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!