How to spot out-of-town storm chasers after a hail storm

Storm chasers are roofing outfits that travel from one hail event to the next. They set up in a motel or a rented lot, knock doors in the hardest hit neighborhoods and work fast while insurance money is flowing.

The trouble usually comes later. When a flashing detail leaks the next spring, the company has gone home, the phone number is disconnected and the workmanship promise means nothing. Manufacturer warranties can also be harder to use when the installer cannot be found to confirm how the roof was put on.

They are not always out of state. Some set up a local phone number and a rented office for a few months. The real test is whether the company will still be here, answering the same phone, two or three years after the storm.

Not every door knocker is a storm chaser, but these signs should make you slow down. Two or three together are a strong reason to say no thanks.

Watch for yard signs as well. Some crews put a sign in one yard, then tell everyone on the street they are already working there. A sign is not proof of anything; a finished roof you can look at a year later is.

• They knock unasked right after a storm and say your whole street is getting new roofs
• The truck has out of state plates or a magnetic sign stuck to the door
• They push you to sign today, before your insurer has even seen the roof
• They offer to cover or absorb your deductible
• They want a large cash payment or a big deposit upfront
• They have no local office address, only a cell phone number
• They want to talk to your insurer for you and ask you to sign over claim rights
• They climb your roof without asking first

Some door knockers hand homeowners a short form they call an inspection agreement or authorization. Read it closely. Some of these papers commit you to having that company do the work if insurance approves the claim, and some include an assignment of benefits that hands control of your claim to the contractor.

Never sign anything on the doorstep that you have not read in full. Take it inside, read it and ask your insurer or an attorney about anything unclear. A real roofer will leave a business card and a written price and let you decide on your own schedule.

Federal rules give buyers a short window to cancel many sales made at the home, but there are exceptions, including some emergency repairs. Do not count on canceling later; read before you sign.

A few simple checks weed out most problems. They take an hour or two and can save you thousands.

Workmanship coverage is another question to ask. Get the company's promise about its own labor in writing, and ask how they handle a leak in the first few years. A promise is only worth something if the company is still around to keep it.

• Look for a real local address and drive by it if you can
• Ask who will be on your roof: the company's own crew or someone hired for the week
• Ask for proof of liability and workers compensation coverage, and call the carrier to confirm it
• Search the company name with words like complaint or lawsuit
• Ask for addresses of nearby roofs they finished at least a year ago
• Get the full price in writing with the shingle line, underlayment and flashing listed

A contractor who offers to cover or waive your deductible is asking you to misrepresent the cost of the job to your insurer. The deductible is your share of the loss under the policy. Hiding it can put your claim at risk, and in some situations it can be treated as insurance fraud.

The money has to come from somewhere, too. A roofer who absorbs a deductible often makes it back by cutting corners: reusing old flashing, skipping drip edge, using cheaper underlayment or covering rotten decking. You save on day one and pay later in leaks.

An honest roofer prices the whole job in writing, shows the full number and leaves the policy questions between you and your insurer.

Some contractors also suggest inflating the claim, for example by adding damage that is not there. Any roofer who suggests that is asking you to take a real legal risk for their benefit.

A local roofer is easy to find after the job. You can drive past the office, call the same number next year and get the same crew back if something needs attention. That alone removes most of the risk storm chasers bring.

Real roofers also slow the process down instead of rushing it. They inspect the roof, take photos, show you what they found and tell you if the damage is not worth a claim. They give a written price before work starts and explain how they handle decking and flashing.

At O'Dell Roofing, our own crews do the work and our office is at 318 W 2nd Street in downtown Little Rock. We photograph damage, walk you through it and clean up with a magnet sweep for nails when the job is done.

A local roofer also knows the housing stock. They know which subdivisions have shallow pitches, which older neighborhoods have plank decking and how wind tends to hit homes on exposed ridges. That knowledge shows up in a quote that fits your house instead of a generic one.

Write down the date of the storm and photograph damage from the ground: dented gutters, AC fins, siding and any shingle pieces in the yard. Read your policy for your deductible and reporting rules. If water is coming in, have the leak tarped and keep the receipt.

Then take your time choosing a roofer. A week spent checking companies is worth it on a roof that should last 20 years or more. Call (501) 387-1152 any time, day or night, and we will inspect the roof, photograph what we find and give you a written price with no pressure to sign on the spot.

If someone pressured you into signing already, do not panic. Read what you signed, call your insurer and ask what it means for your claim. If needed, talk to an attorney about your options before any work starts.