Living in Montana, we are the perfect breeding ground for the post-storm blight known as “storm chasers.”
What’s a “Storm Chaser?” Following bouts of severe weather, these unscrupulous contractors descend upon unsuspecting Montanans like a plague of locusts.
Unlicensed and uninsured, these out-of-town contractors don’t care about the quality of their work. Storm Chasers just want to make a quick buck. Once your check clears, they don’t care anymore. They are gone and if you have any problems with your roof, well you are on your own and will have to pay someone else to fix it.
Storm Chasers simply want to get in and get out. Take everyone’s money and move on. And those are the nice ones!
Believe it or not there are even worse storm chasers, they will scare homeowner’s worse, scaring homeowners into paying large sums of money up front and then they leave town without doing any of the work. You are stuck because you don’t have enough information on who they really are or where they are really from.
How Do You Spot Storm Chasers
- Check their license plates.
A company with out-of-state license plates is bad news. They don’t have register their vehicles with the State of Montana because they’re not moving here. They are here temporarily.
- Ask for a business address.
Most storm chasers will set up a P.O. Box instead of an actual office. Do they have a brick and mortar location? Ask for that address.
- Check with the Better Business Bureau.
If they aren’t listed with the Better Business Bureau chances are that they haven’t been in business long enough or they are a fly by night operation.
- Do they have a website and online reviews?
Do an internet search and see what is being said about them.
So how can you protect yourself from Storm Chasers?
It’s really easy really. Whenever hiring a contractor, always ask for three key documents:
* Contractor’s License
* Proof of Liability Insurance
* Proof of Workers’ Compensation Insurance
A contractor’s license is common knowledge. Without a license, you have no idea if this person or company is even qualified to replace your roof. This should be a prerequisite for the other required documents.
Make sure that provide proof of liability insurance! No matter who your roofing contractor is, you should always ask for proof of liability insurance. Roofing insurance is expensive because little mistakes can lead to costly repairs. Repairs that can be covered by Liability Insurance and not by you!
And finally check to see if they have Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If a worker falls off your roof and he’s not covered by worker’s compensation, guess who’s held responsible? You are! So protect yourself!
Even if you say that you didn’t they weren’t insured, you are still liable. The responsibility falls on the homeowner.
Why you should use Local Contractors
Local contractors like Bruce Tall Construction, Billings Best Roofer, rely on their reputation and referrals for business. A quality job and a happy customer are the lifeblood of Bruce Tall Construction, Billings Best Roofing Company! Dishonest local contractors do not stay in business.
Bruce Tall Construction has served the greater Billings area for over 15 years. We’ve worked hard to build our reputation as an honest, reliable roofing contractor. There are no unknowns with us. When you hire Bruce Tall Construction, you’re hiring a roofing contractor with an extensive history of quality work and customer satisfaction.
If your home or business suffered damage in the latest hail storm, please contact Bruce Tall Construction, today! Billings Best Roofer!
