Why Should You Avoid Storm Chasers When You Have Roof Damage?

umbrella with rain and hail falling on it and the caption Why Should You Avoid Storm Chasers When You Have Roof Damage?
If a storm has wrecked your roof, it is easy to wonder who to trust to complete home repairs. Storm chasers often collect homeowners’ insurance claim checks to pay for their services and complete the storm repair work before moving to the next storm-ravaged area.

Signs You Are Talking to a Storm Chaser

  • Out-of-town storm chasers don’t have community roots or knowledge of the local area (including laws and building codes).
  • They often have a significant turnover of roofing crews, salespersons, and other staff.
  • Storm chasers lack proper training which can easily void your roof warranty and insurance coverage. If you investigate their company, you will most likely find out it has a bad reputation.
  • In most cases, they don’t offer workmanship warranties; if they do, the warranties aren’t backed.
  • They often make deals which sound too good to be true or give away too many freebies to close the sale. Beware of “great deals” since they usually don’t end up very great.
  • Without roots in your community, they will vanish from your area when work dries up. They may take your deposit and disappear, leaving you with a partial roof, or do sub par work you need repairs or a new roof in just a few years.

Another strategy the more sophisticated storm chasers employ is the renting or buying of a local contractor. Look out for the following to weed out storm chasers from genuine local roofing companies:

  • They don’t have the required licenses in your state.
  • They don’t hold a locally recognized business name.
  • They are not BBB registered.

How to Know You Have a Great Contractor

You should be the one to call the roofing company instead of waiting for someone to knock on your door. Start building a relationship with a trusted local roofer before you need emergency storm roof repairs. Make sure your local roofer doesn’t partner with out-of-state subcontractors. Here are other ways you know your roofing contractor is excellent:

  • They are local to your area and won’t disappear.
  • They have regular crews and don’t have a lot of turnover.
  • They’re properly trained and have the right insurance to keep you, your home, and their crews protected.
  • They not only offer warranties on their products, but also workmanship warranties.
  • They offer financing options and will work with you on your roofing project.

Regardless of the urgency of your roof repair need, only hire a reputable, qualified, local roofing contractor. It is best to do the job right the first time! Contact Texas Traditions for all your roofing needs in the Georgetown, Texas area.