As a former employee, I would like to clarify how aspen contracting inc , headquartered in Lee's Summit MO, operates nationally. They are primarily a marketing company and contracting company secondary. Emphasis on marketing. They have no direct roofers on their payroll. They sub out all roofing jobs to whomever is available in the area at the time. Pay is minimal to these sub-contractors, yet the workload is great. And the sub-contracted roofer is paid per square, per insurance estimate. Sales persons are hired, experienced or not, immediately after the storm hits to canvas the area. And they are trained to get you to sign an open ended proposal and place a sign in your yard.
The marketing model is as follows: The sales technique is to knock, knock, knock on doors. Promise to do the work for the "insurance proceeds", as stated and detailed on the proposal form, which is filled with checked off boxes. The price will be "insurance proceeds". Want to see a firm price? no way. Since they prefer insurance work, this is really an open ended price. In the end, should you sign on the bothom line, they will go through the insurance company's paperwork, which they" must have" and bill for every last item at the" prevailing " price. Since prices usually go up as demand in storm hit areas increases, initial estimates are often not the final price of your roof. Expect to pay your deductible immediately along with your first settlement check, when the roof is built. After that, they will bill the insurance company and try to get every last cent. When your check arrives, they want it all, these are the " insurance proceeds". I've seen final billing statements padded with Exactimate Estimating software as much as an additional forty percent(40%) above the initial insurance company estimate. And the final billing amount is the amount they expect to receive. In comparison to say an auto accident claim where changes or modifications are approved Before proceeding, the roof will be completed and Then adjusted upwards without notifying the insurance company for approval. Just tack it on. After all that have your signiture.
In a nutshell, that's the marketing plan. Knock, sign open ended contract, build, bill insurance. Fix mistakes later. I've seen roofs built with problems as soon as the next day after installation go days, weeks, maybe longer without attention. Yet the roofing sub-contractor who did the install, is paid and sent to the next job. As he needs to get the next roof built and ready to be billed. Immediate repairs to the newly built roof are postponed, yet the sub-contractor is paid. I was confounded at how a problem on a just built roof was not of concern to the company. My impression was that unless there was a hold up on payment, the next roof was of utmost importance. It was always about the next roof. Build build build! Sure, build Accounts Receivable was the true goal; Craftsmanship and thoroughness secondary. Most homeowners are unaware of what happens above the gutter.
The sales force is not seasoned(I was not), as they are hired as readily needed, and trained, groomed and pressured to knock doors, leave flyers, present proposals and get you to sign a contract. It is stressed that urgency is necessary. As if waiting will prevent you from ever getting a roof repaired. A new bunch of salesmen or saleswomen for every storm. This leaves the homeowner dealing with a novice in most cases, representing a marketing company, backed with slick sales presentations and a " guarantee", issued by an organization (3C)created by an owner of aspen contracting inc. In essence they market themselves as a disaster relief company, and a roofing company, giving the impression they are a top to bottom organization, with everything already in place, from roofers to carpenters to a sales force ready when needed. When in fact they are a matketing company, marketing disaster repairs. It's management hiring " as needed on demand" whosever is available for sales personnel and contracting with non-taxed( all 1099)installation sub-contractors. You might want to see everyone's insurance coverage before the step on the ladder to get on your roof too.
Marketing of roofs for insurance proceeds, not a "true"roofing concern is what you need to know.
There is no shop, no company work trucks, no veteran sales force, no roofers on the payroll, no hometown presence. If you have a big enough storm hit your area, they invade the area with rented space as a sales headquarters, and they will blanket the area with newly hired locals, sent to crawl every storm hit neighborhood. They will get all they can from your insurance carrier, with your signature on an open-ended proposal of course, and move on.
The name says contracting but really it's marketing to the unknowing. Dont think for a minute that your getting a roofing company. Your going to deal with a marketing organization. aspen marketing and contracting company would be a more apt and accurate name.
I left the company because I had a hard time promising my customers a quality job, which I could see wasn't bring delivered. I never believed for a second it was a roofing company.
#2REBUTTAL Owner of company
Thu, September 18, 2014
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