1. [Home](/) 2. [Guides](/guides/) 3. [Storm and hail damage: what to do](/guides/storm-damage-guide/) 4. How to avoid storm-chaser roofers # How to avoid storm-chaser roofers After a big storm, crews from outside the area often show up within days. Some do good work. Many leave homeowners with problems and nobody to call. Here is how to tell the difference. ## Key takeaways - A real local address, references nearby and a written estimate are the basics to ask for. - Do not sign anything on the spot. Take at least a day and compare estimates. - Be wary of promised claim approvals, offers to cover your deductible, and large payments up front. - Ask for proof of insurance and ask about permits before you agree to anything. - If you have already signed, read the contract for a cancellation right and act quickly. ## Why storm chasers show up after a storm When hail or high wind damages a lot of roofs in one area, some contractors travel there to find work. They knock on doors, leave flyers, and often offer a quick inspection. Many pitch themselves as experts in insurance claims. Not every out-of-town roofer is a problem, and not every local one is good. The trouble starts when a crew works fast, takes the money, and is gone before problems show up. A roof that leaks a year later is hard to fix when the company has no local office, no listed phone that gets answered, and a name that has changed. Storm season in Southwest Ohio brings these crews back after every major hail or wind event. A little preparation before one arrives at your door is the best protection. ## Warning signs Watch for these: - Pressure to decide today, with talk of a special price that ends soon - A contract or authorization form put in front of you at the first visit - A promise that your claim will be approved, or that they will deal with the insurer for you - An offer to cover or waive your deductible, which can cause problems with your insurer - A large payment demanded before any work or materials - No local address, only a phone number or a post office box - No written estimate, or one with no detail on materials or scope - A reluctance to give references or proof of insurance One sign alone does not prove anything. Several together are a reason to stop and step back. ## How to check a roofer Start with where they are. A roofer should have a real address you can visit, a phone that gets answered, and a name that has been in use for a while. Check reviews and complaint records, and look at more than a handful of recent ones. Ask for references from jobs near you and, if you can, drive past those roofs. Neighbors are often willing to tell you how a job went. Ask for proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage, and call the insurer to confirm it is current. Ask whether your city or county requires a permit or contractor registration for roofing, and who will pull the permit. Get a written, itemized estimate that names the shingle or other materials, the work on flashing, vents and underlayment, how old material is removed, and the payment schedule. Compare at least two. If you are filing an insurance claim, see [how roof insurance claims usually work](/guides/storm-damage-guide/roof-insurance-claims/) so you know what to expect from that side. ## Do not sign on the spot A roof is a large job and the material is not going to disappear overnight. A reputable roofer will not mind if you take a day or two to read a contract and compare estimates. Before you sign anything, read the whole document. Check that the scope of work matches the written estimate, that materials are named, that the payment schedule ties payments to progress, and that it says who handles permits, cleanup and what happens if hidden damage is found under the old roof. Be careful with any form that gives a contractor the right to deal directly with your insurer or that commits you to the job before your claim is decided. If a roof is leaking, you can have an emergency tarp put on without committing to a full replacement. Ask for the emergency work to be billed separately and in writing. ## If you have already signed If you signed at your door and have second thoughts, act quickly. Some door-to-door sales carry a short right to cancel in writing, so look for a cancellation notice in your paperwork and note the deadline. Your state consumer protection office can tell you what applies. Contact your insurer, tell them what you signed, and ask how it affects your claim. Hold off on any payment until you have read the contract and confirmed the contractor's insurance and permits. If you want a second opinion on damage or an estimate, [roof repair](/services/roof-repair/) and [storm damage](/services/storm-damage/) are good places to start. Contact local roofers who have been in your area for years and can show you finished work nearby. ## Frequently asked questions Is every roofer who knocks on my door a storm chaser? No, but a roofer who needs to find work door to door right after a storm deserves extra checking. Ask for a local address, references nearby, proof of insurance and a written estimate before anything else. Why is offering to cover my deductible a red flag? It can cause problems with your insurer, and it may mean the estimate has been inflated to make up the difference. Ask your insurer how deductibles are handled before agreeing to anything. Is it safe to pay a deposit? Some deposit is common for materials, but a large amount up front is a warning sign. Ask for a payment schedule in the contract that ties payments to work completed. 3 min read. ### Want us to handle it? Jackson Exteriors works in Hamilton, Fairfield, Fairfield Township. [Get a quote](/contact/)[Call (513)863-5300](tel:+15138635300) ### More in this guide - [Storm and hail damage: what to do](/guides/storm-damage-guide/) - [How to spot hail damage on a roof](/guides/storm-damage-guide/spotting-hail-damage/) - [How roof insurance claims usually work](/guides/storm-damage-guide/roof-insurance-claims/) ### Related services - [Roof Repair](/services/roof-repair/) - [Storm & Hail Damage](/services/storm-damage/) ### Service areas - [Hamilton](/areas/hamilton/) - [Fairfield](/areas/fairfield/) - [Fairfield Township](/areas/fairfield-township/) ### Other guides - [Replacing a roof in Southwest Ohio](/guides/roof-replacement-guide/) - [Gutters, leaks and keeping water out of your house](/guides/gutters-and-leaks-guide/) ## Call us at (513) 863-5300 or send a quote request and we will look at your roof. [Get a quote](/contact/) [Call (513)863-5300](tel:+15138635300) --- **Jackson Exteriors** · 781 Impala Pl, Hamilton, OH 45013 · (513)863-5300 [Get a quote](/contact/) · [Services](/services/) · [Guides](/guides/) · [FAQ](/faq/)