How to Avoid Storm—Chasing Repair Scam
Having your house damaged by a terrible storm can be a traumatizing experience, but do you know what’s more traumatizing? Being taken advantage of by an unscrupulous storm chaser.
A storm chaser is a con man who waits for horrible storms to destroy homes and then preys upon the owners of those homes in an attempt to make quick cash.
These individuals offer roofing repair services, but don’t follow through with what was agreed upon.
It’s vital that you avoid them at all costs, and instead use a reputable Chicago roofing company.
How can you prevent this from happening to you?
Say No to Door-to-Door Salesmen
If someone shows up unsolicited at your doorstep and is offering to fix your roof, that person is most certainly a storm chaser. There are exceptions of course, but those exceptions are few and far between.
A good sign that you’re dealing with a storm chaser is if he or she tries to manipulate you into signing a contract or handing over money immediately.
A legitimate business would never try to pressure you into anything.
Check Online for Reviews
Another way to make sure that you’re not dealing with a storm chaser is by looking their business up online. First, make sure that the business actually exists. If it doesn’t show up online, there’s really no reason to do business with them.
If the business does exist, pay attention to their online business reviews. A legitimate Chicago roofing repair business will almost certainly have reviews from customers that they have worked with.
Of course, if all of their online reviews are bad, it’s a business you should avoid as well.
Confirm Proper Insurance and Licensure
Letting an unlicensed or uninsured roofer work on your property is a mistake regardless of whether or not that roofer is legitimate. If an uninsured roofer were to be injured on your property, he or she could blame you in a court of law.
Legally, you could be responsible for thousands of dollars in damages.
Ask the roofing company that you’re working with for their licensure and insurance information. After you’ve done that, confirm its legitimacy with both the state licensing board and the insurance company.
In many states, licensure and insurance are required for a roofing company to complete business.
Be Present for Inspections
A common practice of storm chasers is to blatantly damage your roof during inspections so that there’s a reason for it to be fixed. Due to this, it’s vital that you’re present while the roofing company you’re working with is completing inspections.
A legitimate Chicago roofing company will be entirely up-front about what their inspecting and what type of repairs will be needed. They will have no problem with you following along during an inspection.
In addition, they will also be able to provide you with a general estimate of the cost of their services.
Receive Estimates from Several Companies
While costs for service will vary from company to company, for the most part, roofing companies will charge prices that are in the same ballpark range.
For this reason, you want to call around to as many roofing companies as possible so that you can get a realistic estimate of the cost for of specific services.
Companies that charge much less than other companies may be legit, but could also very likely be storm chasers. Be wary of companies that ask for all of the money upfront.
Most legitimate companies require a down payment before the job is done, and then will bill you for the rest of the costs after the work is finished.
Do Business with a Reputable Chicago Roofing Company
If you’re looking for a reputable Chicago roofing company, we here at Conrad Roofing Company are the people to call. We possess many years of experience in roof repair, and provide our services in a timely and professional manner.
Contact us today!
