Avoiding Unethical Roofing Contractors

You know it’s time to replace the roof on your Norfolk or Virginia Beach area home, but you keep putting it off because you’re not sure how to choose a roofing contractor.

We’ve all heard the stories:

• Contractor takes a down payment and doesn’t finish the work.

• The work is completed so shoddily that it needs to be redone within a year.

• The roofing company lied about their licensing and/or insurance.

And the list goes on.

A new roof is a significant investment, so it’s important to learn how to avoid losing your money to unethical contractors.

Here are a few tips:

Don’t Take Their Word for It

Fancy marketing and slick slogans should never be what sells you on a roofing company. Any business can say whatever they want, but it’s what they deliver that counts. Let them tell you all the reasons you can trust them, but let it go in one ear and out the other.

Instead, see what others have said about their work. Look at images of past projects. Read customer reviews. Check to see if they have outstanding complaints with the Better Business Bureau.

Give what others say about the roofing company a lot more weight than what they say about themselves.

Get It All In Writing

The salesman quotes you a great price for your roof. You pay a reasonable down payment, and work begins. When he’s done, you’re presented with an invoice far higher than what you were quoted.

How does this happen?

Some roofing companies quote for the roof, but they leave out any charges for deck boards or other unforeseen issues. If they end up having to make such repairs, it can add thousands of dollars to the final price.

Charging for extra work and materials isn’t necessarily the problem, but not disclosing the possibility of it is unfair—especially since the average homeowner will think the quote is all inclusive.

When you get your estimate, ask about any additional work that may be needed. For example, ask how much they will charge per deck board that needs to be replaced. Before you sign your contract, make sure any possible extra charges have been explained, and get everything in writing to avoid unpleasant surprises down the road.

Side note: Integrity Roofing never charges extra for deck boards. The price we quote is the price you’ll pay, ALWAYS.

Read—and Heed—Customer Reviews

Some homeowners go ahead and work with a roofing company in spite of bad reviews. Here’s the thing: the best indicator of future behavior is past behavior.

If there are just one or two complaints among many great reviews, it’s fine to ignore those. If you see a pattern of bad reviews, it’s best to find another contractor—even if the low price is almost too tempting to resist.

You might save some money upfront, but you’re gambling every dime you spend if you don’t choose a reputable roofing contractor.

So, what are some hints you found a good one?

• Locally Owned and Operated

• Manufacturer Designations

• No Outstanding BBB Complaints

• Positive Customer Reviews

• An Impressive Warranty is Included

• Upfront About Pricing

• Proper Licensing and Insurance

From the day Integrity Roofing did our first job, we knew we wanted to be a company that put homeowners’ minds at ease by providing completely transparent pricing and delivering our services with integrity always in mind.

It’s the Integrity way, and it shows in the glowing reviews of our past customers and in the excellent service we provide on every job from start to finish.

Take a look for yourself, and then contact us to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to learn how you can get an expertly installed, premium roof replacement for $1 down and as little as $86 a month.

Call 757.500.8568 today or click the Get Quote button below to get started!