Detecting Roofing Scams: How to Avoid Storm Chasers

Have you ever had to use old pots to catch dripping water from your roof? If not, then you’re one of the fortunate ones. Most of us will experience a roofing issue at least once in our lives.

This is especially true with the increase in extreme weather. How can you avoid getting caught up in roofing scams after a storm?

Read on to find out.

Who Is a Storm Chaser?

Adverse weather events can cause serious roof damage. This well-known fact has led to the rise of storm chasing scammers. Who are these individuals, and why are they chasing bad weather?

A storm chaser follows bad weather and searches for damaged roofs after the event. The scammer then targets these homes by encouraging the owner to act fast to fix their roof. Here’s how they position the scam:

They often travel door-to-door and offer a repair
They say an insurance claim will pay for their labor
They offer special storm discounts
They often do a poor job and then leave town

This predatory roof scam can leave victims in an even worse position than before. In the worst cases, an insurance company may deny the claim. That leaves the homeowner with a significant loss.

Types of Roofing Scams

Due to climate change, rainfall is getting heavier and more frequent. This means more people will need roof repairs in the coming years. So, you need to be aware of and avoid storm chasers.

Storm chasing is only one type of roofing scam, though. If you’re in need of a roof repair, then you need to be aware of them all. Here are some other common types of roofing scams:

Repairing the roof with poor quality materials for profit
Inflating a claim by causing worse damage
Accepting payment and then abandoning the job
Inadequately repairing the roof
Overcharging for repairs
The contractor starts with a low bid and then raises the price
“Free” roof inspections

Insurance companies report that over half of homeowners pay cash for repairs. If you’re feeling pressured to pay cash, then it could be a red flag that you’re getting scammed.

How to Avoid Getting Duped

There are a lot of things that endanger roofs. Often, roof damage is unavoidable. How can you avoid getting duped when you need a repair? Here are a few tips:

Always get a signed contract before work begins
Get several bids for a repair
Verify your contractor is licensed to do the repair
Avoid paying cash
Don’t hire a door-to-door salesman; look for established local contractors
Don’t pay more than 20% before work begins

By taking these steps, you’re protecting yourself and your family. Never let pressure or anxiety push you into making a bad decision.

Roof Repair Done Right

There are dozens of roofing scams out there, and spotting a fraud can be challenging. It’s necessary to protect yourself as a homeowner when these situations arise.

Are you ready to turn to a reputable roofing company for help? Contact us online or by phone at (919) 461-0937 to get started.

We had significant hail damage due to the May 2016 hail storm in Cary, and warded off all the storm chasers that came through our area for 2 months after. I called Scro’s Roofing after the insurance adjusted had written off the roof, and they worked us into their busy schedule. Amazing job done by an amazing and hard-working crew. I was impressed by the way they used tarps to protect the landscaping around the house, and Patricia was pretty particular about cleaning up after the crew. Danny was a pleasure to work with, and he provided several improvements to our roof like a installing a chimney cricket and ridge vents. We used Moire black shingles and the roof looks...

Larry O. | Cary, NC

In life you get what you pay for and this is certainly true with Scro’s Roofing. There are so many “fly be night” roofing companies out there who do not have the long standing customer service and support that a local roofing company can offer. Everyone should take the time to educate themselves about the roofing process and the track record of the company, as this is a very larger investment and an area where you don’t want to cut corners. The team at Scro’s Roofing provided me with many educational links and never pressured me into a sale. They wanted to ensure that I fully understood the process and trusted that I would make an intelligent decision. This sharing...

Kevin A. | Wake Forest, NC

Scro’s Roofing installed a new roof on our home and everything went exactly as planned and scheduled. The installation crew covered all our plants and deck when removing the roof and then cleaned up perfectly when the job was done. We were kept informed all along the job from start to finish so we knew how and when everything would be done. I’ve never experienced a contractor, a company or an owner like Danny who worked with us on every detail. Further, we had gotten several other quotes with Scro’s being the best. This project couldn’t have been done more smoothly… We greatly appreciate Danny the owner and Sarah our scheduling contact. They both were there for all and every...

Joe V. | Cary, NC

We just had our roof done by Scro’s Roofing, and we are very happy with the results. Danny and his office were very helpful in answering all of my questions. I did a good bit of research beforehand, and after talking with Danny, I had a lot of confidence that they are up to date on best practices and latest materials. In particular, I liked that they hand nail the shingles, use a synthetic underlayment instead of tar paper, install a drip edge, and provide a 10-year labor warranty. The thing about getting a new roof is that most people may not find out whether the installer did a bad job or used inferior materials for 5-10 years when they...

Matt B. | Cary, NC

The big hail storm of May 2, 2016 did extensive damage to our roof (and Leaf-Guard gutters as well). Our insurance company appraised the roof and said it all needed to be replaced. My first choice was again Scro’s Roofing. I was not about to use one of the “storm chasers” that descended on our neighborhood like carpetbaggers from who knows where. Danny, the owner of Scro’s Roofing looked up my record from seven years ago and was able to give me an estimate almost immediately from the information he already had on file. Their estimate was within a couple percent of what our insurance had already written a check which made the decision to go with Scro’s Roofing again...

David C. | Cary, NC

I had a great experience working with Danny and his team. Danny even recommended a less expensive roofing product based on our needs. Sarah was so helpful and accommodating throughout the process. I wish all home repairs/renovations were this easy and professional. A wonderful company to work with!

Kate L. | Cary, NC