In the spring and summer months in Colorado, extreme weather is not unusual – in fact, Colorado ranks second in hail claims for the entire United States. You may suffer damage to your home or business if the hail is golf ball sized or larger, and in some cases even smaller. Within one to two hours of the storm passing, your phone may start ringing or you may hear a knock on your door with an offer from a door to door salesman for a “free roof inspection.”

This is where the real damage can occur.

Beware! This door to door salesman may be part of a scam. Reputable, local contractors don’t typically canvass neighborhoods, knocking on doors and attempting to lock you into a contract using high pressure sales tactics. Many times, if you are asked to sign a waiver form, a contingency contract or an inspection contract, it’s really a binding contract in disguise. The salesman may say something such as, “Let me get on your roof and see if you have any hail damage. But I just need you to sign this first.”

STEP 1 for Hiring a Roofing Contractor Following a Severe Storm in Colorado

To avoid becoming a victim of a fraudulent roofing contractor, don’t immediately sign anything. What these salespersons are actually trying to do is to lock you into a contract that prevents you from obtaining other estimates and forces you to work only with them. The knocker may appear legitimate, but the roofer he or she represents may ask for a deposit or try to collect your insurance money then disappear and never do the work on your roof.

STEP 2 – Immediately After the Hailstorm, Wind Storm or Severe Storm Passes

• Write down the date and time of the storm
• Take pictures and video of the damage
• Take a picture of the size of a hail stone next to a tape measure for context in your insurance claim
• If you experience damage to the interior of your home from broken skylights or other roof damage, call a local roofing contractor to come and make repairs –  in this case, it is not safe for you to access your roof
  Your insurance will reimburse you for the cost of these repairs!

Learn more by watching our educational video:

Tips for Hiring a Roofing Contractor & Filing Insurance Claims Following Severe Weather

Do’s and don’ts when hiring a contractor

DENVER — After all the hail this week, many homeowners are assessing the damage, meeting with insurance adjusters and contractors. So how do you protect yourself from scams and liability issues?

John Crawmer, a safety services supervisor with Pinnacol Assurance, has a few tips. “Be wary of somebody who just knocks on the door,” he said.

He points out it’s important to hire a reputable company that is licensed, bonded and has a certificate of insurance.

He says, if the worker falls off the roof, and the company they are working for does not have the requisite insurance programs in place, you as the homeowner could be liable for that injury, and covering the cost associated with medical, lost wages and other liabilities.

Those costs can really add up. In 2017, Pinnacol processed claims for 722 workers injured in roofing accidents. The average cost was about $20,000, but two claims were for more than $1 million. “We`ve had folks that have fallen off two-story buildings and had fatal consequences,” Crawmer said.

To protect yourself:

• Be wary of contractors who contact you through social media
• Make sure contractors wear proper safety gear
• Don’t pay in full up front
• Get more than one estimate
• Partner with your insurance or the Colorado Roofing Association to find reputable companies

Source: KDVR.com