MISTAKE #8: Signing Anything Before The Roofer Gets On The Roof
A common tactic used by some door-to-door roofing canvassers is to knock on a door and ask the homeowners if they want their roof inspected. If they agree, the roofer then asks them to sign a form before he does the inspection. The unsuspecting homeowner, assuming that the form is some sort of permission form or liability waiver, has just signed a contract which, on the surface, obligates the homeowner to use that roofing company to perform the repairs or replacement if their insurance company agrees to accept a claim for any damages.
Things get further complicated for the homeowners if they later decide that they don’t want to repair or replace their roof using that contractor. Perhaps they did some research on the roofing company and didn’t like what they found. Maybe the homeowners simply want to change their minds and use a different contractor. If this happens, the door-to-door roofer will then tell the homeowners that he will sue them if they try to back out of the “contract.”
What Should You Do?
Do not sign anything before the roofing inspector does his inspection. After the inspection, if you have decided to file a claim, and you want the roofer to work with your insurance company to discuss the scope of work needing to be done, the roofer may ask you to sign a form authorizing him to do so. This is an acceptable practice and is a non-binding document. Any time you’re asked to sign something before the inspection, it’s a safe bet that it’s not going to be for your benefit.