Storm damage on a roof is often devastating and costly. Depending on the condition of your roof at the time of the storm and the storm’s intensity, you could be facing anything from blown-off shingles to gaping holes in your roofing system.
If you’re lucky enough to have a good relationship with a professional roofing company, you might be able to repair your roof almost immediately. Your roofer might be available to install a temporary patch during the storm and then return after the storm to apply a more permanent fix.
However, property owners face the serious problem of not knowing whom to trust when a storm has damaged their roof or any other part of their home or commercial property. A distraught homeowner might even try to fix their roof themselves or hire somebody who isn’t qualified to do the job.
This is exactly the situation that storm chasers exploit. Storm chasers are roofers and home repair contractors that visit areas devastated by storms to offer their services. They would give the job the bare minimum of what they could do, take the property owner’s money and disappear to chase more storms in other areas. Before long, their victims would realize that the work is, at best, shoddy, and they end up spending more money to fix the problem. When this happens, the storm chasers would be long gone.
You can avoid falling victim to such scams. Here’s how to avoid storm chasers:
Don’t Entertain a Roofer You Didn’t Call
If your neighbor had their roof repaired by local roofers you already know, then it’s fine to entertain them if they approach you. But if you know nothing about the roofer, and they seem to be from out of town, beware, they’re probably storm chasers. Most local roofers are too busy after a storm to be walking around and offering their services to homeowners. It’s better to wait a bit for your local roofer to squeeze you into their schedule than to rush things and trust a storm chaser.
Hire a Local Contractor
Not only is this good for your community, but it’s also good for you. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll hire a storm chaser if you hire a local contractor. You know where to find the company if things go wrong with the repairs. These contractors have relationships with suppliers in your area as well as with other home and business owners. They also know the local climate, so they will recommend the best materials, whether it’s your home’s roof or your commercial siding.
Don’t Pay Upfront
Large upfront payments are another sign that the contractor is a storm chaser. A reputable roofing company can afford to fix your roof and ask you for your payment when the project is completed. Or, at least, it’ll give you a reasonable payment schedule. If the contractor asks for a large upfront payment, walk away. The person is either a storm chaser or on the brink of bankruptcy.
Get in touch with The Badger Company, your reputable local roofing company. Call us now at (608) 850-6282, or tell us about your project here.