Personal or Insurance Information: Don’t give any personal information in person or over the phone unless you can independently verify the individual is legitimate. Scammers will claim to be partnered with insurance and then ask for all of your insurance info. If they are a partner, they will already have relevant info from your insurance.

Down Payments: Take a very close look at any written agreement and don’t hand over any money until someone you trust has reviewed it, especially if the company isn’t local.

Letting Someone Unreliable Go On Your Roof: Don’t send someone up without watching them from below. If they go out of sight and you hear noises, make sure they aren’t causing damage. Request photos of any reported damage and get at least three opinions before entering an agreement.

Photos: Take pictures of any damage to gutters, siding, or roof before having a damage appraisal. Don’t do business with them if there is any concern or extensive explanation about damage in your photos versus any photos they provide. Take pictures while work is being performed.

Call References: Ask for their verification and satisfied customers you can call to verify work. If refused or none provided, run away. Good, honest work speaks for itself.