Protect Yourself From A Roofer Scam Artist

Don’t let a roofer scam artist take advantage of you. Find out how to stay informed and protect yourself from fraudulent contractors.

It’s so easy to get caught up with extensive renovations that it’s easy to miss the signs of a roofer scam artist.

Protect Your Money From The Roofer Scam Artist

When we bought our current home in 2009, we knew we would have to put a new roof on within a year or two as it was the original.

When we got the keys to our new home, the roof was already 15 years old, and the 20-year builder-grade shingles had seen better days.

The average cost to install a roof on a 1500-square-foot home in our area is between $6000-8000 dollars.

How long would it take you to earn and save thousands of dollars?

You wouldn’t want to see your hard-earned money disappear, but a roofer scam artist can take them to the cleaners for many unsuspecting homeowners.

If the roofer scam has scammed you, you’ll know how it feels to lose a big chunk of money or be left with significant repairs or damage by an unskilled roofer.

Not all home insurance policies will cover roofer scam artists, let alone their shady work.

Always read the fine print on your home insurance policy; if unsure, ask your insurance agent.

The last thing you want to happen is a roofer scam artist runs off with your money; your roof is incomplete, damaged, or not even started.

You’ll be out the money you gave the roofer scam artist, PLUS you still need to put a new roof on your house.

That low roofing quote you might have hoped for will now cost you double the money if not more.

I wish I had known what I know today, so I thought I’d share our roofing story, which could have quickly become a roofer scam.

First-Time Homeowners Beware

Neither Mrs. CBB nor I have ever dealt with roofing companies before, nor have we done our homework on protecting ourselves from a roofer scam artist.

I don’t think we gave too much thought to that because of the overwhelming price of the roof.

Moving into a new home means lots of money will come from your bank account to upgrade, repair, furnish, and stock your home.

The last thing any new homeowner wants is to splash out cash on a considerable maintenance expense, which is why home buyers want to know the age and state of the current roof.

Installing shingles seems to be the first home renovation we hear outdoors once the Spring weather kicks in until November.

Although the costs to install a new roof depend on the size of your roof, the shingles you choose, including a metal roof installation, and the roofer you hire.

Research And Interview Potential Roofers

After researching almost all the roofing companies in our local area, we managed to narrow our choices down to three roofing companies.

We asked the roofing companies to come by and give us a free estimate to understand their price point better.

This was needed to compare and decide who to hire for the job.

One roofer chatted with me outside the house and looked around the property.

Red Flag: He did NOT go on the roof.

This guy must have taken my request literally when I said, “Come by and give us a free estimate.”

The first thing you would expect a roofing company to do is go on the roof.

This guy didn’t even have a ladder with him.

Sorry, I have to laugh because all the signs of a roofer scam artist were in front of our eyes, although we didn’t know for sure.

We weren’t about to find out, so we left him alone.

This is why it’s essential to know the contractors you are dealing with and the background of their company before hiring them.

At that point, we didn’t care.

Communication From The Roofer

The second roofing company went on the roof, asked us questions, and spent quality time explaining everything.

The cost of his roof was the highest out of all the roof quotes we got.

Although his company was in business for many years, it sounded legitimate, looked legitimate, and had no complaints found online.

I guess he also offered us references that just weren’t enough for us.

Should it have been? YES.

For most people, it’s all about the price, not just for roofs but everything.

We’ve learned that you can win if you balance the high and low with excellent quality or artistry.

Home roof repairs before and after the fact can drain cash from your savings in no time, so it’s best to have it done right the first time.

Lowest Price Isn’t The Best

The third roofer was a young guy in his second year of owning his roofing business.

He was VERY convincing when talking to us about his team’s skills and knowledge; the price was the lowest, and he did it in two days minimum (weather permitting).

The roofing team consisted of three young guys around his age, I’d say, working for him.

He offered us the longest-lasting shingles, not the cheap ones, so he appealed to us immediately.

Hiring A Roofing Contractor

After much discussion with Mrs.CBB, we decided to give the young guys a shot and help them build their portfolios.

When starting a business, one of the hardest things to do is build trust and rapport with people and potential customers in your community.

Compare this to just graduating and trying to find someone to believe in you.

Did we feel sorry for him?

However, I know how hard it was to find work when I moved to Canada, so I wanted to pay that forward.

Protect Your Investment

Roofers are not government-licensed in Canada, so you must do your due diligence in protecting yourself by learning about them.

After we told him we would hire his company for our roof, he threw us into a loop and asked us for 50% of the upfront costs.

If I owned the roofing company, I would want to know that the buyer is serious about the job and to give me a 10% down payment as a security.

We knew in our minds that we shouldn’t, but we trusted him and got a money order from the bank for him.

There was no way we would hand him cash, but what did we do?

Nothing…we weren’t protecting ourselves enough.

Paper is cash, too, especially once a cheque is cashed.

Although the paper trail and name of the recipient would be evident unless a fake bank account was opened and he had the required I.D. for that account.

