Avoid Shady Roofers After a Storm (3 Warning Signs)

Want to avoid shady roofers? Here’s how.

If you live in Metro Omaha area, you know last night we got some pretty severe weather. There were heavy rains, strong winds, and some areas even got hit with hail. Where there’s a storm, there are roofing companies nearby.

Several homeowners are now on the hunt for roofing contractors to come inspect their property for damage. There are a slew of reputable roofers in Omaha, however, there are also some shady roofers you should avoid.

Here are some warning signs to look out for:

1. High-Pressure, Aggressive Sales

When you think about a high-pressure, aggressive roofing salesman you may stereotype someone who appears shady. It’s not as easy to spot as appearances now, though. (Although sometimes they are) Someone can appear polished up, however, their tactics are what will set them apart.

If they give you “special pricing” within a certain window or offer an on-the-spot deal if you agree, these are signs of aggressive sales tactics. Their goal is to get you to commit by signing a contract even if you aren’t 100% comfortable with the deal. No one should ever picking a roofing contractor if they don’t feel entirely sure of their decision.

The general rule of life is that if you have a bad gut feeling about something, you’re probably right.

2. No Verifiable Local Presence

We wrote an article called “Hiring a Roofing Contractor Checklist (8 Things to Ask)” where we specifically advise homeowners to check external resources. There will be several fly-by-night roofing contractors that will flock to areas of a storm to do a quick, cheap job and then skip town. Don’t be caught in the crossfire of these shady practices.

Mutual Roofing recommends that you start by doing your own research. This includes checking with the internet, online reviews, and overall internet activity that will prove the roofing company is legit. Don’t sign any contracts or even allow them to inspect your roof without first feeling comfortable of who you’ve invited to your home.

3. Are they Insured and Bonded?

This is another red flag with several “storm chasers”. They rarely come insured and bonded which poses a huge liability to the homeowner. We expand more on this idea in this blog post, but ultimately encourage homeowners to ask for proof.

The roofing contractor should be able to furnish proof at some point before beginning work. If not, we would advise you to not move forward.

Summary

We want nothing more than for homeowners to work with reputable roofing companies and avoid shady roofers. Arm yourself with knowledge because there will be several roofers coming to your door in the coming days.

If you would like a FREE inspection with Mutual Roofing, please call us at (402) 889-3381 or fill out our contact form.

(Photo Credit by Katie F. of Elkhorn, NE)