Finding a good contractor to take care of your roofing repairs or replacement is a great burden off your shoulders. You can rest easy knowing that your roof is going to be professionally taken care of and your insurance won’t suffer. Unfortunately, not every contractor is honest. There are some who want to take advantage of homeowners who aren’t aware of the pitfalls of hiring a “door-knocker”. Dishonest and sometimes even illegal methods are used by these salesmen to fabricate damage on your roof.

Here are a few tips to know to avoid being scammed.

1. Don’t Sign Anything

The most common thing offered to you will be a free inspection and a casual request for your signature—“just sign here!” This is generally not what they say it is. Most commonly, this is a contract that can be used by the salesman that authorizes them to contact your insurance and make a claim on your behalf. Filing a claim when there may not actually be damage on your roof can be detrimental to your homeowners’ insurance. This can even cause some providers to drop your policy, and you’ll be forced to find a new provider.

2. Free Inspections Aren’t Free

If you are offered a free inspection from an unknown contractor, this is not a good idea. Check what company they are affiliated with and also ask for referrals from that company. Don’t feel pressured to agree to anything up front. Door-knockers can actually create damage when there is none. They are known to show photographs from a damaged home that may not even be yours. Or they can even damage your roof themselves with hammers to simulate hail damage or discard good shingles to fake storm damage.

3. Check Their Credibility

There are a few ways to ensure that you are dealing with a credible company and avoid a scam. Ask a salesman for proof of their license and referrals (as previously mentioned.) Roofing contractors must be licensed to operate in almost all states. Referrals are the lifeblood of most roofing companies, so they often have them on hand to show to customers.