The local Better Business Bureau advises to be on the lookout for people coming to town to scam you and run away with your money.
HENDERSON, Texas — Last Wednesday, a violent hailstorm devastated parts of east Texas, leaving homeowners busy repairing damage to cars and roofs.
Justyn Geremonte, Stonewater Roofing’s senior sales representative, said the hail hit all over Henderson and Arp.
“I can’t even tell you how bad it was,” Geremonte said. “I mean, we climbed onto roofs that were only a year old and were completely destroyed.”
Germonte said he personally inspected nine roofs in the Henderson area in the past two days. He said the company has signed contracts with about 25 people and their insurance companies so far.
“That means we will help them make sure everything is properly purchased from the insurance company,” Germonte said.
Helping customers follow the appropriate steps is a service you would expect from a reputable company, but not everyone has the homeowners’ best interest in mind.
When looking for a roofing company or contractor to do repairs, Mechele Mills, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas, says there are some red flags to look out for.
“Always be on your guard in our area, there’s a lot of people coming and going through town,” Mills said. “What you’re going to see are companies that may not have markings on their vehicle or may not have company-branded materials, so be vigilant on that.”
According to Mills, roofing company scams are real and can be costly. She advises people to do their homework and beware of scammers who might come through town just to take your money and run away.
“Just be very, very careful and usually you want to pay them in increments,” Mills said. “You don’t want to pay them all up front.”
Mills said it’s worth taking the time to do your research before signing a contract so you can be sure you’re in good hands the next time there’s a hailstorm in East Texas.
“Then we come out here and check the roof and we actually take pictures to see if there’s actual damage,” Germonte said.
At a home in Henderson, Germonte said they were hired and noticed damage to the roof. He said they estimate hail about the size of ping-pong balls hit the house and even punctured a few holes.
“Like I said, we’re going to make sure we cover all open positions, but for now we’re going to be coordinating with insurance,” Germonte said.
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https://www.cbs19.tv/article/weather/severe-weather/after-recent-hail-storm-in-east-texas-bbb-warns-potential-roofing-scams/501-cc1b6804-37c4-4afa-bf2e-de0f90f0b601
