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Homeowners and Property Owners Consumer Protection checklist
for Home Repair Contractors. 

“Last year over 1 million complaint summons and lawsuits were filed against home repair contractors alone.   Up 62% in the last 3 years”  Wall Street Journal

“Roofing Contractors and Home Improvement Contractors receive the most complaints and inquiry’s than any other service based business” Better Business Bureau 

Don’t be a victim – protect yourself from Contractor Fraud.

One of the biggest complaints published and documented by shows like 20/20, Dateline NBC, and local media such as Contact 6 Milwaukee, is that at no time should you ever give a contractor money when signing a contract for services.  This should be a huge red flag of a financially unstable contractor.  A reputable contractor will only accept a down-payment when materials are on site, tools & equipment on site, and the project actually begins, such as Roof Xperts.  Another sign of a reputable contractor is multiple payment options and financing programs.  Only reputable contractors can establish working relationships with banks and finance companies.  Roof Xperts has several payment options available, such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express as well as long-term unsecured finance loans up to $35,000.  We even offer a 6 month same as cash, NO interest program to our homeowners. 

Reputation of the Home Improvement Contractor

As of July 1, 2009, in the State of Wisconsin, all home improvement contractors must be registered with the Division on Safety and Building, showing proof that the contractor has worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance, and minimum levels of liability insurance to obtain a State of Wisconsin Dwelling Contractor license. Also, the dwelling contractor must pass a dwelling contractor qualifiers test and enroll in continuing education programs to keep the license current and in good standing with the State of Wisconsin. Contractors cannot obtain construction permits without this State of Wisconsin License.  Towns, Municipalities, Villages, and Cities can actually shut-down construction projects to unlicensed contractors, leaving your job incomplete, or worse, no roof protection on your home.  Another red flag is when your perspective contractor asks you, the homeowner, to obtain a permit, this usually means that the contractor is not properly licensed and in fact be un-insured.  A couple other avenues available to the homeowner is checking the Better Business Bureau.  It is important to note if the contractor is an accredited business member, such a Roof Xperts, or are they just listed with the BBB.  Also Roof Xperts supplies a reference list with every proposed contract, including names, work performed, address, and phone numbers regardless if the homeowner asks for a reference list, we always provide one.  We are surprised how many times a potential customer actually knows someone on the reference list in the Brookfield, New Berlin, and Waukesha area’s. 

Stability of the Home Improvement Contractor

Homeowner’s can check the stability of the prospective contractor in various ways.  If a Home Improvement Contractor has a premier status achieved by training excellence and customer service from a well known, reputable roofing material manufacturer, such as Adurel Polymer, Industries Best Coatings, or GAF/Elk Corporation, this means that the manufacturing company has provided training and installation techniques, consumer excellence, industry standards & applications, and trusts that contractors, such as Roof Xperts, to install, service and write the best warranty available to the homeowner.   Other key points, and one of the most important stability factors is that the contractor should provide a certificate of insurance, not by his hand (as documents can be forged), but direct from the insurance company, clearly listing the homeowner as a certificate holder. Also a homeowner can check up on a contractor through the Better business bureau, consumer protection agency, and through the state of Wisconsin Dwelling Contractors site.  Last but not least, is a supplier reference letter, stating that the contractor pays their invoices in a timely manner, if you make you final payment to the contractor and the contractor does not pay the supplier, the supplier may file a lien on your property, leaving you the homeowner with a large invoice, not to mention very angry. 

Evaluate your Contractors proposal and protect yourself from faulty workmanship

Homeowner’s should scrutinize and evaluate the bid proposal very carefully.  Not all bids are the same, as many contractors will supply a very simple, handwritten proposal, with no specification of the materials being used.  The minimum proposal bid that you should accept is one that is typed out or computer generated, and outlines all materials, specifications, size, grade, and style to protect yourself from substandard materials being used, and most importantly being “spiked” or paying more money when the project is completed.  Also make sure your contractor outlines or explains all proper procedures thoroughly.  Roof Xperts estimators actually go a step further and take photos of the project at multiple elevations and we outline services to be performed with locations directly on the photos.  This way the homeowner can clearly see by the photos as to what Roof Xperts proposes, and where.  Roof Xperts also offers to schedule a follow-up meeting in person, or by phone, to ensure that every question has been addressed, and assures homeowner’s needs were met.  One of the most common questions asked, why do the prices vary so much from contractor to contractor?  I can’t tell you how many times I have seen a so called completed roof job by some other incompetent contractors that was basically incomplete.  The contractor that bids the lowest price will not be replacing vital components of the roof project, such as gutter apron, chimney flashings, roof vents, gable flashings, adequate ice & water shield underlayment, and most importantly generic substandard materials.   Nothing bothers Roof Xperts Staff more than to lose a customer to a lower bid, see the home with obvious signs of incompletion such as old steel rusted gutter apron flashing or the original chimney flashing that is 40/50 years old, cheap and out-dated shingles from the big box hardware stores and wonder what else could be wrong or substandard that cannot be seen?  Roof Xperts believes that all roof components should be replaced and upgraded to the current codes and standards, as well as manufacture specifications to enforce the warranty of the roof system. 

