After these latest storms, be wary of anyone who knocks on your door and offers to help repair your roof. It’s most likely a “storm chaser”. Storm chasers are “contractors” that watch for severe weather and look to strike while homeowners are desperate. Storm chasers employ predatory practices such as pressuring a homeowner with roof damage to quickly get the repair made before more rain comes and results in more damage. They will promise little or no cost to make the repair because the insurance company will pay for it all. These “contractors” will even offer to pay the deductible or offer cash back. These storm chasers will then rush through a job, because time is money for them. Then a few years later, your roof is failing and these “contractors” are nowhere to be found — moved on from the area or out of business.
If it Sounds Too good to be True, It Probably Is
Storm chasers present a solution to desperate homeowners that is hard to turn down. Immediate attention and “solution” to a roof problem and how to “easily” pay for the repair. The storm chaser will quickly calculate the cost of the job based on the square footage of your roof, how much it would cost to put on the cheapest roof possible, all while doing the minimum amount of effort to replace the roof. This quick fix does not make the homeowner whole, because they will skip items that are needed for your roof to perform.
Don’t Fall Victim to Storm Chaser Tactics:
Don’t let these “contractors” pressure you into making a quick decision. They are the ones showing up to your home and making claims and promises. As the consumer, you have every right to do your due diligence and research their company and online reputation. Do not be pressured into giving them any of your personal information or sign any documents…especially a contract.
Consider this:
- Can you trust them? Do research and ask for references. Be an educated consumer.
- Are they qualified? Ask questions like: How long have they been in business? What certifications, licenses, insurances, etc. they have?
- What is the quality of their work? Ask them about the materials and their crews.
- What is the warranty? Research the warranties offered. If it is a labor warranty, will the company be around to cover it should you have any issues?
Final Tips:
- Call your insurance company first. Once they have validated the damage, then you can work on gathering estimates.
- Local companies have reputations to uphold. Local companies know that word travels fast and they want that word to be a good one.
- Do your research on the roofing companies that you get estimates from.
- Free or lowest bid isn’t always good. If the roof is installed improperly, then your roof may fail. Improper installation will cause your manufacturer warranty to become void.
- Don’t provide any money up front. That’s the easiest way for companies to take the money and run.
It’s no secret that Alabama is frequented by severe weather and resulting storm damage. If you need a roof replacement, check with Hinkle Roofing — a company that has been around 110 years. We are a company that lives by the golden rule of treating others like we would want to be treated. Contact Hinkle Roofing at (205) 324-8545 or visit us online at hinkleroofing.com to schedule a free estimate or find answers to any roofing questions.