Blog / 7 Ways to Avoid the Infamous “Roofing Rip Off”

Much is continually written and talked about the many horror stories homeowners tell every year how they were taken advantage of by the unscrupulous roofing Contractor or unlicensed Contractor. No one is more concerned by the unnecessary frequency of this scenario than The Arizona Roofing Contractors Association. After all, these unscrupulous, uncaring, and often unlicensed businessmen are our direct competition, and much of our legitimately profitable business is lost to this type of person. Our reputation is sullied by their dastardly deeds..

There are ways that you as a homeowner can protect yourself; and face it, sometimes the-only one looking out for you is...YOU! If you heed the following suggestions, you will be less likely to be one of the victims of these unscrupulous individuals.

1. Deal Only with a Licensed Contractor
If a Contractor's business card, proposal, or letterhead does not display his or her license number, call and ask. If legitimate, they will gladly give it to you. C-42 (residential), and L-42 (commercial) are appropriate license classifications in the State of Arizona. Dealing with license exempt "handymen" can pose serious risks for the homeowner.

2. Verify the License
Call the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. (602-542-1525) Ask if the license is current, valid, property classified; and free of large numbers of unresolved complaints. (A few complaints should not necessarily disqualify your choice, since many complaints are resolved to the homeowner's satisfaction in a short period of time. Some complaints are even unfounded.)

3. Require Insurance
Protect yourself by requiring certificates (or evidence) of insurance from the Contractor before allowing him to begin any work on your property. Such certificates should be for both Liability and Workers Compensation. Unfortunately, accidents, damage, and injuries do occur. If your Contractor is property insured, you will be less likely to be the unwitting target of third party claims, or lawsuits, or to be liable for damages you did not cause.

PLEASE NOTE! Merely having evidence of the Contractor's insurance does not necessarily mean that you are insured. It simply gives you documentation that the Contractor is properly assuming his own risk.

4. Know Who You Are Dealing With
Doing business with a Contractor who has a good reputation for doing the job right, in an ethical manner, at a reasonable cost is the ideal situation for the homeowner. But how do you know this? The Registrar of Contrators and The Better Business Bureau are good sources of general information, but nothing takes the place of knowing the facts about a Contractor's reputation. Name recongnition and high visibility do not necessarily equate to good business, any more than does contracting with a complete unknown. The best method of obtaining this knowledge is by word of mouth or referral. Talking to persons who have used the services of the Contractor you are considering may prove invaluable. Any successful and reputable Contractor can and will give you these sources. Ask for references and use them!

5. Understand What You Are Getting
Before agreeing to any work, require a written proposal, describing in plain language the procedures that will be performed and the materials that will be used. A total price should be as inclusive as possible; with any unforseeable work or unit prices clearly addressed. If you don't understand what you are reading, a competent roofing professional will be able to paitently and clearly describe to you what they propose to do. Maintain any paperwork when the job is done as documentation for future reference.

6. Familiarize Yourself With Terms
Many Contractor's proposal or contract forms contain specific terms and conditions. As with any contract, such terms have advantages and obligations for both parties, and should be read carefully. However; be wary of any forms that are extremely lengthy or are vaguely worded. A roofing contract should easily be contained on one page (front and back) with terms easily understood by the average adult. Payment terms may vary, but most will require payment in full upon completion of all work. Do not pay for the work until you are sure the Contractor is through with his job. Reasonable down payments prior to start are not uncommon and may be expected.

7. Don't Let Price or Warranty Be Your Only Guide
Many homeowners have subscribed to the idea that if you obtain three bids, and they all appear to be roughly the same, the low bidder is the best choice. This is simply not always true, especially if there is a large disparity between the prices. Be extremely cautious of prices which are anomalously lower than the others. It can mean that a mistake has been made, or the Contractor is planning on taking short cuts to complete the job. In either event the homeowner will usually be the ultimate loser.

Similarly, be wary of Contractors who offer their own unusually long warranties. While it is reasonable to expect two to five years on a roofing warranty, some Contractors will offer as much as ten to twenty years as an enticement to buy. Many owners have bought into this idea only to find that the Contractor goes out of business long before the warranty expires. On the other hand, it is common for a Contractor to offer extended Manufacturer's warranties (say fifteen, twenty or twenty five years on shingles). However Manufacturer's warranties are often limited, prorated or otherwise restricted so as not to be "full value", and should be read carefully before accepting them as part of the contract.

This article provided by the Arizona Roofing Contractor's Association.