by Megan Herrera
Located in the heart of “Hail Alley,” Colorado sees its fair share of storms but it only takes a small amount of damaging hail to get the attention of untrustworthy contractors. They tend to swarm impaired areas and attempt to take advantage of property owners in the aftermath of a storm.
The Better Business Bureau of Denver/Boulder closed more than 210 complaints against roofers in 2013, and reports that roofers were the most-asked about industry all year. Some of the most serious complaints alleged incomplete work after thousands of dollars were paid up front.
Follow these tips if your property suffered damage:
• Check with the BBB. Get three estimates before making a decision and don’t be pushed into signing a contract right away. Contact the BBB and use our free Request-A-Quote service to get bids from BBB Accredited Businesses at findacompany.org.
• Be wise when making deposits. DO NOT pay for the entire job or make a large down payment up front and do not sign your insurance check over to the roofer. Only make a direct, portioned down payment to a reputable, established company that has provided a clear work schedule to you in writing.
• Know your rights. According to the State of Colorado: a roofer cannot cash any payment until it has delivered materials to the home or has completed the majority of the work; roofers must provide the homeowner with a detailed written contract that includes specifics about the company’s contact information, insurance, scope of work, costs, etc. and—homeowners have the right to cancel their contract within three business days, (this includes Saturdays).
• Read carefully anything you sign. Anything you sign—no matter what you are told—can be considered a binding contract.
• Verify applicable permits with your city and county. Make sure the permit is posted before the work begins.
Megan Herrera, BBB’s Communications Director: mherrera@denver.bbb.org