COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (WOWT) – 6 News is investigating an out-of-state contractor who left a retired couple without the roof they paid for months ago.

Unfortunately, they did their homework after signing a check, but they’re passing along lessons to anyone who receives a sales pitch from a roofer after a storm.

After paying Evolve Construction in August, Marvin and Anna Pratt received a delivery indicating their new roof would soon materialize.

“It just appeared, so cool that we are going to finish our roof. “They were going to be here the next day to do it because that’s what they said, and no one showed up,” Marvin Pratt said.

In early August, the couple paid Evolve Construction $7,000 of their insurance claim, and despite the good weather since then, their new roof has yet to evolve.

“No one just shows up to do the job,” Anna Pratt said.

One reason is that the work needs inspection and permit approval from Council Bluffs, where the chief building official is looking to Evolve Construction.

“I can’t find a license, I can’t find insurance; I couldn’t find anything doing a search, so we don’t have anything in our system for these people,” said city official Rodney Schultz.

Although “Evolve” with a California address sent me an Iowa contractor registration, Council Bluffs requires more.

“Any larger jurisdiction like ours has some type of licensing and permitting requirements,” Schultz said.

Evolve told 6 News the company will submit the necessary paperwork to meet all requirements for the roof replacement in Council Bluffs.

The climate is changing and the Pratts are worried, not only about the materials becoming a nuisance in their shared driveway, but also about the roof where everything is supposed to go.

“I don’t know how long it will be before our roof starts leaking inward,” Marvin Pratt said.

After writing a $7,000 check to Evolve Construction nearly three months ago, the Pratts say they were already expecting more for their money.

“I’m worried that the roof is going to start leaking because they haven’t done the work and we don’t know where these materials came from,” Anna Pratt said.

The Pratts are over 70 years old; They cannot use or move the shingles or roof accessories themselves.

“I want my money back, everything,” Anna said.

But the Pratts electronically signed a contract with an Evolve salesperson who they say cold-called them, and the company representative tells me there’s a 35% cancellation fee. Through the check written to Evolve Construction, the company representative said the couple’s money is held in escrow by a third-party appraiser, whom the Pratts have been trying to contact.

“Next time, I’ll get references before I do anything and I won’t sign any contracts until I figure it out,” Marvin said.

A lesson to check before writing a check.

A text from Evolve Construction states that the company intends to fully comply with its contractual obligations to its clients. But that license and permit is needed first in Council Bluffs, and the city’s building official told 6 News that Evolve had not contacted them as of Wednesday’s closing time.

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