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COMMERCE CITY - In the aftermath of Wednesday's widespreaddamage from high winds and hail, roofing company representatives are alreadyout and about in the hardest hit areas. But authorities want to make sure stormvictims are not taken in by scams.

Commerce City Police are cautioning people who need repairsto make sure the repair companies they are dealing with are legitimate.

"[For repair companies], now is a good time to visithomeowners," said Cmdr. Ross Sibley with the Commerce City Police Department."Their emotions are running high after the storm as they survey the damageto their homes."

Police say before anyone signs a work or paymentauthorization, homeowners or car owners should ask for references and checkwith the Better Business Bureau to make sure a company is reputable andqualified to make the repairs.

Homeowners should also contact their insurance carriers tocoordinate repair work and payments, Sibley said.

The Denver/Boulder-area Better Business Bureau website iswww.denver.bbb.org. To reach the organization by phone, call 303-758-2100; theautomated system will give you an option to speak with a representative, aswell as other options.

The Colorado Roofing Association would like to remind homeand commercial building owners alike, that there are several guidelines youshould follow to ensure that any necessary work will be done right.

BE PATIENT: Take time to follow the necessary steps andunderstand that quality contractors will be busy shortly after a major storm.Find out what you need and who you're working with! If your roof isn't leaking,it can usually wait until the contractor you feel most comfortable with canschedule your roof. Insurance companies will usually extend time requirementsin disaster situations.

CALL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY: It is solely the insuranceadjuster's job to assess the damage. It is the homeowner's responsibility tochoose the roofing contractor. Deductibles and insurance quotes should remainbetween the homeowner and the insurance company. A roofing contractor shouldnot get involved in paying a deductible for a homeowner, nor should they needto see an insurance quote in order to be able to do an INITIAL estimate foryou.

GET A PROFESSIONAL 2ND & 3RD OPINION: It is a good ideato have more than one contractor look at your roof and give you an estimate.Make sure that you are comparing apples to apples in each bid and that youunderstand the proposal.

A good estimate should be detailed, itemizing materials tobe used and labor to be completed. Ask about a time-frame for the proposedwork. While it is difficult for contractors to pinpoint an exact start date,they should at least be able to confirm a schedule for the work once it hasbegun and/or material has been delivered.

CHECK OUT THE CONTRACTORS: This is probably the single mostimportant thing you can do to make sure you are a satisfied customer. Abusiness history in the area is a must! A rule of thumb is that your contractorshould have been in business in your community for at least as long as thewarranty they offer. Call local references including friends and neighbors, aswell as the BBB. Find out their permanent business address and phone number.Confirm that they are licensed as necessary so that local building codes andrequirements will be followed, including project inspections.

THE AGREEMENT should clearly state materials to be used andlabor to be performed, along with terms of payment and who is responsible forpermits, etc. It should spell out how long you have to accept the prices quotedas well as if there are any penalties should you choose to cancel the contractonce it has been signed. When you are ready to sign the actual contract, besure that EVERYTHING you have agreed to is in writing.

PROOF OF INSURANCE including Workers' Compensation andGeneral Liability, should be verified before the contract is signed.

PAYMENT should not be made until you are satisfied with thecompleted work. Ability to finance labor & materials is a sign of financialstability of the contractor. If material is delivered to your home and thenpayment is requested, consider making a joint check payable to both thecontractor and material supplier. You may ask for a full lien release as acondition of final payment.

WARRANTY: This should be in writing and the contractorshould be able to provide you with a sample for your review before signing acontract. From start to finish, use good common sense when selecting someone towork on your home. Low bids can often mean someone is cutting corners to make aprofit. Price should not be the sole determining factor when choosing acontractor. Determine your needs, don't allow yourself to be pressured, make asmart decision and you'll be pleased with your investment.

You can find a licensed roofing contractor and otherinformation at www.coloradoroofing.org.

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