A true “storm chaser” and one you want to keep off your roof is a roofing scammer. You can also identify them as out-of-town storm chasers and roofing gypsies. They’re recognizable through their wily ways of talking people into roof repairs or replacements with no intention of doing their shoddy work or following through at all. They travel from one place to another where storms have occurred trying to find homeowners who will fall for their spiel.
How Storm Chasers Work
Storm chaser phonies are smart scammers and follow weather reports for areas that have seen wind or hail damage. They also scope out those same areas where insurance companies will pay for roof repairs or replacement.
They’ll cover an area hit by hail or wind and either distribute brochures or directly contact exploitable homeowners they know need roof repairs. They’ll even provide a free roof inspection.
A storm chaser knows the ins and outs of insurance companies and how they determine the square footage and cost of an expensive new roof. A storm chaser will simply do the bare essentials in roof replacement and skip any other issues happening with a roof. They certainly won’t restore a roof to what it originally was.
They leave homeowners in the cold with a partly repaired roof and when they vanish from sight, you’re left with more future repair bills. A storm chaser roof will only last so long, say 5-7 years, and then needs replacement. With those results, you’ll end up with some bamboozled and unhappy homeowners.
Avoiding Storm Chasers
If your roof needs repairs or replacement, you want to think seriously about a top-rated roofing contractor, not a storm chaser type. They lack any of the qualities of real roofers and any incentives to finish a job right, plus they are almost never held liable as they have usually fled the scene before issues with any roof happen.
Besides their lack of integrity and workmanship, a storm chaser’s roof repair usually comes with no certification, licensure, or insurance. So, you are out of luck in recouping costs on any repair work shoddily done or not completed.
Do Some Research and Footwork
If you want to avoid storm chasers, research the best local roofer in your area. You simply can’t rely on someone who hands you a brochure or just shows up on your property. Do your own research and if you engage storm chasers, ask for their license and insurance. You can also verify their credentials through your city or country building department or check out the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for any reports or complaints.
You might even visit the supposed business headquarters of a storm chaser or their local office. When you can’t find a street address or location and your only contact is a post office box, that’s one thing to be wary of and avoid. Also, ask for a listing of their previous customers and actually visit any sites where they are currently working.
Check Out the Condition of Your Roof
You can relinquish most roof scammers by simply knowing the condition of your roof. If you experience heavy and damaging storms in your area, check your roof to see if shingles are loose or on the ground. Look for other debris and understand the different areas of a roof where rain, wind, and hail can damage it. You’ll know whether you need repair or replacement once you’ve inspected your roof. You won’t fall for a scammer’s persuasive talk.
Spotting Storm Chasers
There are things to watch out for when you suspect a storm chaser wants to scam you. Here are some signs that reveal a storm chaser’s tactics.
- Not a Local Company – Most storm chasers are not within your community as working contractors. They usually arrive from different places to make fast money and use your desperation to gain immediate roof repairs after a major storm. Not operating locally or having a local address should raise red flags particularly when you cannot check on a storm chaser’s credibility in the community. Since they are not local and do not have an area address, it’s impossible to check their legitimacy. Stick with an experienced and proven local roofing company.
- Sales Scheme – A storm chaser will use high-pressure tactics to hook you into taking advantage of their services. They’ll offer a limited amount of time for you to use their services when their intention is to force people into using the services quickly with no thought to the ultimate outcome.
- Free Inspection – You may get a free inspection from a storm chaser. It may sound doable but that free inspection just might mean their chance to take the inspection to the limit and create more damage during the inspection. This gives storm chasers the opportunity to get insurance costs for themselves. Anyone who comes to your door to discuss your roof problems is probably not legitimate. Your best bet is to limit the conversation, say no, and shut the door.
- Cheap Works at First – A storm chaser will offer extra cheap prices to entrap you into their scheme but costs will multiply later, which will lead to a more expensive roof repair than you ever imagined. Also, watch out for direct payments upfront. A top-rated roofing contractor usually won’t require payment ahead of time. If you are being pressured for payment and no work has been done, you’re facing a definite scam.
- Poor Workmanship – You won’t get the quality you’re looking for with a hurried job. You’ll soon realize that what you have spent in saving time is not worth the results.
Any of the signs of storm chasers given here should bring awareness that they’re usually out for a quick buck at your expense. Try to steer clear of them and let someone qualified in your area do the repair or replacement work for you. Don’t be fooled by what a storm chaser offers. Keep them off your roof. You want to avoid them and only work with reputable roofing companies. If you’re looking for a reliable and trustworthy roofing contractor, contact RGB Construction. Call us at 856-264-9093. You want your roof repaired right with no future redo’s or surprises.
