Roofing Referral Services And Their Pitfalls

Why You Should Avoid Roofing Referral Services When Choosing a Roofer in St. Petersburg

When it’s time to repair or replace your roof, finding a trusted roofing company in St. Petersburg should be your top priority. Unfortunately, many homeowners turn to online roofing referral services like Angi’s List, Thumbtack, HomeAdvisor and others. As a result, that decision can lead to costly mistakes. While these websites claim to match you with qualified contractors, the truth is that they make money by selling your information to businesses that pay for the lead. Thus, they may not necessarily be best suited for your home or your budget.

The Risks Associated With Roofing Referral Services

Let’s look at why using a referral service can be risky and why contacting a reputable local roofer directly, like Drew Roofing, is always the smarter choice.

1. Referral Services Sell Leads — They Don’t Vet Experience

Most referral platforms aren’t matching you based on quality or reliability. They’re selling your contact information to the highest bidder. Consequently, the “recommended” contractor isn’t necessarily the most qualified; they’re simply the one willing to pay for access. In other words, your roofing project becomes part of a marketing transaction, not a careful selection process.

At Drew Roofing, We are not middlemen. Every project begins with a free, honest evaluation from our licensed roofers.

2. You Might Not Know Who You’re Hiring

With referral sites, there’s often little transparency. You may think you’re hiring a local roofing company, but some listed contractors are out-of-county or even unlicensed. That’s a big problem for homeowners in South Pinellas County, where roofing regulations are strict. When it comes to replacing your roof, it is important to be aware of common roofing company scams. Choosing an unlicensed contractor can leave you unprotected if something goes wrong. Not to mention, hiring an unlicensed contractor could void your roof warranty or homeowner’s insurance coverage.

3. Online Reviews Aren’t Always Reliable

Referral sites often highlight star ratings, but those reviews may not tell the full story. Some are collected automatically, while others may even be incentivized. There’s no guarantee those “5-star” contractors deliver consistent quality. A trusted local roofer, on the other hand, builds their reputation the old-fashioned way. A reliable roofing company can demonstrate proven results and word-of-mouth testimonials. Drew Roofing has earned the trust of St. Petersburg homeowners for decades through reliable work, fair pricing, and genuine customer care.

4. Local Roofers Understand Local Needs

When you work directly with a St. Petersburg roofing company, you’re choosing experts who understand the area’s coastal weather, wind codes and permit requirements. Generic referral sites don’t account for those local details. They simply connect you to whoever pays for the lead in your ZIP code. At Drew Roofing, we specialize in roofs built to withstand Florida’s sun, rain, and storm conditions. There’s no call centers, no generic forms or mystery contractors. When you call our office, you talk directly with us.

5. Keep Your Warranty and Your Peace of Mind Intact

Roofing work is a major investment. When you hire through a referral service, you risk unclear warranty terms and lack of accountability. If something goes wrong, who will fix it? The referral site? The roofer you barely know? With an established local roofing company like Drew Roofing, your warranty, communication and trust stay in one place.

How to Spot a Roofing Referral Service Disguised as a Roofer

One of the biggest challenges for homeowners today is that many roofing referral services pretend to be local roofing companies. They often run ads with names like “St. Petersburg Roofing Experts” or “Top Roofers Near You,” but if you look closer, you’ll notice there’s no real business address, no license number and no team photos or project examples. Many use a toll free phone number or instead, they funnel you into a form asking for your contact information. They then sell this information to multiple contractors. A legitimate roofing company like Drew Roofing will always have a verifiable local address, a state roofing license, real project photos and direct contact information so you can speak to a knowledgeable team member.

Choose Local, Choose Proven, And Choose Drew Roofing

Before you click on a referral site, think twice. Save time, money, and stress by calling a local roofing company directly. Drew Roofing has proudly served St. Petersburg and South Pinellas County for over 30 years with honest quotes, quality workmanship, and a reputation built on integrity — not lead generation. Contact Drew Roofing today on our website here or call (727) 522-3739 for your free estimate. When it comes to protecting your home, trust a real local roofer, and avoid the referral services.