How to Spot Red Flags in a Roofing Company
Choosing a roofing contractor can be a daunting task. With so many roofers in Omaha, it can be hard to determine which companies to use and which to avoid.
We’ve compiled a list warning signs you can use as you vet through any prospective roofers BEFORE you commit them to work on your home.
Here are the most common red flags when choosing a roofing company:
1. Paying Your Deductible– Be leery of any roofing company offering to pay your deductible as part of their sales pitch. Why might they? It could mean the company is trying to be creative in the gray areas (which speaks to integrity), they are committing fraud, or they are going to sacrifice quality by using cheaper materials to make the difference back. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
2. Detailed Negative Reviews– Before choosing anyone to perform a service on your home, we always recommend checking online at third party sources (Google, Yelp, Facebook, Nextdoor, etc.) to see what other people have said. Usually when someone experiences a highly negative experience, they are sure to elaborate on all the details. Evaluate any negative reviews and make judgement on the validity of such claims. (We realize that competitors may sometimes write negative reviews, but it’s the detailed ones that more believable.)
3. Differing Invoices-When you’re in any industry that deals with insurance, opportunities abound for fraud. This is especially true in the roofing industry. We encourage that you ask prospective roofing companies how they handle invoices at the end. If there is any indication that they would provide you a different invoice than what they provide your insurance company, that’s a first sign of potential fraud.
4. Excessive Out of Pocket Costs– In most roof replacements, the only out-of-pocket expense should be the deductible. The only instance in which more money might be required is when there are legitimate upgrades such as higher end shingles, upgrading skylight, etc. If you get a quote and the out-of-pocket costs are beyond the deductible then we recommend you asking why.
5. Failed Inspections– You can check with the City of Omaha for any prospective roofing contractors to see if they’ve ever failed an inspection. If so, we recommend asking why. Additionally, with the average roof being replaced in Nebraska every 10-20 years there is usually code changes that occur in that time. Good roofing companies not only pass inspections, they usually will bring your house up to code (if it isn’t already).