlandish claims – IE: “We’ll do it for half of what the other guys are charging!” “You can make a ton of money off your insurance!” We cannot say this sternly enough: RUN. Like we said, your insurance will pay a fair price for a new, quality roof. It may seem like a great deal at the time, but the only roof that can be put on for half of what your insurance will pay is one that is held together by staples, literally. We’ll say it again, “RUN”.
5. Roofing Espionage – You think we’re joking. Unfortunately, primary targets for “Traveling Roofers”, and even unseemly local roofers, are homeowners with an existing agreement with another roofing company. Due to shared suppliers, it’s fairly easy for one roofing company to find out where other roofers are working. While it’s completely normal for multiple roofers to work in the same neighborhood, it’s an unspoken rule that we do not take secured jobs from one other. To do so would be dishonest. If a roofing    company is willing to cross that line with other roofers, chances are they’ll be more than willing to do the same with you.

At Reeves, we’re licensed, bonded, and insured. We never cut corners and our warranties are unlimited; we’ll never ask for more than your deductible and we’ll never ask for any money until the job is done. We’ve been roofing for 40 + years and we stand behind our work, so much so that we put our family name on it. If you ever have any questions, give us a call at (864)574-1290 or stop by our office on Highway 29, where a member of the Reeves family is always working.

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REEVES CONSTRUCTION, INC.
GENERAL CONTRACTOR

REEVES ROOF & GUTTERS

Avoid Roofing Scams 

Serving Georgia, the Carolinas and Eastern Tennessee

Toll Free: 866-592-3632

Serving to meet the needs of these great cities:

Greenville – Spartanburg

South Carolina: Greenville, Spartanburg, Union, Easley, Greer, Murrells Inlet, Charleston, Myrtle Beach

North Carolina: Charlotte, Waxhaw, Greenville, Rockville

Georgia: Atlanta Metro Area, Stockbridge, College Park, Columbus, Jonesboro, Macon

Eastern Tennessee: Nashville, Knoxville

Note: Hail Damage To Roof Scams

Recent storm activity has created a true challenge with many significantly increasing roofing materials and roofing costs far beyond what is fair and reasonable. We are happy to provide a free quote upon request. Simply call or email us today.