WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – With some of the coldest winter temperatures recorded here and in the spring, there is a chance of thunderstorms at Kansans, which also means damage to homes can occur.
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt warned that it is common outside of the area for traveling contractors outside of the area to roll into a damaged city for quick cash. To counteract this, the legislature passed a law in 2013, according to which roofers are obliged to register with the public prosecutor’s office. The program was successful. There are currently more than 1,500 roofers registered in Kansas and in good condition.
The attorney general has pointed out that if your roof is damaged in a spring storm, or if you only plan to do work on your roof this spring, it is important to make sure that the roofer you are using is properly registered with the attorney general. The AG has recommended that you ask the roofer to provide you with a copy of the current roofing registration certificate and check the current registration list on the Kansas AG website at www.InYourCornerKansas.org to ensure that the contractor has a good reputation. Many city and county governments also require a permit before starting work. Therefore, make sure that your roofer has also complied with all local regulations.
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Here are some more tips to help protect yourself from home repairs:
- If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Receive multiple written quotes for home improvement projects to ensure the quotes are appropriate and competitive.
- Ask for local references. Working with a well-known, reputable local contractor will prevent you from falling victim to a night operator who is not around for later problems.
- Friends, family, and neighbors are the best sources of recommendations.
- Make sure your contractor is insured. The contractor should have personal liability, property damage and workers’ compensation insurance for workers and subcontractors. Also, check with your insurance company to see if you are covered against possible injury or damage.
The attorney general warned that it was important to keep everything in writing. Insist on a contract detailing what work will be done, what quality of materials will be used, what guarantees, schedules, names of subcontractors, total price of the job and payment schedule. Do not make final payment or sign a final release until you are happy with the job and know that subcontractors and suppliers have been paid.
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For more tips on protecting against home repairs or filing a complaint, visit the Kansas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection website by clicking here or by calling the Consumer Protection Line at (800) 432-2310.
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