Questions About Hail (Storm) Damage

[Wireman]

We had quite the hail storm in Danville Saturday evening. I didn't think much of it (I was actually out chasing the storms), and then Sunday afternoon this guy rang my doorbell. He was from a company called ICRC Roofing.

 

The man claimed that every house in our neighborhood had serious hail damage and he was certain mine was no different. I don't generally fool with door-to-door folks so I dismissed him.

 

After walking around my house, I did discover a couple of broken pieces of siding and maybe 2 spots on the roof (that I could see from the ground). I still didn't think much of it but then a second man rang the doorbell. He claimed that he could already tell me that my roof "is totaled" and I could get the entire roof replaced through insurance.

 

By the end of the day, 4 different guys from 3 different companies rang the doorbell...all claiming serious hail damage. I personally can't see it with my eyes but I'm no home inspector either.

 

What should I do? Call my insurance company? Nothing? Help please.

[rjs4470]

Storm Chasers. They all come out from under their rocks after a serious storm, especially hail. Now your roof likely did incur some damage. But these guys that go door to door are out to make the quick $. They are what has caused insurance premiums to go up. My insurance company recently raised my "storm damage" deductible up to $1000 from $500, because of this practice. I would call someone you trust (or that at least comes highly recommended) to check your roof out. If there is serious damage, you'll probably have to bite the bullet and get your insurance company involved. But I'd be real hesitant to use one of these door to door guys.

[Wireman]

I am very skeptical and careful about these things. Should I call my insurance company and have them come out and assess the damage?

[rjs4470]

I am very skeptical and careful about these things. Should I call my insurance company and have them come out and assess the damage?

 

I would certainly have someone take a look at your roof and assess the damage (or lack of). I just wouldn't use someone who knocked on my door. And I would call a legitimate roofer that you can trust. Or maybe a home inspector (although that will cost you money). If the damage is minor and repairable, I wouldn't involve my insurance company.

[TheDeuce]

First of all, never give your business to those people. If they aren't local, don't use them. Just my opinion. Those guys go from city to city after big storms trying to extort people with hail damage.

[KYgentleman]

I am very skeptical and careful about these things. Should I call my insurance company and have them come out and assess the damage?

 

Yes. Always.

[KYgentleman]

I've been at work for an hour today and already had 5 "trusted Allstate contractors" call the office. Call your agent and talk to them about what to do.

[HammerTime]

Similar thing happened to me @Wireman after a big storm a few years back. I had my Insurance company come check it out and they determined I had enough damage to get a new roof. Hired a local guy who did the work.

[Wireman]

Ok, so what I'm hearing you guys saying is that my first call should be to the insurance company this morning. Correct?

[HammerTime]

Ok, so what I'm hearing you guys saying is that my first call should be to the insurance company this morning. Correct?

Yep...

[nkypete]

Ok, so what I'm hearing you guys saying is that my first call should be to the insurance company this morning. Correct?

 

Yes, insurance companies are not the bad guy. That is why you have homeowners insurance in the first place. Hail is one of the perils that is covered. The insurance company wants your house to be safe and protected from future incidents. They will be fair in their evaluation. Enjoy your new roof.

[TAC]

Wireman, keep in mind a good roofer will already have work lined up. He does not need to go door to door chasing tornados.

Call the insurance company, they will either send an adjuster over or ask you to get a quote from someone you trust.

[Wireman]

Wireman, keep in mind a good roofer will already have work lined up. He does not need to go door to door chasing tornados.

Call the insurance company, they will either send an adjuster over or ask you to get a quote from someone you trust.

 

Not going great so far. I called the insurance company and they accidentally (I think) hung up on me :lol2:

[Irish Cat]

I am an insurance adjuster. My sister lives in Danville on the north side of town (Lannock). I saw some photos of the hail at her house from Saturday night that were bigger than golf balls. You very well may have hail damage to your roof, however, nobody that knocks on your door is able to see if your shingles are damaged without getting onto the roof.

 

You shouldn't hire anyone to repalce your roof (or anything else on your home) that isn't an established local company. The majority of the contracting companies that chase storms are bad news. I know of a few that are now in jail for fraud. Before you hire someone check them out really well. These guys will tell all kind of lies. Often they will quickly rent a storefront to serve as their office and try to convience people that they have been in business in town for a long time. I've seen them use names that are very similar to established companies, etc. Most of the time they try to get you to sign a contract for them to do the work. This is usually before any money is discussed. They simply say that you need to sign this so that they can be allowed to inspect your roof. What they don't tell you is that it is a contract that binds you the let them do the work and if you don't go with them often you are charge for breaking the contract. I have seen this go up to $2,000.00. I have had customers who have had to hire attorneys to try to get out of this, once they do a little research and decide that they do not want to let a particular company do the work on there home.

 

With some of these companies you may not even have any damage to your roof, however, once they get done inspecting your roof you WILL have damage. Over the years my compay has caught multiple contractors vandalising roofs. It doesn't bother these contractors if you have to pay a hefty deductible to replace a roof that had absolutely nothing wrong with it. I personally had one claim (wind damage) in which an insured had 1 shingle tab damaged on the entire roof. We told him that it could be repaired at a cost less than his deductible. About a week and a half later once of these door to door roofers conveinced him that the insurance company had to be wrong and he could easily see that there was much more damage. Upon reinspection it was found that about 100 shingle tabs were missing. Unfortunatley we never could get the proof we needed against this guy, he moved on and chased another storm into Illinois. His ways finally caught up with him and he spent a few years living on the states dime.

 

Another aspect of these scams is that the storm chasers will promise increadible warranties. Sometimes up to twice as long as normal. It is easy to offer this type of warranty when you know you will never be around. Once the work drys up, these storefronts will be empty and there phone lines will be disconnected. If your new year leaks a year or two down the road, good luck getting anybody out to fix it under warranty.

[Wireman]

The news is wanting to interview me tomorrow about these scammers. They are doing a story on it lol