Construction Project process and Contractors personnel/crew members

Problems associated with poor installation by inexperienced installers typically do not show up on a construction project until several months and sometimes a couple of years later, at which time the damage is far worse and a very expensive to remedy.  Also many contractors use sub-contractors who are not trained factory certified installers, who will install your roof, gutters, siding or windows incorrectly, which makes the factory warranty null and void.  Roof Xperts only employs certified factory trained installers, who adhere to the strict installation guidelines, policies, and procedures of the manufacturer.  Homeowners should make sure that the contractor they select, use only certified factory trained installers such as Roof Xperts.  Roof Xperts will also make sure that the homeowner and project manager or jobsite foreman give a status report on a daily basis if homeowner desires.  Roof Xperts has pride in the fact that 65% of all our construction projects are referrals from our previous customers.  We do everything we can at Roof Xperts to keep customers satisfied, respecting them and their property.   Some other important question that homeowners should ask about the actual construction process is if the contractor cleans up every day during the project, not that there is scrap and debris all over the property and dangerous nails in the lawn or driveway.  Also does the contractor protect other areas of the building or home from damage like siding, awnings, decks, and landscapes?  Roof Xperts uses every precaution to make sure your home is protected from damage and we clean up every day before we leave your property.  Most importantly, Roof Xperts NEVER leaves any portion of your roof or home unprotected from the rain or other natural elements. There are times when a flower garden or decorative bush may get damaged due to the grand scale of the project and again we will do everything possible to prevent this but if damage does occur, we have an account with a local garden center to replace any damage that may happen, although most homeowners are very realistic and reasonable about a huge construction project such as a new roof installation. 

Post Construction Project and Inspection

Homeowners should make sure that everything outlined in the contract has been completed.  The contractor should make an appointment with the homeowner to evaluate the scope of services and work performed to the contract specifications.  Roof Xperts will often or by request take photos of the project during construction to show homeowner’s , for example, the ice & water shield underlayment application to ensure that the homeowner received exactly what was outlined or any new wood roof deck that needed to be replaced as many homeowners are hardworking individuals with a career and they may not be home during the day when the project is being performed.  Also underlayment’s are covered over by the new roof, and the homeowner cannot see the ice & water shield through the new shingles to inspect the outlined amount of Ice & Water Shield leak barrier that they have been proposed and paying for. Homeowner’s property should be cleaned from all debris and nails picked up magnetically to ensure none were missed.  Roof Xperts employees and job foreman have a post construction/cleanup checklist.  Homeowner’s property should look as though the contractor was never there.  Roof Xperts utilizes an environmentally conscience waste removal company in Milwaukee Wisconsin to remove debris.  The old shingles are recycled for asphalt road filler and all metal is recycled for scrap.  Roof Xperts believes in doing our part on keeping our plant green and keeping as much waste as possible out of the landfills. 
 
 
 
 

Final Payments – Lien Waivers – Warranty

Homeowners, one of the most important documents you must have when you make your final payment to the contractor is a lien waiver.  Once the project has been completed and you are satisfied the project is completed as outlined in the contract, you can pay the contractor final payment, only if the contractor supplies you with a complete lien waiver, with Sate of Wisconsin mandatory language, to you the homeowner.  In the State of Wisconsin, it is against the law, and illegal for a contractor not to provide lien waivers once payment has been made.  Once a homeowner has made final payment, and received their lien waiver, it is time to register your installation warranty certificate with the manufacturer. This certification or registration should be filled out by the contractor and shown to the homeowner for review.  Roof Xperts also provides our own 10 year labor and material no hassle warranty in conjunction with the manufacturer warranty.  Most all of our roofing projects are completed with GAF/Elk Corporation roofing materials and we are able to authorize a 20-50 year non-prorated iron clad, no hassle warranty, covering the entire roof system, including labor.  This is by far, the best warranty in the roofing business and the contractor must be an authorized factory or certified contractor to provide this excellent non prorated warranty for the entire roofing system including labor. 
 
 

Summary

Roof Xperts hopes that this consumer protection checklist for home repair contractors has outlined on how to select a competent, responsible, stable contractor that you can trust with your home and has taken away some of the confusion about hiring a local contractor for your project.  This checklist should help the unsuspecting consumer put the burden of proof of character and integrity on the contractor and not the homeowner.  Homeowners should never accept a proposal from a contractor who cannot adhere to any part of this checklist.  Roof Xperts hopes that after you scrutinize all your proposed bids, you will find that Roof Xperts is a reputable, professional contractor that you can trust with your home improvement needs.  Please request a free estimate today from the web-site menu or call us at (262) 373-0830 in our Brookfield office, and see why Roof Xperts is your best choice. The closer you look at Roof Xperts, the better we look for you the homeowner. 

Respectfully,

Jeff & Jill Brown

Owners of Roof Xpert Contractors

Before You Make Your Decision Call Roof Xperts at (262) 373-0830 or fill out our online form.