A homeowner’s first instinct after a major weather disturbance is to check the house for any damage, especially the roof. If there is damage, many homeowners seek help where they can find it, making it easy for them to fall victim to “storm chasers” -- unscrupulous and often fly-by-night contractors who offer their services to unwary homeowners just when they are most in need of repairs at home. Storm chasers are roofers who make a living by travelling the country in search of roofing jobs to be found in areas that have recently been through a major storm or weather disturbance. Some of them may actually be experienced contractors, although many are nothing but scam artists who do a shoddy job, then take your cash and skip out of town as quickly as they can.

They’ll entice homeowners to get their roofs repaired by offering their expertise. You can probably guess what happens next. Once the homeowner agrees and makes the down payment, the contractor performs the minimum required to repair the roof or, in a worst-case scenario, simply run away with the money, never to be heard from again.

Homeowners have to understand that while it’s a priority to get the roof repaired, it’s still best to be careful when choosing which roofing contractors to hire, to avoid being scammed by storm chasers. The waiting time it may take before a reputable locally-based contractor can get around to your roof job will still, no doubt, be less painful than discovering that your money for repairs has disappeared into thin air. There are many ways to detect a scammer, but the first step will always be to verify the roofing contractor’s credentials.

PART 1: VERIFYING CREDENTIALS

CHECK TO SEE IF THEY’RE LOCAL

Roofing contractors that are local will always be your best bet. The first thing you’ll need to do is to simply check the license plates on their trucks. If the vehicle’s plates are from another state, then this should already alert you to the possibility of a storm chaser.

However, some companies may pretend that they’re local. Some may even go the extent of setting up a temporary office or tying up with a local company. If you’re in doubt, call or visit their office and ask for a copy of their permits.

CHECK WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU (BBB)

You can also check if they’re accredited with the BBB. The organization receives thousands of complaints yearly about fraudulent roofing contractors, so they’ll have reliable records of who to deal with. If the company isn’t accredited, you’re better off finding another.

Storm chasers will do anything to get you to agree to their offer. They may even seem to be legit. In Part II, we’ll discuss some of the common tactics that they use when they’re looking for victims. Being aware of those tactics will alert you on whether or not you’re dealing with a legitimate company.

PART 1: VERIFYING CREDENTIALS

After a major storm, those affected are vulnerable to scams, simply because they’re in dire need of help. If you’re ever in this type of situation, you need to keep your guard up even if you do need to get your roof repaired as soon as possible. One of the ways to do this is to avoid divulging information until you’re absolutely certain that you’re dealing with a legitimate roofing contractor.

Below are some questions that storm chasers usually ask and tactics they will at times resort to, to get more information about their potential victims. The way you answer these questions will give the storm chasers insights that could leave you vulnerable to their tactics.

BEWARE OF LIMITED-TIME OFFERS

Like normal roofing contractors, storm chasers will ask to inspect the damage so they can give you a quotation. However, they’ll also use tactics such as “limited-time offers” to get you to hire them without taking adequate time to do a background check first. Never give in to pressure. Legitimate companies will simply provide you with a quote and leave you to decide. They will never use pressure tactics, especially if there’s widespread damage in your area.

DON’T TELL THEM ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR INSURANCE POLICY

Storm chasers will certainly be interested about your insurance policy. Never give out any of this information. What they’ll do is provide you a quotation that’s near or exactly the amount of your policy regardless of the repairs you actually need. If a contractor asks for insurance information right off the bat, find another contractor.

PART 2: KEEPING YOUR CARDS CLOSE TO YOUR CHEST

Don’t pay a large amount up front -- most certainly not the whole amount

Many scammers ask for a down payment. Others even ask for the entire amount of the contract outright. If the contractor asks for a large sum up front, don’t give in. You would be better off looking for another contractor or asking for a better payment option. Additionally, you should always withhold a certain percentage of the total contract price, which should come due and be paid only when you’re completely satisfied with the job.

Beware of cheap offers

If you think that a roofing contractor’s offer is too good to be true, it usually is. Roofing repairs aren’t cheap, so if the offer is way below fair or reasonable rates for the repairs required, don’t fall for it.

You’ll certainly want your roof to be repaired as soon as possible, but falling prey to scammers or so called “storm chasers” will result in anything but getting your roof repaired. Keep in mind that even though you need immediate help, you still need to deal with a legitimate company. If you don’t know of one in your area, find out the various ways you can accomplish this in Part III.

PART 2: KEEPING YOUR CARDS CLOSE TO YOUR CHEST

Finding the right help may be a bit difficult, especially if there’s widespread damage in your area, which is one of the reasons why many homeowners fall prey to scammers in the first place. However, if you’re a bit more patient and know what to look for in a legitimate roofing contractor, you’ll certainly be able to avoid scams and get your money’s worth.

Pay no attention to solicitors

After a major storm, there will be more than a fair share of solicitors on the streets. Pay no attention to those who appear to be going door-to-door looking for work. Instead, search the phonebook for local roofing contractors. If there aren’t any locally, you might be able to find one in a nearby town, city, or state. It’s always best to deal with the company directly instead of dealing with roving salesmen.

Pay close attention during inspections

If a roofing contractor asks to inspect the damage, tag along. In fact, have the contractor explain every bit of damage that they identify. Take note of the information they provide because you’ll need this when reviewing their quotation.

PART 3: HIRING THE RIGHT HELP

Verify the company’s details

If the company is legit, they’ll have no problem with you verifying their information first. In fact, they should be able to give you everything you’ll need to verify their credentials, permits, and other information.

Inform the contractor that you intend to get additional estimates

Storm chasers will do everything to get you to agree to a contract immediately. Legitimate companies will provide you an estimate and patiently wait while you’re attempting to find other estimates to compare against their offer.

Always be alert when negotiating with contractors

No matter how much you need their services, you need to stay alert and be aware of the signs of a scam. Legitimate companies will display genuine concern about your needs, explain everything about the contract in detail, and allow you to decide. Good companies will even go the extra mile and provide more than what you’ll be paying for.

PART 3: HIRING THE RIGHT HELP

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866-244-8029

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