Everyone wishes it wasn’t so, but there are a lot of con-artists out there now who are actively trying to steal people’s money. This has become an issue across many occupations, such as construction, renovation, and consulting. It’s not something that anyone wants to do, but people need to know if their flat roofing contractor is on the level. Here are a few tips on how to know if they are a real, legitimate contractor:
Shop Around
One of the best ways to pick out a false contractor is to compare them to others. So, decide on a few different flat residential flat roofing contractors albuquerque nm to interview and then get quotes from them. While you’re at it, ask questions about pricing and how long the project will take.
A contractor who is trying to fleece someone won’t measure up right against the others. He or she is likely to have a hirer quote, be vague on final costs, and will likely give a longer estimate on how long the roof will take to complete. All-in-all, their answers will simply not mesh with the others.
Additional Costs and Hidden Fees
A real contractor wants to keep their business and doesn’t want to get a bad reputation. That’s why legitimate ones tend to give out a cost estimate that is all-inclusive. It’s also why a person needs to get a cost estimate on paper for referral later.
A fraudulent contractor is more likely to give a vague estimate with lots of room for additional charges and hidden fees. Do cost overruns happen with regular flat roofing contractors? Yes, of course, but if it starts to happen a lot, it’s time to get a second opinion.
Get References
The most sure-fire way to avoid a bad flat roofing contractor is to ask around for a good one. Now, this doesn’t mean to wander the streets asking complete strangers for the name of a good contractor, it just means that people you know are likely to steer you in the right direction. So, it’s always a good idea to consult with other businesses on which contractor did their roofs and what their experience with them was.
Taking this approach is likely not to just result in one recommended flat roofing contractor but a few, which narrows the choices down nicely to a short list to get estimates from.
Take the Street View
The easiest way to see if a contractor is the real deal is to see where their business is listed as being located and then take a look at it on an online map. Fraudulent contractors will usually list a false address. By looking it up and dropping down to the street level view, one can see if there’s a real business there or just an empty field!
Ask for Their Credentials
Going so far as to ask may not even be necessary. Their credentials might be listed on their website. Regardless of whether or not you have to ask or not, this is a quick and direct way to separate legitimate flat roofing contractors from frauds.