It’s easy these days to buy fake I.D.

Taking Risks Isn’t A Smart Investment

Thankfully, he came through with all the materials and, over two days, finished our roof.

They installed new skylights, which were better than what we had.

Our new roof came with a 10-year warranty, which was great, especially since anything could happen.

We also had a warranty with the shingle company in case something happened.

What more would you need? Besides talking to your home insurance company about roof coverage, that’s all we thought we would have to do.

How We Almost Became Victims Of A Roofer Scam Artist

To make a long story short,

We were asked to pay 50% upfront, which we did $5500, I believe was the estimate.
Our roof was finished on time with the correct materials.
Two of the vents were installed incorrectly, causing a leak in the winter that ruined our wall. Luckily, I had to repair that, but there was no damage in the roof space.
I paid the second roofer to come back and inspect and install proper vents for our house.
There were no issues with the two skylights.
One small section of the roof was installed upside down. It won’t affect the roof’s functionality, but a trained roofer can see it. Most homeowners wouldn’t even have noticed.
His company closed down the following year.
There goes our warranty, and there was no way we could register any roofing complaints with the Better Business Bureau because he was non-existent.

So much more could have gone wrong with purchasing our new roof, and I wanted to share our experience with all of you.

I also wanted to educate you about what I’ve learned so we can protect ourselves the next time our home needs a new roof installation.

Sometimes, a roofer scam artist will change the name of their company to cover their tracks. ‘

Once the company is nowhere to be found, it just moves on and scams more homeowners.

Even though you might know their name, it’s hard to prove anything once they are gone, especially without a paper trail.

How To Protect Your Money From A Roofer Scam Artist

Research price points for installing a new roof for your area and set a roof budget.
You don’t need to discuss your financial situation with your roofer, nor do they need to know what you do for a living. They feed off of this.
Call neighbors, friends, and family living in the area to see if they recommend a roofing company they’ve used.
Call around as many roofing companies as possible to chat and then pick about 5-7 to come around to give you a detailed quote, including itemized materials, prices including labor, and installation estimated time.
Get all quotes on company letterhead paper and file them accordingly in a safe space.
Prepare questions about roofing installation on paper as soon as possible and ask them. If they can’t answer the questions or their answers seem shady, question it or even red flag it.
Ensure that the roofer gets on the roof to look around and provide you with photos of any damage or repairs needed while they are up there. Cross off the list any roofer that fails to do this.
Pick the middle guy or the most expensive only if they have impressed you enough to do so. Sometimes, the lowest-priced company is the best, but it is not always. It’s all about winning clients; even a new roofer can offer excellent service. Many have been roofers for years, working for someone else and branching out to start their own company.
Check the roofing companies at the Better Business Bureau online to see if they have any infractions or red flags. You can also check complaints or charges for the roofing company on the Consumer Beware List.

Paying The Roofer

Always pay in full once the job is done, but you can provide some security to the contractor by giving a small down payment of 10%, which seems to be the norm. (we paid 50% a big NO) If the roofer can’t afford to buy the materials himself/herself, then walk away. If you’re instructed to pay via PayPal, be very careful. PayPal scams exist out of-country scam artists who catch homeowners off guard with payment demands. This is a terrible sign.
If you want to pay for cash for some reason, always get a detailed receipt of the work signed by the contractor so you are protected. I wouldn’t pay with money and opt for a paper trail or proof, even though you will have a receipt.
Watch what is going on when they are roofing. Some roofer scam artists will finish the job but use cheap materials when you’re not looking. They may cut corners to speed up the job and move to the next one.

Get References and Visit Completed Roofing Jobs

Before hiring a roofing company, always talk to references and see their clients’ roofs. Look for signs of a bad roofing job. If you get no references, walk away.
Make sure they provide you with information stating their company has insurance, including WSIB. The last thing you want is one of their employees hurting themselves on your property and then suing you.

Working At Heights Training Card

Ask about worker health and safety training, as this is now mandatory for all roofers in Canada as of April 2017.

Please do not hire a contractor who cannot confirm whether they have properly trained and equipped their workers.

Starting April 1, 2017, all roofing contractors must have a working at heights training card, which proves they’ve been trained to work safely at heights.

Currently, under Ontario law, roofing workers must be:

trained to work safely at heights
trained in workplace safety hazards
protected at all times when working more than three metres (10 feet) above ground

You can find the law under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Source: Hiring A Roofer/Ontario.ca

Take caution with the door-to-door roofing sales pitch- Busy roofers aren’t busy going door-to-door.
Create a written contract for the work. You can find some great tips on what should be in the contract at the Ontario.ca Hiring a Roofer page link above.
File a consumer complaint for whatever reason, if necessary.

Learn From Our Mistakes

Our roof is eight years old, and we’ve had no issues since the vent leaks.

We are fortunate that it worked out this way, however moving forward, we have a new outlook on hiring contractors.

If you are a new or existing homeowner who will have your roof replaced for the first time, don’t make the same mistakes we did.

