The Importance Of Choosing A Local Roofer
How to know if your Roofer is a “Storm Chaser”
A Category 4 hurricane rips through your hometown, destroying nearly everything in its path. It has left many with a yard full of debris, flooding and in your case – roof damage. As you and your family start the cleanup and repair process, you get a knock on the door or a call on the phone. It’s a roofer stating that he can provide a free roofing inspection so that you can get your insurance company to pay for your new roof – at very little or no cost to you!
At first, this sounds all too tempting. Your home is damaged, and fixing it quickly is of utmost priority. If the roofing contractor can get the insurance to pay for it – why not?
Remember – if something sounds a bit too good to be true, it probably is. As Mike LaFollette of Angi writes, “the chasers know how the insurance companies work, and based on the square footage of the roof, they can figure out how much it will cost to put on a cheap new roof. The homeowner gets burned because the storm chaser only does the bare minimum to replace the roof, but doesn’t address any other problems, or restore the roof to its original condition. The homeowner is then left with a poorly constructed roof, and the fraudulent company that was once so ready to help has vanished.”
Looking for the best way to avoid storm chaser scams? These are a few good rules to follow:
Select a local roofer. A local roofer based in your area is always going to be a better bet than a company who simply sends its sales technicians to an area immediately following a storm. In most cases, “storm chaser” roofers do not usually service the affected area during normal business operations, thus making it difficult should you need any assistance, repairs, etc. upon completion of the roof. Code Red Roofers has been in business for 16 years, with branches in Martin, St. Lucie, Palm Beach and Polk Counties.
Check the roofing contractor’s insurance coverage. Many “storm chaser” roofing companies will simply lie about having insurance coverage. This has the potential to lead to giant problems should someone get hurt on your property during the roof installation. Code Red Roofers provides the ultimate insurance coverage – covering EVERY person that steps foot on your property during the roof install – whether it be our crews, your family, or even the pizza delivery man! You can rest assured that if an accident occurs, you will not be held liable.
Ensure that the roofing contractor holds a valid business license in your state. Many “storm chasers” lack a valid license – whether it be expired, from a different state, or fraudulent altogether. Code Red Roofers provides every client with a copy of our state licenses.
Pay attention to addresses (or lack thereof) – If a roofing contractor doesn’t have a valid address in your area, beware! Many “storm chasers” utilize P.O. boxes or have an address in a city miles away from where they are attempting to do business. Code Red Roofers services our Martin, St. Lucie and Palm Beach County residences from our home office in Stuart, FL and we service Polk County from our branch in Winter Haven, FL. A hometown roofer is also keen on knowing your particular area, building codes, suppliers, manufacturers, etc.
Check out reviews. – If a quick web search doesn’t bring up any reviews, it’s usually a red flag. “Storm chasers” often move from city to city after major storms, and may even change their business name each time, resulting in little to no reviews of the quality of work. Code Red Roofers has hundreds of 5 star reviews.
With the right research and knowing the “warning signs” – you can be better able to choose the right roofing contractor and avoid scams. Code Red Roofers is ready to assist you in a time when quality and trustworthy work matters most.
Need a free roof estimate? Call 1-844-4CODERED