It starts with a knock on the door. A salesperson informs you that his or her roofing company is doing work for a neighbor down the street.
“Can I give you a free roof inspection?” they ask.
Here are tips from The Watchdog about how to hire the right contractor.
Texas doesn’t require a license for contractors and roofers. Neither industry is required to provide workers’ compensation for employees or general liability insurance. Reputable companies do. If they don’t, that’s a warning sign.
The Watchdog’s main piece of advice: Be suspicious.
Oklahoma tornado victim Leigh Ann Bryson once told me, “Recovery is not a time to exhibit trust.”
Are others complaining about them? Use Internet search engines to drill deep into the backgrounds of prospective hires. Use Google or other search engines to check their names and their company names with these words in separate searches: “rip-off,” “complaint” and “scam.”
Finding the right one
In the many towns and cities that make up North Texas, there are dozens of reputable companies with long histories. You want one of them.
Get at least three bids from contractors. A low bid is not necessarily the best pick.
Make sure all bids compare apples to apples. Make sure cleanup is included.
Is the contractor a member of a professional organization? Its website may list its membership. These organizations also offer a code of ethics for members to follow.
A list: Dallas Builders Association (DallasBuilders.com); North Texas Roofing Contractors Association (ntrca.com); Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (rooftex.com); National Roofing Contractors Association (nrca.net); National Association of the Remodeling Industry (naridallas.org), Texas Association of Builders (texasbuilders.org). If something goes wrong, you can appeal to the contractors’ organization.
Even though Texas doesn’t require a state license, the Austin-based Roofing Contractors Association of Texas issues its own unofficial license. Not many roofers are on the list.
Remember to check a plumber’s record with the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. Check an electrician’s record at the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. But with contractors and roofers, nada.
Warning signs
If a roofer offers to pay your deductible or work with an insurance company on your behalf, remember that both of those actions are illegal in Texas. Disreputable roofers promise both as an enticement to get your signature on a contract.
Only a licensed public insurance adjuster is allowed to work with an insurance company on behalf of a homeowner. A public adjuster, hired by a homeowner, takes a percentage of proceeds if he or she can help retrieve more money.
Roofers may not negotiate a claim or interpret an insurance policy. Some do it every day, but it’s against state law.
Reputable companies don’t need to go door to door with fliers and sweet talk.
If a roofer says “Pay in advance,” say “Get lost.”
Be wary of “contractor charisma.” Con artists are the most charming people you’ll ever meet.
Background check
Don’t hire anyone who operates out of a pickup with no local address. That’s high risk. How are you going to get him to come back for warranty work?
Check references. Talk to former customers.
Call City Hall and ask if the contractor properly applied for permits.
Visit the Better Business Bureau website to check the number of complaints and read them. (Don’t count on a company’s overall grade, which may be a less than reliable measurement.)
Verify a contractor’s physical work address.
Ask for a copy of the contractor’s certificate of insurance. Look it over carefully.
Ask who the contractor’s supplier is. Check with the supplier about the contractor’s payment record.
Although there’s no state license, some cities require registration. Check whether yours does and whether your prospect is properly registered.
Use your phone’s camera to photograph everything. The salesman at the door. The license plate of the truck in front of your house. The ID cards and even driver’s licenses of people you’re dealing with. That gives an added layer of protection: They know that you know who they are.
Protocols
Get a contract. Read it. Cross out what you don’t like. Sign it and keep a copy. Make sure the contractor signs, too. Any agreements must be in writing. IMPORTANT: Oral promises are worthless.
Do not sign a contract that contains unfilled-in blanks.
Roofing warranties are often good for 20 years.
Avoid contracts that require arbitration instead of a lawsuit if something goes wrong.
Include a timeline in the contract so the contractor knows when the job must be finished. Consider adding penalties for missed deadlines.
Pay in stages. Don’t pay the bulk until a project is COMPLETELY finished. Make sure suppliers are paid and a city inspector has signed off.
The law
Texas law: Anyone involved in cleaning, removing or reconstructing property after a natural disaster must provide a written contract to customers. Payment before a job is prohibited. Contractors that have had a business address for at least one year in Dallas County or an adjacent county are exempt.
The Watchdog hopes this cheat sheet helps you avoid getting cheated.