There are roof scam artists all over Canada and you must protect the roof over your head.

Discussion Question: Have you been the victim of a roofer scam artist? What red flags did you miss?

Share your comments below.

Have a great weekend.

MR.CBB

A Week In My Life

Rain, Rain, and more rain, but I did manage to cut the lawn this week while our little guy was washing his cars on the driveway.

He just loves hanging out with his daddy, and I love spending time with him when I’m home.

I must confess that I’m glad this week is almost over.

I’ve spent weeks preparing for one of the most important interviews of my career.

In the next few weeks, I will likely find out if I can finally move on from where I am now into my dream job.

If it doesn’t work out, I keep trying because Mr.CBB never gives up!

Other than that, I had no time to do anything as usual as I’m away 7 days a week now.

Our holiday couldn’t come fast enough.

Speaking of which, I must research a few other destinations to stop at while in the UK.

We might as well make the most of it.

Have a great week!

Mr.CBB

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Welcome to the 2017 Making A Difference series! Join the networking movement of Personal Finance Bloggers around the world.

Hello, Mr. CBB and Readers,

Being healthy and well is more than just being physically fit and sound. It also involves achieving financial, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual well-being.

Learning to balance these areas of wellness is something I strive to show my readers at Life Zemplified.

I’m Amy Blacklock, a certified nutrition coach, health coach, and personal finance enthusiast. I write about simplifying finances, fitness, food, and fun to achieve greater levels of wellness.

If one area of your life is lacking, whether that be your fitness, nutrition, finances, or faith, it’s bound to throw off the others.

Understanding the interconnectedness between all areas and focusing on improving each is the key to total well-being.

Improvements may include moving your body more and eating real food.

Or cutting unnecessary expenses, earning more, volunteering in your community, or joining a social group.

Each week, I provide knowledge, recipes, and ideas and pose questions to help readers take steps toward these improvements.

It’s not about following the perfect diet, working X number of years, saving X% of your paycheck, or doing what everyone else does.

It’s about learning, experimenting, making mistakes, moving forward, and sometimes moving backward.

Find what clicks for you while attempting to be better every day.

Thanks, Mr. CBB, for making a difference, and thank you, readers, for your time today.

Be Well,

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Hi CBB Fans,

I live in a building in Metro Vancouver where it is illegal to throw appliances, electronics, etc. in the garbage.

My son went to down to the garbage room after supper last night and when he came back up, he mentioned there was a Bissel carpet cleaner in there.

I went down and grabbed it. I had to get him to take it apart and clean it, but after that?

It worked awesome AFTER spending a half hour researching how to get it to work.

Tada!!! Part of my carpet is clean!!! Tomorrow? I am cleaning more carpet!!!

I make my carpet shampoo, so all it costs me is pretty much labor!

Oh, the carpet cleaner is sitting in front of my $2 deep freeze (which, although old and not that pretty.

Heather Salter

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stop spending money you don't have quote debt free

This is self-explanatory; however, it’s one of the hardest things for people to do, especially when money is tight.

Credit with low interest rates has allowed consumers to dig into a financial hole.

Please don’t fool yourself; fool them.

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Food is a big part of any budget and a struggle for so many people, so I’ve created frugal recipes for my family and yours for many years.

I have a second Facebook page called The Free Recipe Depot, where I exclusively share recipes from Food Bloggers worldwide.

Check out the Free Recipe Index on CBB, which is compiled of frugal recipes 100% tested and accepted by family and friends!

I was over at Cooking Classy this week and found a Classic Macaroni Salad perfect for summer picnics.

Not only is it cheap to make, but no frills are involved like some other jazzed-up macaroni salads.

Please keep it simple and enjoy your summer parties.

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Some of our popular salads on the Canadian Budget Binder are also fairly inexpensive and perfect for any summer party.

We love salads in the CBB house, so I hope you try some of our recipes too! I promise you’ll find even more on the blog in the Recipe Index.

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I love finding stuff at the Dollar Store that saves me from paying more money elsewhere.

This DIY project to make Plaster of Paris flowers over at the blog Artsy VaVa using Dollar Store silk flowers will motivate any craft enthusiast.

I love how the blogger used her flower creations in the bathroom as decor for health and beauty accessories.

I also think it’s great that after the plaster dries, you can paint the flowers any colour you like.

If you’re getting married this summer, this may be a frugal way to make centerpieces for your tables at the reception, too!!

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Google Search Terms for Canadian Budget Binder

Always begin and end your day with a SMILE!- Mr.CBB

Every week, I get tens of thousands of people visiting Canadian Budget Binder because they did a search online and found my blog.

Most times funny, Sometimes serious.

What are the dangers of eating a can of cranberry sauce with a 2013 expiry?– Hmm, I probably wouldn’t bother if it’s that old; however, miracles do live in cans, so you never know. Taste it. Nom, Nom, Nom. Possible violent illness vs. $1.99 canned good. Seems obvious to me.
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That’s all the fun for this week. Thanks for dropping by, and we’ll see you all again next Saturday.