Roof repair scams are on the increase nationwide. This year (2010) in Missouri alone, the attorney general’s office has reviewed 90 complaints about a single roofing company who has taken Missourian’s for thousands of dollars. Fraudulent companies have perfected scams to take your hard-earned money and leave you with nothing to show for it but a bogus invoice and a phone number to a voice mail box they will never check.

It’s a sad reality today but as a home owner you need to be prepared to take pro-active steps before you hire anyone claiming to be a legitimate roofing contractor. Don’t be fooled into putting down a deposit or worse yet paying up front for services and materials that you may never see. Don’t be fooled by a professional presentation either. The single roofing company being investigated in Missouri has a very professional pitch, will present you with a stack of official looking paperwork and will leave you and your wallet without anything to show for your trusting them and giving them a down payment. It’s true that some legitimate companies require down payments for large jobs; however, too often it can mean there is a potential for loss with the work never getting done.

Granted, it can be a bit more challenging when you find yourself facing an emergency roofing repair job; however, there are still a few things you need to check before you sign your check, taking the time to follow these simple rules can and will save you heart-ache and humiliation.

For instance, your antenna should start to twitch if you find that you didn’t have to go looking for the roofing contractor, they just happened to come to you. Often victimized home owners are sought out instead of them doing the looking for a roofing repair company. The tricky part of this approach is that you haven’t had the opportunity to ‘check them out’ before they’ve checked you out. So beware of contractors who are in the area offering their services. Now, not all of them offering their services are crooked; I had a great experience with a roofing contractor who knocked on my door, but you can bet I checked them out real close before I even scheduled an appointment with them.

Besides asking for money up front to perform your roof repairs and then never showing up to start the work, there are lots of other scams out there. Here’s a common set of tactics you should watch out for that involves your insurance company, this looks really legitimate until the very end:

1. A representative from the crooked company will ask you to sign a release prior to inspecting the roof. They’ll tell you this is normal. Signing this form allows the crooked roofing contractor to “act as an agent for the homeowner regarding the roof”
2. After the roof has been inspected they’ll tell you that your home owners insurance will cover the costs of repairing the roof. You’ll be so happy! And that’s what they want you to be at this point.
3. Now the ‘magic’ of the scam starts to kick in. The scamming roofing company will give you some instructions. They’ll tell you to ask your insurance company to have an adjuster come out and estimate the cost of the repairs
4. The insurance company will do their job; and everything looks legitimate. They will probably even send you a check for the repair work to get performed.
5. Now all the scamming company has to do is get you to sign the check over to them and they promise to put you on the schedule for repairs.
6. They never show up…

So how do you avoid becoming a victim of a roofing repair scam, no matter how it’s spun? Well the simple answer is hire a legitimate, experience roofing contractor who can give you a written estimate, professional advice and worry-free installation. How do you accomplish that? By being armed with a simple checklist and checking off each point you’re on your way to a safe, professional roof repair. Here’s a list that contains the minimum list of items you should watch for:

1. Does the roofing contractor have a good reputation? Bes sure to always ask for references and check them out!
2. Never sign documents on the spot! Make sure you understand every word and condition in the contract. If you’re unsure about something have a family friend explain it to you, or consult an attorney before you sign.
3. Does the roofing contractor have adequate insurance coverage?
4. Does the roofing contractor know, explain and comply with local building codes?
5. Does the roofing contractor commit to supervise the job during all phases of work and inspect it completely when finished?
6. Never pay in full or sign a certificate of completion for a roof repair before the work is completed.
7. It is a common practice for contractors to ask for a portion of the total repair up front to cover costs. Still, If you are asked to pay for more than 1/3 of the total cost before they start work, that’s probably a warning sign.

If your contractor doesn’t past this test, stop and reconsider if you really want to hire them and take the chance of being taken! Don’t become a victim! Take the time to complete this check list and you’ll be one step closer to a great roof repair!

As most people know and realize, there are many companies that focus on and specialize in the business of building and building. A roofing company is specifically meant for building and fixing roofs in any place and city. There are many roof types that some companies may specialize in, such as metal roofs, replacement roofs. One of the other types of roofs that are not well or often spoken for are those which are build from materials that include granite or sand paper like material. There are commercial builders as well, where the contractors use their materials to build other properties. It is safe to say that these companies use their materials interchangeably, which is why they are so popular when it comes to their roofing services.

Seeking a Good Roofing Company

Roofing contractors are one of the most called for people in most cities when it comes to any roofing services and needs. Contractors can be searched for at any local roofing company. Besides roofs, most companies focus on building, contracting, and also bidding. Each roofing service may vary but they all have the same goal—to keep a person happy and each building or home safe from wear and tear. One of the most popular areas of their work is residential roofing for which many companies often get a call. This is where houses in residential areas get their roofs inspected and replaced, if necessary. Most of these jobs take time. But before hiring any company, it is important for a person to seek some sort of a guarantee so as to keep away from any possible roofing scams, because with every service, there are many.

One of the most important things to look for is the roofer professional seal which includes the company name, logo and the minimal quotes which a company can give to their customers to make them feel insured. Most of the fraudulent companies that are out there cannot provide such pieces of information, which is how a person can spot them and learn to stay away. Some of the best roofing companies are given out by references that one person gives to another, thus makes a trustworthy company even more popular.

Becoming a Contractor

It takes time for a person to make money out of this profession seeing as much they would have to not only learn, but know how to do, including knowing what inspection codes to look for. Putting up a roof in a house is completely different from putting up something in a building. It takes more time and more knowledge because there is more information to put together and more materials to have. This is one of the main jobs of any contractor, to know and keep all of these rules and regulations in mind.

Running a Roofing Company

A roofing company is one of the few businesses that thrive even in hard times because people need to keep their house from falling apart and also looking their best at all times. But in the initial stages, most of the roofing companies that start their business have a hard time getting noticed. But they should always remember that there are so many places out there that need a reliable company. This is the main reason why this is a good business.