When propositioned by a storm chaser, or high pressure insurance claims adjuster specialist. WAIT!!! As in don’t hire anyone to do your roof for a minimum of three months, maybe up to six months.
You need to wait the scum of the pond out. And don’t think it is as simple as hiring a “local” contractor.
There are many big named contractors in the North Georgia area as a result that also see opportunity from
your situation. they have an Army of Door knockers who are not properly trained with roofing or siding experience.
For your protection please read the many Articles that I have had published that are a reference to the GAF/ELK Steep Slope Roofing Installation Guidelines. GAF/ELK is the only manufacturer that requires a test to be passed for so much in sales in the system for extended warranties that I am aware of. All Owens Corning does is require a factory visit and checks out the company financial situation. They also charge $3.00 per square for extended warranties that do not match GAF/ELK at all.
Here is how the scam works: The out-of-town, fly-by-night Storm Chaser “rents” the local roofing company’s name and phone number for thousands of dollars, $50, 000 or more they then move their operation in. And what an operation it is! 20 salesmen! 10 roofing! And you thought that were calling Joe’s Local Roofing Co. to replace your roof!
Well Joe will be there after the storm… to clean up the mess. And if he is smart he will shut his doors and take the money and skip town too. Or he will be cleaning up the mess. And suddenly that $50, 000 “payoff” will turn out to be peanuts as he will be paying out of pocket to repair the hack jobs until he is broke and broke down.
The approach of these low lives is to move fast. They move in quickly while the insurance money is flowing. The “roofing salesmen” after all, are not salesmen. They are order takers. Tin men. Con men. Last season’s insurance adjusters as if that makes them credible! They are zipping around beating the honest contractors and honest homeowners before the community knows what has hit them! Hell has been unleashed and they are feeding on the people in born GREED. Yard signs saying: 1-800-Free-Roof.
So the best solution for a community is to not hire ANYONE for a few months while these parasites die from inactivity. Take the time to work with someone you can trust to deal with the insurance company, a local contractor who has roots in the community. Yes, he’ll be busy and may not get to you for a while, but MOST hail damage does not constitute an emergency.
When you get your insurance check, deposit it in the bank and wait for the leeches to leave town. Trust me, they will leave eventually when they take notice that the homeowners in the area of the storm have caught on to their scams. Hopefully by then they will have the sense to move on to another area, unfortunately scamming more homeowner’s on the way.
To find out more about how to install asphalt roofing products and avoid possible scam artists in this trying time and economy, please visit the following links: Carrollton Hail Damage Roofing Companies or Carroll County Georgia Roofing Contractor.This article was Authored and Submitted by Joseph Vann Hamby. All editing and summaries are Authored by Joseph Vann Hamby in a collective effort to encourage proper roofing installation practices.
