Roofing fraud is one of the most common types of contractor fraud, especially because of how legitimate the fraud seems when it is first being introduced to you.
If your contractor claims that they are going to take care of everything, including your policy, a red flag should go up in your mind. Here’s what else you should look for:
A random roofer comes to your door, claiming to see serious issues with your roof.
Roofers who are going around after large storms, going door to door and telling you and your neighbors that you all need repairs. If a roofer comes to your door and tells you your roof has been damaged, check with your neighbors to see if they’ve gotten the same story.
A roofer who asks specifically about your homeowner’s policy and if it covers roof repairs, before you’ve even signed a contract.
The roofer performs their own inspection and tells you that you don’t need your insurance company to look at the damage before starting work.
The roofer tells you they’ll be in contact with your insurance company and that you don’t need to do anything.
How can you avoid this type of fraud? Look for the red flags listed above and, above all else, listen to your gut.
Roofers who commit this type of fraud will pocket the claim they make to your insurance company and won’t make any repairs to your roof.
Always get your Florida insurance company involved in these matters and never sign a contract on the spot until you’ve had a chance to process the offer and determine whether or not it’s legitimate. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t sign the contract. Better to reject a legitimate roofer than to get swindled!
