Roofing Scams and How to Spot Them

As with most scam artists, roofing scammers will do all they can to get what they want without doing much work. The trick for any homeowner is to learn how to spot roofing scammers and avoid them before they have conned you. Roofing scammers tend to target the elderly, single women at home and homes that they believe can afford to hand over cash to have a 'problem' fixed on their roof. They will come prepared with a multitude of stories to tell you about how they are your dream come true, but don't be fooled - they're more than likely just out for themselves.

The Problem-Reaction-Solution Scam

One of the most common scams that roofers will use is the 'problem-reaction-solution' scam. They will often appear at your door unannounced and tell you that they were driving past and noticed that you had a problem with your roof. If you live in an area that is prone to seasonal weather, they'll be more likely to appear during the wet season as they know this is when most people are concerned about leaks in their roof. The scammer will offer you a free appraisal of your roof and will disappear to inspect it themselves. After a closer look at your roof, they'll tell you that there are some serious issues and will await your reaction to the problem. If you don't seem to be overly concerned, they'll extend the truth further and make the situation seem as dire as possible. When they finally get a reaction, they'll have an immediate solution to help you out.

The Great Discount Scam

When the scam roofer has your attention and sees that you're concerned with the condition of your roof, they'll offer you a one-off special deal to 'help you out'. The roofer will often state that they can do you a cheap deal if you sign there and then and if you pay cash. The cash of course is their way of avoiding tax and the money is likely to go straight into their own pockets. Some may even offer you a discount for cash there and then and needless to say when you hand over the money, they're likely to disappear without any work being carried out. Even in some better case scenarios, the work may get finished, but be of a poor standard and the materials may not be of a good quality.

Avoiding the Scam Roofers

It's very easy to avoid rogue roofers who are out to make money without carrying out any work. Firstly, don't let any roofer carry out a 'free inspection' on the spot without knowing they're reputable and their credentials have been checked out. Always ask to see a roofers company details and get their office details and landline number.

You should also ask if they have any details of previous customers so you can contact them to enquire about the standard of their work.

You should never do a deal with a roofer who can't provide you with a full contract that has clauses in it that allow you to withhold payment until the work has been checked and is considered satisfactory to your own standards.

Never believe a roofer who states he has left-over material from another job. More often than not this is just a scam to make you think you're getting a good deal and in some cases it may even be stolen. If you're dealing with a reputable roofer, he will expect you to ask security questions and to look for assurance from past work they've conducted. If you truly think you have some kind of an issue with your roof, be proactive and contact reliable roofers that you know are vetted by a trade association.