The hail has barely stopped bouncing off the driveway when the trucks start rolling in. Within a day or two, strangers are knocking on doors up and down the street, clipboards in hand, offering to look at your roof for free. They say they have noticed damage, they work with insurance companies all the time, and they can get the whole thing taken care of with almost no hassle on your part.
Some of these contractors are the real thing. Others are what people call storm chasers, crews that follow bad weather from town to town and disappear when the work dries up. After a hail or wind storm, it can be hard to tell the difference. Here is what to check before you sign anything.
Why storm season brings out the sales pitches
After severe weather, many homeowners are stressed, worried about leaks and eager to get a roof fixed before the next rain. That is exactly when pressure sales work best. Crews know that you are likely to have an insurance claim and a strong desire to get things settled quickly.
There is nothing wrong with a contractor being busy after a storm. The problem comes when a company is not local, has no lasting presence in your area and has little reason to care about your reviews or your warranty claim a year from now.
Call your insurance company first
Before you talk to anyone who knocks on your door, contact your own insurer. Ask how to start a claim, what your policy requires and what steps they want you to follow. Your policy, not a contractor, determines what is covered and how repairs are handled.
Take your own photos of any damage, if it is safe to do so, and write down the date of the storm. Keep a record of every conversation with your insurance company. If you need emergency steps to stop a leak, such as a temporary tarp, ask your insurer what they expect and keep your receipts.
Be cautious about any contractor who says they will handle the entire claim for you or who tells you what your insurance company will or will not pay. Only your insurer can make those decisions.
Be careful with assignment of benefits
One document deserves special attention. Some contractors ask homeowners to sign an assignment of benefits, which hands over your right to deal with the insurance claim, and sometimes the insurance payment itself, to the contractor. Once you sign, you may lose a good deal of control over how the claim is handled and what happens if there is a dispute.
Rules on this vary by state. In some places it is restricted or comes with extra requirements, and in others it is more common. If a contractor puts one in front of you, do not sign it on the spot. Read it carefully, ask your insurance company how they treat these agreements and consider having an attorney take a look before you agree to anything.
Check the license and the local ties
- Verify the contractor license with your state or local licensing office. Requirements vary by state, so find out what is required where you live and confirm the number yourself.
- Ask for proof of insurance, including coverage for workers on your property.
- Look for a real local address and phone number, not just a truck with out of state plates and a cell number. Out of town crews are not always bad, but they are harder to reach when something goes wrong.
- Search the company name online, read reviews and ask for local references you can call.
Ask about permits
Roof replacements often need a permit, depending on your city and state. A legitimate contractor should know what is required, explain who will pull the permit and be willing to put that in the contract. If a contractor suggests skipping the permit to save time or money, that is a warning sign. Unpermitted work can cause trouble with your insurer, your city and even a future home sale.
Keep the deal in writing and the payments in steps
Insist on a written contract that states the company name, license information, the scope of work, the brand and type of materials, the price, the schedule and the warranty. Be wary of vague wording such as “repair damage” without details.
Do not hand over most of the money before work begins, and never pay in cash. Many states limit deposits on home improvement work, so check what applies to you. Payments tied to finished stages of the job keep the contractor motivated and keep your risk low.
Also, think twice about any offer to cover or waive your insurance deductible. That promise can run into trouble, and in some states it is not allowed. Ask your insurer about it before you take anyone up on it.
Take your time
The most useful move after a storm is simply to slow down. A roof that has been hit by hail will still need repair next week, and a few days spent getting more than one inspection and more than one written bid will not change that. A trustworthy roofer will understand and will not push you to sign today.
Say no politely to anyone who pressures you, thank them for stopping by and take their information if you want to follow up later. Tell your neighbors what you learned, too. After a big storm, a whole street can be targeted, and the more people who know the warning signs, the fewer people get taken.
Start with a call to your insurer, vet whoever you hire, read every page and pay in steps. That small amount of patience is the best protection you have against a storm chaser and a second round of damage to your wallet.
More Stories You May Like
- Real Estate Agent Warns Buyers to Assume Cameras and Microphones Are Capturing Their Every Word the Moment They Step Out of the Car at a Showing, and Explains What Not to Say
- Handyman Shuts Down His Business After Five Years and Hundreds of Jobs and Shares What He Learned
- HOA Threatens Fifty Dollars a Day in Fines over Weeds Even Though the Homeowner Mows Every Two Weeks
Leave a Reply