Do You Know Who's Trying To Get On Your Roof?

     Exhibit A:

     If hail storms have already hit your area this year, now is the time to look for a restoration and roofing contractor to repair the damage hail and wind can cause. Even if the storms haven't hit your home, it's a good practice to have a restoration and roofing contractor in mind if the storms hit and you need someone to repair hail damage on your house. There are many "stormchaser" contractors out there that say their perform the home restoration work and never they do. Some even create their own damage leaving a legitimate contractor to have to perform the restoration on a vandalism claim and not storm damage. So who do you trust with your home's restoration? Here's a few questions to ask yourself when looking for a restoration contractor:

     Are they experienced professionals? Or are they new to the industry? You need a company of people who have experience in the storm restoration and roofing field that have the knowledge, skill, and expertise to get the job done.​​ You need a restoration contractor that won't waste your time, which can tell you right away that hail has done damage to your home and that they can repair it.

     Are they established? Or are they just working out of a truck? Serious restoration and roofing contractors have a centralized address, a tax identification number, and a business license. If you have a restoration and roofing contractor can not produce proof of these things, you're putting your house at risk.

     Are they working safely? Or they cutting safety corners whenever they can? OSHA regulations are serious business and are put in place for the safety of the employees and clients alike. Take repairing hail damage on a steep slope roof, in some cases a pair of special boots have to be used to grip the roof, and on some cases a harass and rope. The best thing you can do is hire a restoration and roofing contractor who will use the right safety equipment from inspection to cleanup.

     Are they licensed for your state? Or are they just rolling into town with nothing? Depending on the state you live in, a contractor may need a license to practice any kind of work. Check your state’s licensing requirements, and then check to make sure that your restoration contractor has a license. If your restoration contractor; for example, is from another state and cannot produce a proper license for your state, there's a good chance they're just there to repair some hail damage for a quick buck and take it back home with no little to no real concern for you, watch out and make sure they're legal to do business in your area.

     Will they let you watch the inspection? Some scam artists claiming to be restoration experts will get on your house and create the damage if you're not looking. A representative will pressed their thumb against the siding or spin a dime on the roof to create fake hail damage. Watch the inspector to see what he or she does, it's a good way to avoid filing a restoration claim for vandalism.

     Is the contractor asking for money up front for your home restoration? You can choose to pay for home restoration yourself but in most cases, your insurance company will cover the cost of a home restoration. A legitimate restoration contractor knows this and will instead work with your insurer. If they are asking for money up front, odds are they have no intention of doing any restoration work for you and you'll never see them again.

     Are they accredited with the BBB? The BBB is to restoration contractors what Carfax is to pre-owned cars. It says a lot for a restoration contractor if they have no complaints on their profile, but it kills their credibility if they don't have a profile at all.

     If your restoration and roofing contractor doesn't meet these qualifications, call us at 1-844-5RESTORE instead, or check us out at www.8445restore.com.