Whenever a huge storm, high winds and/ or tornados hit an area, guess who’s ready to come knocking on your door? That’s right, Storm Chasers!
Who are Storm Chasers?
Storm Chasers are Roofing contractors who use special equipment and technology to locate large storms that have recently affected an area. Any severe storm that can damage a home is ideal. This can range from Hail storms to tornadoes. Once an area is located, the Storm Chasers move in.
Why you should be concerned.
Since their business is to find an area hit by a storm, they quickly move in and do very fast work, taking advantage of insurance policies to maximize profits by maxing out the costs while also cutting costs by using unqualified, cheap labor.
Consequently, doing very fast work with cheap materials leads to undesirable results. They use the cheapest materials and practices to quickly get a job done, leaving an unreliable, short term roof. A properly built roof can easily last a quarter century or longer, whereas a cheap roof thrown up by a Storm Chaser might not even last 10 years.
When a storm chaser comes in and throws on a “new” roof and leaves. The homeowner may not be able to get in contact with this so-called roofing contractor, if any issues happen to pop up with their poor quality install. They are long gone.
Storm chasers know all the ins and out of every home insurance out there. They claim doing the job at almost no cost to the homeowner, advising them to take advantage of their home insurance policies. Sometimes even offering to cover the deductible. Since most insurance companies will cover the cost of a new roof, (theoretically) Storm chasers can claim an offer of replacing the entire roof for FREE! (which is illegal to do).
How to spot a storm chaser.
1. They have a “lifetime” workmanship warranty.
When they say they have a lifetime workmanship warranty, that is a huge red flag. No business can promise that, because no business can guarantee they will be around that long. Storm chasers once they start receiving bad reviews, will close that company and start a new one.
2. They make you sign something before going on the roof.
Be very wary of what you sign. If a roofer asks you to sign something before they go on your roof, it could secretly be an agreement to use them as your roofer, and then you’re stuck.
3. They push you to file a claim right away.
You always have time to do your research. Even if your roof is leaking, there are ways to temporarily fix leaks so you can take your time to weigh your options. Storm chasers are not around for very long, so they will push you to decide right away so they can get the job and go.
4. Their crew does not have any company gear.
When a crew doesn’t match the company, chances are they are subcontractors and have no commitment to deliver a quality roof.
5. Their license plate is from another state.
If your roofer has a license plate from another state, it’s a tell-tale sign they are not local.
6. They won’t provide you a quote without seeing the insurance paperwork.
Many storm chasers insist on seeing your insurance paperwork. Yes, insurance paperwork is incredibly helpful for a roofer. It has all your roof measurements, making it easier and faster to put together a quote. We sometimes ask for it too, but we never require it. Storm chasers require your insurance paperwork so they can match their quote to it to maximize their profits–even if their job doesn’t actually cost that much.
7. They offer to “pay” your deductible.
Number one, this is illegal. Number two, they probably will just add the cost of your deductible to the roofing quote to make up for it.
Each of these clues should act as a “stop” sign for you. If you notice any of these things, you’ll want to pause and do some research before moving forward with that contractor.
8. They are not a locally recognized contractor.
Your preferred contractor should be recognized as a provider for your community. Not someone who is going to cut and run.
Here at Perfect Exteriors, Our goal is to help you make the most informed decision about your roof while giving you the best workmanship possible.
When you call for an estimate, we don’t just give you a price for your roof. We offer a free consultation between you and one of our roofing experts.
Contact us here or Call us at 708-969-1392.
Office: 708-969-1392
http://www.perfectexteriorsinc.com
Perfect Exteriors Inc, your Perfect choice in Roofing Contractors.
Servicing Aurora, Naperville, Hinsdale, Wheaton, Lisle and the rest of the Chicagoland area for over a decade!
Source:
https://perfectexteriorsinc.com/beware-and-be-careful-of-storm-chasers-heres-why/