It’s the calm after a storm that blew through your neighborhood, and you’re outside cleaning up the branches from your yard. Luckily, it appears as though your home escaped with no damage. You’re wrapping up the cleanup when you spot a person walking towards you with a clipboard. Cautiously, you approach them to find out what they’re peddling. Immediately, they dive into their pitch, telling you your roof has clear damage that must be repaired quickly. If you choose to sign on with their company right now, you’ll get a steep discount. Better hurry and do it quick! You pause, knowing you checked out the roof pretty thoroughly from the ground, but maybe you were wrong? Spoiler alert: you probably weren’t. 

Unfortunately, roofing scams are quite common. It’s easy to prey on folks who are already on high alert after a devastating storm rolls through. They make promises that sound (and are) too good to be true, and leave you with a sub-par roof and no money to take care of it with. Because they just pop-up out of nowhere, it’s very difficult to track them down to get your money back.

Yes, this sounds scary, but if you know what to look for you can help protect yourself from falling victim to them. Here’s what to look out for. 

1. MYSTERY DAMAGES

Odds are that your roof is okay after a storm. You didn’t notice any obvious signs, such as missing shingles, leaking or large branches on the roof, so you feel pretty good about things. Unfortunately, salesmen like these are pushy and manipulative, using jargon you don’t understand and pointing out things you must not be smart enough to see. Give them the boot then do some research on reputable roofing companies in your area. Quality, legitimate companies will have reviews, a website, a permanent address and a way to ask any questions you may have. 

2. THEY’RE NOT YOUR BUDDY

“Storm Chasers” are scammers that magically appear after major storms hit your area. They’re predators on the hunt for vulnerable people who don’t know any better. Their work is quick, cheap and shoddy, and they seem to disappear into the night after taking your money. They also have names you’ve never heard of or seen signs for in your area. 

Typically, they offer immediate work with big discounts. They’ll bill insurance for you, ensuring they’re paid, then they’ll do the work with bad materials and poor craftsmanship. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 

3. EXTREMELY LOW BILLING

These scammers will give you a very low estimate, then pop up with increases due to “unexpected problems”. Don’t even bother talking to someone offering low-low prices. 

Get In Touch With Us

Please, please, please contact professionals you can trust for your roofing projects. If you need us to come out and take a look to put your mind at ease, we’re here to help. Call ASF today to have all your questions answered!