Branch Builders

The experience started good, with builder meeting my insurance appraiser and walking us/them through the storm damage. They asked us to sign a document and left us with samples of shingles. My husband asked if what he was signing locked us in with builder and was told no. That was a mistake on our part. We should have read the document more closely as it was in fact a contract. Builder then told us to sign over our entire insurance payment. We asked them for a written estimate, so we knew what we were paying, considering that we were having "upgrades" done. They would not provide a written estimate. After several phone calls and not receiving a written estimate, we decided to go with another roofer. At that point, Branch Builders called us and said if we were going to use another builder, we owed them 20% of the cost of the job as per the "Contract" we signed. To save us from a lawsuit, we had to go with Branch. We provided the initial check to them in early May, along with the shingle color, after which there were weeks of being told we were on the schedule, there were delays, our shingles will be delivered, then weren't, etc. After 6 weeks (mid June) I was told by Branch that the insurance payment was short and they came out to remeasure so they could send a request for an augment to the appraisal. Three weeks went by with no communication. I pushed for an update and was told that they had sent a request for additional expenses to our insurance company and were not getting a response. We ultimately had an escalation department at our homeowners insurance and our local agent involved in trying to resolve. When asked to provide fax proof of such additional claim we received an email from Branch with an attachment dated in July. When the workers finally showed up and did the roof, they were fast and efficient, but left shingles and other trash on my lawn in 90 degree days and burned my grass. Over three months passed from when my first check to Branch Builders was cashed and when the work was done. My roof looks nice, but it was not worth all of the headaches.