We've heard about contractors going door-to-door in some Charlotte neighborhoods and offering estimates for roof damage. According to the BBB, while many of these companies might be legitimate, others are likely storm chasers offering shoddy work at cut-rate prices.
And they may have a lot of roofs to work on. One Observer employee said a roof contractor at his house said he believes there are as many as 250,000 damaged roofs in the county (of course, he has a vested interest).
Here are some of the BBB's tips (see more here)
- Check out a company’s BBB rating and complaint history at www.bbb.org
- Get at least three bids in writing
- Check to see if the company you plan to hire has the proper licensing
- Do not permit work to start without a signed, written contract that includes start and completion dates, exact costs, specific work to be done, and warranty information.
Have you seen or been contacted by a roofing contractor? I'd like to hear about it. Call me at 704-358-5041 or email me at elyportillo@charlotteobserver.com.