[midiwiz]

Originally Posted by zmarkp

My girlfriend lives in a neighborhood hard hit by the recent hurricane winds. Lots of homes with blue tarps covering their damaged roofs. They all have the same roofing company signs in their yards.

So we just got back to town last week and found she had lost only 12 shingles.

Of course we called the company named on the yard signs and they sent a very nice young man out. Because my girlfriend has a large house he said a new roof would cost between $30,000 and $33,000.

But then he pretty much assured us he could get the insurance company to pay for the entire roof, minus her deductible of $2500.

Should we go with that deal? Or just have 12 shingles replaced?

We'd appreciate your thoughts.

First off, that deductible doesn't look right. That looks like the standard deductible which is less than a hurricane event deductible. First mistake you made you call your insurance company FIRST not a roofer.

Secondly, this isn't really a scam, it's Florida 'tradition' I learned this one many years ago, and you can blame the old people for it. The Florida thing was to let the roof go to crap and wait for a storm that was a recorded event (hurricane, tornado, hail) then they would have the insurance company replace the entire roof. for practically nothing.

In the past few years the insurance companies have woken up and are now aware of this. So they are more inclined now to replace what was damaged, even though some figure it out wrong, that is still what they want to do. So you have to ask yourself (and much of this really depends on color of shingle) if you want a noticable patch on your roof or not, how long - if at all- will it blend in. Reason I say that is that this doesn't effect your insurance or roof, it effects what your insurance could care less about - how your house sells. Face it a noticable patch will give you some resale problems.

Consider everything, some of these roofers will recommend calling an attorney to work with the insurance company, start with your insurance agent that is what they are there for. If you choose attorney you better be shopping for new insurance.

[pcntech]

Check with Seniors vs Crime to see if any company you are looking at has any complaints against them. Operative phrase "any company"....for any work you're looking to have done.

Seniors vs Crime in The Villages

[Salty Dog]

I thought a friend of ours was being scammed, but her insurance company sent an inspector out to check out the roof after she had a roofing company use a drone to inspect it. The roofing company had been referred to her by a neighbor who had recently had their roof replaced. This was before the hurricane so her deductible was only $1,000. Total cost is $25,000 for around 2,000 sq ft home with large double garage and a golf cart garage. I told her they might raise her insurance rate in the future. At her age though, she could pay an extra $1,000 or even $2,000 a year and would still come out ahead unless she lived well into her 90's.

[loreejl]

Maybe it is just my view but "How old is the roof?". Replacing a few missing shingles is probably a good investment for a newer roof, however for an older roof it may just be a "Patch" and some insurance companies will say that it is normal wear and tear for an older roof and may not pay for replacing 12 shingles. Also consider, your "out of pocket deductible may be most of the cost with the insurer paying very little.

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by pcntech

Check with Seniors vs Crime to see if any company you are looking at has any complaints against them. Operative phrase "any company"....for any work you're looking to have done.

Seniors vs Crime in The Villages

Scamming is not a crime, unless someone does something that is illegal like intentionally damaging a roof.

[LucyP]

Originally Posted by zmarkp

My girlfriend lives in a neighborhood hard hit by the recent hurricane winds. Lots of homes with blue tarps covering their damaged roofs. They all have the same roofing company signs in their yards.

So we just got back to town last week and found she had lost only 12 shingles.

Of course we called the company named on the yard signs and they sent a very nice young man out. Because my girlfriend has a large house he said a new roof would cost between $30,000 and $33,000.

But then he pretty much assured us he could get the insurance company to pay for the entire roof, minus her deductible of $2500.

Should we go with that deal? Or just have 12 shingles replaced?

We'd appreciate your thoughts.

Replace ! Fine match to them. And would call other roofing companies. I went with Batterbee Roofing. 352-748-6300.

[MorTech]

Get a general home inspector - who is not a roofer - to take a look...It cost about $75...Then get an insurance company appraisal.

First, maybe buy cheap binoculars or a drone to inspect your roof from the ground. A neighbor flies a DJI and inspected everyone's roof for free and emailed a report to everyone. I am sure he will become very fat after all the treats people will give him this holiday season.

There are a lot of vendors who just walk away from the "bottom feeders" when demand outstrips supply. There is a lot of that here because of TV fast growth and limited service provider growth.

[gorillarick]

Originally Posted by Windguy

Never, ever do business with anyone who initiates contact. It’s a simple rule that has served me well.

Amen to that one. I'd bet over 50% of the door-knockers are not from Florida (CO license plate), no insurance even on their vehicle, no business license in FL, and no biz insurance of any kind.

I thought it was against TV rules for door-to-door solicitations ???

And why does everyone have free access to our gated community ???

[ithos]

Originally Posted by gorillarick

Amen to that one. I'd bet over 50% of the door-knockers are not from Florida (CO license plate), no insurance even on their vehicle, no business license in FL, and no biz insurance of any kind.

I thought it was against TV rules for door-to-door solicitations ???

And why does everyone have free access to our gated community ???

This topic has been discussed in great detail.

Is this really a gated community?

[skip0358]

Guy knocked on my door went thru his BS line. Told him I wanted nobody on my roof. Oh we use a drone to inspect. Goodbye get off my yard!

[zmarkp]

Thank you for all your answers.

We have lined up a couple roofing companies (recommended on this site) to give us estimates of repairs.

Thank Heaven for Operation Blue Tarp which came out quickly and tarped over the damage for free, as opposed to one roofer who wanted to charge $800!

At this point I'm inclined to just get the dozen shingles replaced but I will always listen to other opinions. And I believe it would be wise to see what the insurance company says, too.

Yes we'd certainly like a brand-new roof, but whatever we do we'd like to think we were doing the right thing.

Thanks to everyone again.