Beware of roofing scams!

Typically, a homeowner has to replace a roof only once or twice during their lifetime. Because replacing a roof is not a common occurrence, there’s very little experience to fall back on, which makes homeowners an easy target for less-than-honest contractors. Homeowners can protect themselves by learning the tactics scammers regularly use. Or, to be safe, they can go with an established, accredited, licensed and insured contractor with widespread recognition from organizations and manufacturers throughout the industry. NMC Exteriors & Remodeling fits that bill, right down to an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Call us at 763-260-8537 for quality craftsmanship and customer service you can trust. Here are four signs that may indicate you are getting scammed by a less-than-reputable roofing contractor: 1. The contractor asks for the money up front. One of the most common scams in the roofing industry is the deposit and dash. A contractor will show up and do a general inspection, then provide the homeowner with an overall inspection and request a down payment for supplies and labor. Once the contractor has received the payment, they disappear, never to be heard from again. You can protect yourself by not dealing with any company that requires an initial down payment before any work has been completed. 2. The contractor quotes one price, then things start happening. Contractors are known for delays, but this scam takes delay to a whole new level. The contractor will quote a price that is much lower than anyone in the area. Because the homeowner is looking for a good deal, they will hire the contractor immediately. Once the job has started and the homeowner has invested time and/or money into the job, problems will start occurring. Added unforeseen expenses start adding up. The contractor will claim additional damage not accounted for or increases in the cost of materials. By the end of the job, the roof costs significantly more than anticipated. Some contractors will go so far as to hold their roof hostage until payments have been made. Beware of roofing extortion and make sure the contract you sign with your contractor lists the process of calculating unforeseen costs. 3. The contractor shows up right after a storm. With the increase in damaging storms, this scamming tactic has become more and more popular. A group of dishonest roofers will pay attention to weather reports and follow severe weather systems. When a particularly bad storm occurs, they go door-to-door and offer their services by passing out information, offering inspections and cheap roof repair. While many of the roofers do actually repair the roof, they do a minimal subpar job. They will patch the roof but do not address any structural issues or look for any other leaks that may have occurred. This leaves the homeowner with many roofing problems down the road. And down the road is where the contractor will be … as his warranty is only good until the taillights of his truck is out of sight. When problems appear years later, the contractor is nowhere to be found. Be wary of contractors who pitch cheap roof repair directly after a storm. Always have your insurance agent inspect your roof first and ask them for recommendations of reputable contractors, such as NMC Exteriors & Remodeling. 4. You are given a free roof inspection without requesting one. A classic roofing scam is the door-to-door inspection pitch. Often seen in neighborhoods with older residents, a contractor will offer a free roof inspection. They will go up on the roof and cause damage, or show the homeowner pictures of a completely different roof that has sustained significant damage. The contractor then insists the homeowner hire them to fix this “broken” roof. The homeowners are quick to call the insurance company and ask them to cut a check to repair the damage. It is important that a homeowner never sign a contract until their insurance company has sent out a professional inspector to formally inspect the roof. You get what you pay for ... Before you have anyone repair your roof, do a thorough check of the company and its reputation. Always remember: When it comes to roofing, you get what you pay for. Quality roofing may cost more, but in the end, you get a roof that will last and give you less problems in the future.