In the wake of any major storm, like the recent hail storm that crushed the county, there is always bound to be a flood of storm-chasing contractors that come into town to repair hail damage to vehicles and homes. Unfortunately, although many of these businesses are reliable and help provide relief after all local outfits are booked solid, there are some that basically act as scam artists.
While it is always safer to use local businesses in these situations, according to State Auditor Rosendale many people are pressed by time limits set by insurance companies and are forced to use out-of-state contractors. When in this situation it is important to watch out for red flags that may indicate a scam. Always ask where the business is based and make sure that they are reputable, licensed, and have sufficient liability insurance. If a bid seems unusually low, that can be a good indicator of potentially shady work. Always get everything in writing when having someone do work on your house or vehicle and get at least three bids on any work to see every option you have available. Many scammers may come door-to-door or make telemarketing calls and try to make it seem as if you need to hire them immediately in order to get a good deal. Do not allow yourself to be forced into making a hasty decision, especially when it regards hiring an unknown contractor.
In the end, the best way to avoid these scams is just to go with local businesses. They have a stake in keeping their reputations intact and will usually do the best job possible for you. As you go about selecting contractors for all of the damage to your possessions, just keep in mind that some of those out there saying they are here to help are only here to make a quick buck before moving on, never to be heard from again.
