How to Spot Storm Chasers vs. Local Roofing Companies

June 28, 2024

When severe weather hits the Kansas City area your roof can sustain significant damage that you’ll want fixed quickly to prevent further damage. Storm chaser roofing companies prey on that anxiety, flooding into neighborhoods that have had severe weather, posing as roofers knocking on doors, and pressuring residents to sign with them by promising deals that are expiring soon and promising quick fixes. Unfortunately, the risks of hiring one of these itinerant contractors can leave out of a lot of money, improperly done repairs, and even risk further damage to your home. That’s why picking from local roofing companies not only invests in your community but also makes sure your home receives the quality services it deserves while adhering to local building codes.

The Importance of Choosing Local Roofing Companies

A contractor wearing a harness is working on a damaged roof.

Whether it’s wind damage or hail damage, roofing contractors play a critical role in the recovery process. Local roofing companies know their reputation and trustworthiness are as important as the quality of their work. That’s why they’ve invested in building long-lasting relationships in their community and with customers.

Unlike storm chaser roofing companies, local businesses have a permanent presence in the area, providing long-term benefits such as warranties and follow-up services. Local companies will also be aware of local building codes, and permit requirements and even experienced in working with your insurance company, helping you to avoid roofing scams. Another way a local roofing company is different than shady storm chaser roofing companies is they can schedule your free roofing inspection on YOUR schedule. The less scrupulous roofers knocking on doors usually claim they’d have to do your inspection ‘immediately’ in order to qualify for some fantastic deal, leaving you feeling pressured to act. By choosing a local company, you not only protect your investment but also contribute to the local economy.

Characteristics of Storm Chaser Roofing Companies

Storm chasers roofing companies employ aggressive sales tactics, often appearing shortly after a storm. Roofers knocking on doors or door to door hail damage inspectors offering special limited-time deals (Especially those that require an immediate deposit to ‘reserve your spot.) and quick fixes are common tactic. These companies literally have people, traveling from city to city, chasing storms to take advantage of homeowners that may be making insurance claims. Here are some common signs that a company might be a storm chaser:

Door-to-Door Sales: Persistent door-to-door sales pitches right after a storm. While some legitimate companies may canvass an especially hard-hit neighborhood, they won’t use strong-arm tactics to get your business.
Too Good to Be True Deals: Beware of offers that include putting down a deposit, signing anything regarding financing, waive your insurance deductible (Which is frequently illegal.) These can all be signs of roofing scams. Any legitimate company will not pressure you to commit at your doorstep without a thorough inspection etc.
Lack of Local Knowledge: Chances are you don’t know much about local building codes, but then neither does anyone representing storm chasing roofing companies. Unfamiliarity with local building codes and requirements, leading to potential non-compliance issues requiring expensive repairs can impact your insurance coverage.
Out-of-State Plates: Living in the Kansas City area, we’re used to seeing Missouri and Kansas plates but out of state plates on someone going door to door is a sign they’re not locally based.

Not only do these companies use unscrupulous tactics but if they do any work it can be subpar with inferior materials or cut corners as part of a roofing scam leaving you with potential roof failures down the line.

Benefits of Hiring Local Roofing Companies

Local roofing companies provide numerous benefits that storm chasers simply can’t match. Local roofing companies have easily verifiable references, and reviews from community members, and some can even provide examples of work they’ve done in the area. A local roofing company will also offer warranties on workmanship and materials and be easily accessible for follow-up services if needed or to answer any questions you may have. Last but not least, a local roofing company employs people in your area, they offer a valuable resource that helps strengthen the community and your business helps them continue to do so.

Local companies often offer free roofing inspections, scheduled when you are available, to provide you with a comprehensive assessment and cost estimate. This transparency helps you be assured that any damage is addressed before any work is started.

How to Verify Roofing Companies

The best protection from roofing scams is to thoroughly vet any company you consider working with. You can do this in a variety of ways such as contacting your insurance agent to see if they’ve worked with a particular roofing company in the past, checking whether the company has state and local licenses and insurance to do the work they’re promising. This will also protect you from any issues with subpar workmanship, liability for accidents that may happen during the project, and problems with your insurance claims.

A legitimate company will have an easily accessible phone number and contact information. In our digital age, it’s not just storm chaser roofing companies knocking on your door, they also use social media such as Facebook to reach unsuspecting people. Avoid social media posts by companies that overload their posts with hashtags and only offer further information through private messages but won’t provide a phone number.

Do use social media and online reviews as part of your research though. Google is a great resource as legitimate companies will not only appear in a Google search of ‘roofing companies near me’ but they’ll also show the reviews from other customers and the level of engagement a company has with their customers. Reviews also can help you make an informed decision on which roofers to avoid

Get multiple quotes so you can spot a quote that is wildly out of step with other companies. Any estimate that is markedly higher or lower than the average of the quotes you’ve gotten should be a red flag.

Choose Wisely: Local Roofing Companies vs. Storm Chasers

When you need an assessment after a storm, it may be convenient to accept the help of a roofer knocking on your door but we hope this blog has given you a better understanding of storm chasing roofers and how their quick fix deals pose risks that far outweigh the benefits. That’s why a local roofing company is a better choice. They have invested in their community by providing high-quality services, adhering to local codes and regulations and they stand behind their work. This offers their customers not only peace of mind but long-term protection for the work done to their home.

Quality Storm Damage Roofing Services at Preferred Roofing and Seamless Guttering in Lee's Summit, MO

If you've been impacted by severe weather, choose Preferred Roofing & Seamless Guttering for your roofing needs. We provide reliable and trustworthy roofing services in Kansas City and the surrounding areas. Contact Preferred Roofing KC for a free roofing inspection and ensure your home gets the best possible care.

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