Storm chasers: 9 red flags before you sign anything
Most roofers are honest. The ones who appear from out of state right after a storm deserve five minutes of checking.
After every big hail or wind storm, out-of-town crews flood the affected neighborhoods. Some are legitimate contractors following the work. Others take deposits and disappear, or do cheap work that fails before the next season. The Better Business Bureau warns about this pattern after every natural disaster (BBB's storm-chaser advice). Here's how to tell them apart.
The 9 red flags
- They show up uninvited, right after the storm. Good local roofers get swamped with inbound calls. Door-knocking within hours of the storm is the classic pattern.
- Out-of-state plates and no local address. Ask where their office is. "We're based wherever the work is" means they'll be gone when the warranty matters.
- "Today only" pricing. Pressure to sign on the spot is a sales tactic, not a favor. Real estimates survive 48 hours.
- Full payment or a very large deposit up front. A deposit for materials once they're delivered is normal. Paying for everything before work begins is how people lose money.
- They want your insurance check signed over to them. Pay the contractor directly, by invoice. Never sign documents giving a contractor rights to your claim.
- "We'll cover your deductible." In many states this is insurance fraud, and it can put your claim at risk. Walk away.
- No license or insurance proof. Ask for both and verify - a real contractor expects it.
- A vague, one-line contract. No materials list, no dates, no warranty terms means no protection for you.
- No references, or only brand-new reviews. A business with a thin or suddenly-created online presence hasn't earned trust yet.
The 5-minute check that filters most of them out
- License: look them up on your state or city contractor licensing site. Takes two minutes.
- Insurance: ask for a certificate of liability insurance and workers' comp, and call the insurer to confirm it's current.
- History: check how long the business has existed and read reviews older than the storm.
- Estimates: get two or three in writing. Legit contractors welcome the comparison.
- Payment: never cash in full up front. A credit card gives you fraud protection; a signed contract with staged payments is the norm.
DamageRepairHub exists because this checking is tedious when you're stressed. Here's what we check before a contractor can join the network.