There are a lot of scammers targeting people whose roofs have been recently damaged by storms, especially in the case of hail damage. Since hail damage is highly destructive, you can expect a lot of less experienced roofers or scammers going from door to door offering their “skilled” services in exchange for a higher than average fee; after all, it’s an emergency service.
Unfortunately, these people are rarely able or willing to actually help you out, and they rely on the fact that most homeowners will be too distressed to actually look them up or ask them questions about their license. Among other things, that’s one of the best ways to avoid scammers:
- Ask for information about their license and past projects. Chances are they will already back down when you do that.
- Double check their claims by looking them up online and possibly even asking the online support service of a reputable roofing company.
- Ask them a few advanced questions about your roof that you have already researched online. If they can give you similar answers, you’ll know that they are quite knowledgeable.
- Inquire about any information regarding their insurance coverage and ask for a written estimate as well. Most scammers will not be comfortable with such requests.
- Simply avoid storm chasing roofers, and stick to a reliable local roofing company like https://www.roofonemichigan.com/ that you can easily track online, finding out everything you need through social media and the Better Business Bureau.
