The aftermath of a major storm can be overwhelming. If you’ve got hail damage, wind damage, a tree down on your property – it can be difficult to determine next steps. We have two important words of advice:
- Secure your home from further damage. Tarp holes in the roof, board up broken windows, etc. Insurance policies will not cover subsequent damage if you do not protect what you can in the aftermath.
- HIRE a LOCAL contractor, with local roots and a local, brick-and-mortar location. We cannot stress this enough.
After a storm takes place in a community, traveling contractors (aka “storm chasers”) arrive in droves, looking to secure lurcative projects paid for by “insurance money” (aka your money). They follow the radar and news reports – and flock to areas with homes damaged by hail, wind, tornados and more – hoping to win over homeowners, “help” them to file a claim with their insurance, profit off the job – then they’re off into the great wild yonder, following the next storm.
Now, in all honesty, not alllllll of them are dishonest. Many are. But not all. The problem lies in the post-repair phase for you. What happens if you have a concern over the product performance or the workmanship? Nothing. They’re gone. They don’t have a local reputation to uphold nor ties to the community – leaving you with questions, problems and headaches.
Quick tips to help determine if a home improvement contractor truly has local ties:
Look at the license plates on their vehicle(s). Are they Wisconsin plates? A local business would have have Wisconsin plates.
What is their address? Is it nearby? How long have they been operating out of that location? Often times they set up temporary “offices” that have been recently opened and will be quickly closed.
Are they members of any local associations like NARI, the BBB or Chambers of Commerce?
Many storm chasers literally do that – follow storms around the country, set up temporary “offices” where weather damage has occurred, and rush trusting homeowners into signing contracts… and then quickly skip town for the next storm. Checking the items above can help protect you from unscrupulous contractors or being victim to shoddy work with no warranty.
