After the Hail Storm: 4 Tips to Avoid Scams

Posted on: 20 February 2018

Depending on where you live and how severe the storm is, hail can be minor or it can be devastating. Hail can be very tiny pieces of ice, or they can be very large in size, such as the size of a baseball! Hail can cause serious damage to the roof of your home. While it is true that shingles are designed to withstand significant weather elements, they can sustain damage from substantial hail storms.

After a hail storm, you will need to perform a visual inspection of the roof to look for signs of hail damage, such as bruising, dents and chips in the shingles as well as missing shingles, etc. If you notice these signs of damage, here are a few tips to help you avoid scams from roofing contractors:

1. Watch Out for Door-to-Door Contractors

It isn't uncommon for some contractors to solicit their services door-to-door after a significant storm has blown through a town. They try to pressure homeowners into making quick (and usually expensive) decisions regarding repair work. When these contractors come to your door, verify their information. If they don't have a physical phone number and address, tread carefully.

2. Work with Contractors Who Are Licensed, Bonded & Insured

When considering contractors, request documentation that proves they are professionally licensed, bonded and insured. Once you receive this information, go a step further and verify the license through the necessary licensing board. It also doesn't hurt to check with the Better Business Bureau for consumer complaints.

3. Ask for References

If the contractor is reputable and legitimate, he or she should have no problem providing you with references when asked. Don't just take this list, though; call the references. You should be able to reach the majority of the references that are provided to you. If you are unable to, let this be a red flag for you.

4. Read the Contract Before Signing

If a contractor does not provide you with a contract, or tries to hand you a blank contract to sign, be wary. It is very important that you have a written contract that outlines the payment schedule, scope of work, start date, end date, list of project materials, necessary permits, post-construction clean-up, etc. Make certain that all of the contact information for the contractor is included as well. Read through the contract thoroughly before signing it and having the contractor sign it too.

Before storm season arrives, make sure that your homeowners' insurance is all up to date. Contact services to learn more Boone Ritter Insurance.

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Little-known Insurance Tips

While I have had auto insurance ever since I bought my first car at 16 years old and home insurance ever since I bought my first home several years ago, I have to admit that over the years I knew very little about insurance. I tended to just look at the price of the coverage and sign the paperwork without really looking into the pros and cons of each policy. After my friend was in a car accident recently (thankfully, she is okay!) and she said she had to pay for some of the damage to the other vehicle out-of-pocket even though she had a minimum state coverage auto insurance policy, I decided to put a lot of careful research into insurance policies and what they really offer. I want to help others by sharing the information I have learned on a blog. I hope I can help you!