Being one of many homeowners caught up in the hail storm on Wednesday, I too have been bombarded by solicitations from companies wanting to do repairs on my home. In light of this I wanted to re-post an article from 9 news about being careful who you choose to do repairs and some steps to go through to choose the right company. Being a Realtor I have had the pleasure of weeding out a lot of bad companies. If you need me to refer you to someone creditable, let me know. jeremy@TheBestColoradoRealtor.com
Police warn about
scams in wake of hail
storm
written by: Jeffrey Wolf 1 day ago
COMMERCE CITY - In the aftermath of Wednesday's
widespread damage from high winds and hail,
roofing company representatives are already out
and about in the hardest hit areas. But authorities
want to make sure storm victims are not taken in by
scams.
Commerce City Police are cautioning people who
need repairs to make sure the repair companies they
are dealing with are legitimate.
"[For repair companies], now is a good time to visit
homeowners," said Cmdr. Ross Sibley with the
Commerce City Police Department. "Their emotions
are running high after the storm as they survey the
damage to their homes."
Police say before anyone signs a work or payment
authorization, homeowners or car owners should
ask for references and check with the Better Business
Bureau to make sure a company is reputable and
qualified to make the repairs.
Homeowners should also contact their insurance
carriers to coordinate repair work and payments,
Sibley said.
The Denver/Boulder-area Better Business Bureau
website is www.denver.bbb.org. To reach the
organization by phone, call 303-758-2100; the
automated system will give you an option to speak
with a representative, as well as other options.
The Colorado Roofing Association would like to
remind home and commercial building owners alike,
that there are several guidelines you should follow
to ensure that any necessary work will be done
right.
BE PATIENT: Take time to follow the necessary steps
and understand that quality contractors will be busy
shortly after a major storm. Find out what you need
and who you're working with! If your roof isn't
leaking, it can usually wait until the contractor you
feel most comfortable with can schedule your roof.
Insurance companies will usually extend time
requirements in disaster situations.
CALL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY: It is solely the
insurance adjuster's job to assess the damage. It is
the homeowner's responsibility to choose the
roofing contractor. Deductibles and insurance
quotes should remain between the homeowner and
the insurance company. A roofing contractor should
not get involved in paying a deductible for a
homeowner, nor should they need to see an
insurance quote in order to be able to do an INITIAL
estimate for you.
GET A PROFESSIONAL 2ND & 3RD OPINION: It is a
good idea to have more than one contractor look at
your roof and give you an estimate. Make sure that
you are comparing apples to apples in each bid and
that you understand the proposal.
A good estimate should be detailed, itemizing
materials to be used and labor to be completed. Ask
about a time-frame for the proposed work. While it
is difficult for contractors to pinpoint an exact start
date, they should at least be able to confirm a
schedule for the work once it has begun and/or
material has been delivered.
CHECK OUT THE CONTRACTORS: This is probably
the single most important thing you can do to make
sure you are a satisfied customer. A business
history in the area is a must! A rule of thumb is that
your contractor should have been in business in
your community for at least as long as the warranty
they offer. Call local references including friends and neighbors, as well as the BBB. Find out their
permanent business address and phone number.
Confirm that they are licensed as necessary so that
local building codes and requirements will be
followed, including project inspections.
THE AGREEMENT should clearly state materials to be
used and labor to be performed, along with terms of
payment and who is responsible for permits, etc. It
should spell out how long you have to accept the
prices quoted as well as if there are any penalties
should you choose to cancel the contract once it
has been signed. When you are ready to sign the
actual contract, be sure that EVERYTHING you have
agreed to is in writing.
PROOF OF INSURANCE including Workers'
Compensation and General Liability, should be verified before the contract is signed.
PAYMENT should not be made until you are satisfied
with the completed work. Ability to finance labor &
materials is a sign of financial stability of the
contractor. If material is delivered to your home and
then payment is requested, consider making a joint
check payable to both the contractor and material
supplier. You may ask for a full lien release as a
condition of final payment.
WARRANTY: This should be in writing and the
contractor should be able to provide you with a
sample for your review before signing a contract.
From start to finish, use good common sense when
selecting someone to work on your home. Low bids
can often mean someone is cutting corners to make
a profit. Price should not be the sole determining
factor when choosing a contractor. Determine your
needs, don't allow yourself to be pressured, make a
smart decision and you'll be pleased with your
investment.
You can find a licensed roofing contractor and
other information at www.coloradoroofing.org.
(KUSA-TV © 2010 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)
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