Don't Get Taken Through the Roof

By Ernie Haas

This is a book designed to help you not to be taken by unscrupulous contractors along with the horror stories. Also include things homeowners need to know before hiring a contractor for roofing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Haas Group LLC
• Release date: Jun 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781087852546

Book preview

1

TAKING IT FROM THE TOP: GETTING TO KNOW US

Our home, no matter how humble, is our castle, and a roof over our head is vital to feeling safe. Home is a place of pride where we seek shelter from the elements, raise our families, make memories during holidays and all sorts of milestone events in our lives. Without our roof, our home would not be complete. That is why the last thing we ever want to have happen, is to be taken advantage of by an unscrupulous roofing contractor, should we need a new roof or even a repair. Our roof is solid, nothing should go through it, especially us. We don’t want to be taken through that roof by someone that is not competent to install it or evaluate its condition. Everyone works hard for their money and no one should waste it on poor quality craftsmanship.

My name is Ernie Haas and I am the owner of the Haas Group, LLC which is the only third party residential roof inspection company in the United States which specializes in all types of roofs. I’ve been a third party roof inspector since 1985 and in total, I have been in the roofing industry since 1969. My company doesn’t recommend roofers; we are neutral and our business focus is consumer protection.

My mission for this book is to help consumers not get taken advantage of by a roofing contractor company or anyone representing them; as well as to have your insurance company cover the appropriate claim items you have paid for in your homeowner’s insurance policy.

As an expert in this field, I have found that approximately 95% of the roofs I inspect fail to the point of needing full replacements. They are not even close to code or to the manufacturer’s installation instructions. I want to advise you as to what you should be looking for, and what you need to do on the front end, before you choose a contractor. My goal is to make sure nothing slips through the cracks when it comes to your project.

I am proud to say that the majority of our business comes to us through word of mouth referrals from thousands of satisfied customers. There is no better recommendation than that. I am pleased to receive so many excellent customer reviews, which validates the fact that my work has had a positive effect on their lives and their homes. I’ve had numerous circuit court judges certify me as an expert in this field. Whenever I have gone to court on behalf of a client, to date; I have never lost a case.

Because of the nature of my business, I have been on the receiving end of the wrath of a few dishonest roofing company individuals, who were unhappy that I called their poor work out to the customer. However, the gratification I receive from helping people put that safe and beautiful roof over their head far outweighs the few negative experiences I’ve dealt with. The shame is on them, and I am pleased to be able to resolve these serious matters for the safety of those customers who rely on my honest services.

Our corporate home base is the northern Virginia and metropolitan Washington, D.C. area, but we do work nationally; and for a travel fee I will go anywhere in the country to work with a homeowner to assist them. I currently employ another expert inspector who can work with me in the states, and also have my son-in-law who is an inspector located in Hawaii. He covers all the islands there. Together, we deal with insurance companies, the courts and two different police departments in their financial victims units.

My journey from a roofer to a professional roof inspector began in April 1969 when I became involved as a roofing apprentice, as four of my uncles owned individual roofing businesses and I began to work for one of them. I would carry shingles for $1 per hour. I paid close attention and learned this trade from my family and I owe it to them that I gained so much knowledge and skill.

Over time, in approximately 1981, I went into my own roofing business covering Virginia, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina; and eventually in 1985 my career path took a change for the better.

One day as I was on my way to work as a roofer, I was driving around the Capital beltway in Washington D.C. thinking about how thoroughly disgusted I was with aspects of the roofing industry that I didn’t approve of, and some very unique inspiration came my way. It was truly fate. A truck passed me on the road and printed on the door, was lettering that read Soil Consultants. So I thought to myself, if he can be a consultant for dirt, I can be a consultant for roofs. Before long, I took out a small inexpensive advertisement in a magazine listing my services as a professional roofing inspector and consultant, and I never looked back.

My first job as a roofing inspector was a certification for a real estate company for the sale of a home. It went very well, and in fact to this day I work with realtors very often for that purpose. Interestingly, when I began doing the inspections back in the 80s I was charging $35 per inspection. My phone was ringing with business, but it wasn’t really that busy. I was speaking with a friend of mine who owns a lucrative tow truck business with about 200 trucks, and told him about how slow things were. I value his opinion and when he heard my dilemma, he said you are not charging enough, there is no value at $35. I realize that people think "you get what you pay for and knowing that I had much value to offer, I went along with his suggestion and I raised the price to $85 per inspection. Sure enough,