How to Tell a Real Local Roofer From a Storm Chaser
After a big storm, out-of-town crews roll in with high-pressure tactics and low accountability. Here's how to tell the difference before you let someone on your roof.
After a major storm, crews from out of state show up in the affected area, knock on doors, and push hard to get homeowners to sign on the spot. Some do decent work. Many don't, and when something goes wrong a year later, they're long gone. Here's how to tell the difference.
The pressure to sign today
The single biggest red flag is pressure to sign a contract the same day they show up. It's often tied to a 'discount' or a promise that disappears if you wait. A real local roofer doesn't need you to sign before they leave your driveway. They give you a written quote and let you think about it, because they'll still be here next week.
Storm chasers need the signature now because they're moving on to the next town. The urgency is for them, not for you.
The deductible waiver
If a contractor offers to 'waive' or 'cover' your deductible, walk away. Your deductible is set by your insurance policy, and no contractor can legally pay it for you. What they're actually doing is inflating the claim to hide the deductible, which is insurance fraud, and you're the one signing the paperwork.
A real roofer tells you straight that you owe your deductible, explains how the rest of the payment works, and leaves it there.
The local address and the license
A real local roofer has a local address, a local phone number, and a license you can check. Storm chasers often use a local phone number that forwards out of state, or a temporary address that's really just a mailbox. Ask where the business is actually based, and ask for the license number. A real one will give it to you and it'll check out.
We're based in Marion, AR. The phone number is (901) 412-0478, and it's the same number year-round, storm or no storm.
The written quote before any work
A real roofer documents the scope and the materials in writing before they start: brand, product, quantities, cost. Storm chasers often work off a vague agreement and change the scope, and the price, once they're into the job. The written quote is your protection. If they won't put it on paper before they start, that's your answer.