Homeowners advised to choose a roofer carefully

Last month's hail storm caught some folks off-guard. And when it was over, people sometimes get caught off-guard by unscrupulous contractors. <br><br>The Better Business Bureau says out-of-town roofers

Tuesday, December 23rd 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Last month's hail storm caught some folks off-guard. And when it was over, people sometimes get caught off-guard by unscrupulous contractors.

The Better Business Bureau says out-of-town roofers will follow reports of hailstorms like the one we had and set up shop in town temporarily. To find a good contractor, ask a lot of questions. Ask if they're local. It makes it easier to resolve disputes if any come up. You should also find out if they have workers compensation insurance. By law they should.

And never pay in advance. One local roofer says a reputable company won't ask you to do that. "That's taboo, that's kiss of death. Never pay a contractor a penny until the job is done, until you're completely satisfied. The contractors will sometimes take half the money up front and take the money and run."