Be Wary of “Storm Chaser” Fraud

Posted on September 21st, 2017 by Applied Roofing Services

After a storm or natural disaster, many people come outside to see damage to the roofs of their homes. This is often followed by several individuals knocking on your door offering to fix your roof. While it can seem like a convenient option, there are many reasons not to trust these "storm chasers" with one of the most important structures on your home.

What is a "storm chaser"?

Storm chasers are unlicensed individuals who take advantage of people after a storm has damaged many local families’ homes. They will drive through neighborhoods and knock on doors where they see that the home has been damaged. Some will leave flyers with a phone number and either no name or a fake company name. There will rarely, if ever, be any information about licensing, insurance or an address for the company.

It is easy to be taken in by these fly-by-night operations. They often show up before the homeowner has a chance to get estimates from legitimate companies in the area. Additionally, they will often promise rates that are far less expensive than what professional roofers may charge.

The problem is, a homeowner who chooses one of these companies has few protections. If your contractors do substandard work, there is no licensing board that can take them to task. If they damage your home, there is no insurance fund that can ensure that you are compensated for your losses.

Worst of all, if they leave without completing the job, you have nowhere to turn to recover your lost money. These individuals will often ask for at least half of their money up front. When they leave town, sometimes without ever showing up for one day of the job, you are out the cash and still have a storm damaged roof.

Finding a Qualified Roofer

To ensure that your home is repaired quickly and correctly, it is important to choose a professional and qualified company for the job. A few ways to make sure that your roofing company is legit:

Never do business with someone who comes to you. Legitimate roofing companies do not need to canvas neighborhoods looking for customers.
Ask for a physical address. If someone one wants to work on your roof, you need to know where to find them if there is a problem.
Ask about licensing and insurance. Many states license roofers and require that they carry insurance. Your roofing company should be able to tell you about local requirements and how they have fulfilled them. If you’re selling in the future, the last thing you’ll want is for an unpermitted repair to be discovered in an inspection that hinders the sale.
Ask for references. The roof of your home is one of its most important features. Make sure that the person who you work with has a track record full of satisfied customers.

Protecting Your Home and Your Future

Roofing repair may be an investment, but it’s one of those areas where acting soon is a good idea — the cost of damages due to a damaged roof can really add up. A qualified professional roofer can do the job right to ensure that pests and the elements cannot get inside. By taking a cautious route, you can ensure that all problems are addressed and that your home is protected from further damage.

Author info:

Greg Geilman REALTOR®
President and CEO, South Bay Residential

Greg Geilman is a Los Angeles native of over 40 years and owner of South Bay Residential.

About Applied Roofing Services

Applied Roofing Services is a full service roofing company located in CA. We offer durable and high quality residential and commercial flat roofing. We provide roof installation as well as roof repair services, roof maintenance and inspection services. We specialize in low slope roofs, energy efficient, zero maintenance, and green roofing. We have 20+ years of experience in the roofing industry.

Why Should You Go for Licensed Roofing Contractors

Posted on May 9th, 2017 by Applied Roofing Services

Whether you are home or business owner, roof maintenance is usually a concern for everyone. A roof is extremely important to keep your family, employees, and property as safe as possible. There are certain factors that influence the roof maintenance process and cost involved in it. Type of roofing material you choose for roofing purpose is one of those important factors. Apart from this, hiring a licensed roofing contractor plays a major role in roof installation and roof repairs.

A roofing project is an important and very difficult task to be done by ourselves. This is why hiring a professional for these tasks is advisable. If you are not sure of what licensed roofing contractors actually do, here are some benefits that you can gain by hiring a certified roofing contractor.

Professional Supervision
Hiring a licensed roofing contractor is very beneficial when it comes to supervising the other workers on the site. Whether it’s a roof repair or a new roof installation it’s really important to have an expert supervising the whole process. They can help correct mistakes and even prevent them from happening again.

Quality Equipment
Proper equipment is a must have requirement for any sort of work. This is what ensures the quality of that work. Certified roofing contractors have the right tools for their job regardless of the nature of repair. These roofers are always prepared to fix your roof whatever the season may be. They even have proper equipment to clear off the remains that are taken off your roof.

Professionalism
The benefit of working with licensed roofing contractors is their experience. An experienced contractor knows all the pros and cons of their trade as they’ve been trained for this specific purpose. These professionals will give you the best advice as to what’s going to be best for your roof. Hiring a certified roofer to complete you project will ensure you have a properly installed waterproof roof that looks great as well.

Warranty
Completed roofing projects by licensed roofing contractors have written warranties of guarantee on them. Usually certified roofers offer a variety of materials to be used in the project and each one has its individual warranty options. Free roof repair is also guaranteed by many certified roofing contractors for a set number of years against roof failure.

Increased Property Value
A new roof installation on property that’s going to be sold or rented in near future will increase its demand and the property value. If you’ve kept the legal documentation of your recent roof installation by licensed roofing contractors, it’ll make your property much more appealing for potential buyers.

Efficiency
Hiring a professional roofing expert makes the whole roofing project much more efficient. As these certified contractors are skilled with proper technique and equipment, they won’t take much time to complete the project compared to any other amateur contractors.

The roof of your property is an essential investment that provides much more value over time. Therefore if you’re having a new roof installation or simply lost as to what’s wrong with your current roof, make sure you are working with a licensed roofing contractor.