A lesson for homeowners: Read the contract

HILLSBORO, Ore. - A 74-year-old woman says she was pressured into signing a contract for a new roof and now she says she can’t get out of it.

Joy Holgate says she had no idea what she was getting into when she signed a contract to reroof her 1,200 square foot home for $10,000 - $17,000 after financing is factored in.

“I didn’t know. He didn’t tell me he was going to finance through another place, and they didn’t tell me I had a time limit,” said Holgate. “He had all the contracts ready to go, and then I didn’t read them, and I should have.”

The time limit Holgate is talking about is an Oregon law allowing homeowners only one day to nullify construction contracts.

Holgate said it started with a call from telemarketers from Tacoma’s Tristate Roofing for a free estimate. A few days later a salesman showed up at her door.

“He came by, and he had the contract with him. He went up on the roof that day and looked it over and said that I needed a new roof.”

But Holgate says a local roofer gave her a second opinion and said her existing roof was good for at least another five years.

She says that’s when she learned Tristate refused to let her out of the contract.

A search on the Oregon Construction Contractors Board’s website found no complaints against Tristate. Additionally, “no unsatisfied complaints” were found at Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries.

Several phone calls to Tristate were not returned.

Holgate and her son said they wish Tristate would just tear up the contract and leave the roof alone.

“All they have to do is walk away. They haven’t really lost any money,” said Kyle Holgate.

The Oregon Construction Contractors Board has a guide called “16 tips to avoid remodeling, repair and construction problems” for homeowners to consult.

The Number 1 tip for this type of contract is: don’t sign it. Homeowners should make sure they get several opinions first and have a trusted friend or family member read over anything before the contract is signed.

The Holgates said they plan to file a complaint with the attorney general's office. That office will have to decide if any wrongdoing has taken place.