I’ve been recently contacted by a contracting firm that specializes in home repairs for damage caused by storms…..in this case hail. Probably around 30 homes have damaged glazing beads on the sashes. I was also asked to look at repairs not associated with the weather. It appears the contractors solicit door to door in these areas and probably have the homeowner sign-off on them dealing with the insurance companies. The street was littered with roofing contractors. Contracting sales signs were in every yard….all the same company.
I’ve also had some homeowners contact me directly and I’m quoting them for repairs. I asked about the ‘storm chasers’ and they did not have kind words.
I typically work directly for homeowners. I also have a couple of contracting companies I do insurance work for…..break-ins and fires. I was paid quickly and continue to do work for them.
Any thoughts on these ‘storm chasing contractor’ types?
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Replies
In this entire industry -- in fact, in this entire life -- there is but one thing that I will be able to take from my career or my business, to my grave.
And that is, of course, my integrity.
If folks in the neighborhood are saying bad things about "them", and then you become one of them......
Well, you'll get things said about you too.
I won't be laughing at the lies when I'm gone,
And I can't question how or when or why when I'm gone;
I can't live proud enough to die when I'm gone,
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here. (Phil Ochs)
I wasn't looking to become one of them, the storm chaser contractors are trying to sub the work to me.You can probably tell from my tone that I've already made my mind up about not participating. All my red flags were going up.Edited 9/4/2009 3:16 pm ET by jocobe
Edited 9/4/2009 3:17 pm ET by jocobe
I got into it with a few of these guys when I worked for the local building dept years ago. Reason being is their out of state licenses aren't recognized in Fla. but the real reason is if they are from out of state, who is going to do any necessary warranty work on that roof if it needs it in a year or so?
The homeowners is left stranded.
Before I comment, I'd like a few questions answered.
You said that the homeowners did not have kind words about the stormchasers. Is this the same company that is asking you to sub work? What was the reason that the homeowners were not happy with the contractor?
The reason I ask is this. I've been working in storm areas and there are a lot of mixed opinions. Some of these homeowners get angry when they find out that we can't put 5k in their pockets.
....it was the high pressure sales techniques. Actually, I found out today there are at least two other companies doing the same thing in the neighborhood. I'm not sure which one the HO was talking about.Anyway, referrals work best for me and a few people have already called me from the area. I'd rather deal with the HOs..View Image
If work is scarce, don't look a gift horse in the mouth. But, beware of subbing to a company that has a bad rep. It will wear off on you.
But, if the company has thirty signs in the neighborhood, do you really believe that all these thirty people are angry at them?
I found that there are two distinct types of clients in these situations: those that want full service fast and sign fast and those that don't trust anyone. The non-trusters get broken into sub groups, those that think they can/should pocket big cash, those that need to see a number rather than a contingency offer and those that are going to want to see their insurance adjuster first, without contractor representation.
There's certainly more subsets but in the latter groups, these folks see everything evil. In the first group, these folks are extremely thankful that we have handled everything so easily and they have given us many referrals. We not stormchasers though, but I'm sure the same thoughts apply to them.
Hey Jim -
Do you do the deal directly with the insurance company, acting as the HO's agent?copper p0rn
Yes, on a few. Of course, the homeowner has had to make the initial contact. They have to file the claim and tell them about us. Its not that big of an issue for most insurance companies.
"But, if the company has thirty signs in the neighborhood, do you really believe that all these thirty people are angry at them? ".....that's a good point. View Image
Especially if the signs are still there.
If moma ain't happy, there won't no signs in the yard.
jocobe wait 6 months to a year-- I can just about gaurantee------out of those 30 houses-- 15 of them are gonna be upset blue hasn't been in the roofing biz. long enough to see the other end of this but 6-12 months from now-- when new shingles are falling off roofs-----and chimneys are leaking because they weren't flashed, and people discover they have ridge vents installed- with no holes cut for the vent---well people are upset and THAT is what storm chasers produce run----not walk-run in the opposite direction
stephen
If you are seriously thinking about it, there is another forum for contractors that has several threads about it. If you wou like pm me and I will refer you.
from what I have read Stephen has summed it up nicely!
but with storm repair, you have people with no money with damage, you have slow insurance company, and then you will have contractor with bad cash flow that take a deposit apply to another job to keep moving and then blam over his head. the orignal client gets taking, contractor runs, and the state start looking for them
Stephen, are you painting all companies with one brush?
state of mississippi has put 248 company in jail so far
Not sure why you call them "storm chasers". Up here there has been a huge increase in what is called "Disaster and Restoration" companies. I can say that 10 years ago I don't remember seeing one.
These companies come in after a flood,plumbing or otherwise, and immediately start ripping out carpets and drywall and placing dehumidifiers all over the place. This has to be done within 24hrs and these guys will work all night long.
I was listening to a guy talk at a supply house and he had just started with one of these companies. It was an eye opening discussion I was overhearing.
The company he was working for (and I see their trucks all over) is based in GERMANY!!. They only do insurance work and they fly their men when needed , all over the place. They even do work on cruise ships after problems. They had one guy fly up to the artic circle to do somethimg.
He said they are very well paid with all benefits plus all the the best quality tools are supplied.
This guy who was talking was my age (old) and was saying it was the best job he's ever had.
I guess there are storm chasers and there are storm chasers.
roger
Storm chaser contractors locate a neighborhood that was known to have damage.....from the weather. Then they go door-to-door and have the HO pay a retainer for them to find stuff 'damaged' at their home and deal with the insurance company directly. I was asked to look at things that were not weather related....I already deal with several companies repairing damage caused by fires and break-ins..View Image
Then they go door-to-door and have the HO pay a retainer for them to find stuff 'damaged' at their home and deal with the insurance company directly
I haven't heard that (pay a retainer) around here and I know there were a lot of out of staters working here. They are gone now.
I am curious about why you put the word 'damaged' in quotes. Hail actually does a lot of damage to gutters, screens, porches, roofs, windows, window molding etc. The insurance companies send the adjusters and most of them find a lot more than I would see.
I don't see why you wouldn't want to be the local contractor for some of the better stormchasers though. When they are gone, you will be the guy that gets the service work calls. Just set yourself up with a minimum showup fee system and reap the rewards when everything has calmed down. Remember though, all storm chasers are not created equal.
That sounds like a professional outfit, but there are what we used to call Hail-hounds that are fly-by nighters with tailgate guarantees that are a part of the insurance/storm repair industry. They specialize in giving the HO what he ins co pays for, and less.
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"Any thoughts on these 'storm chasing contractor' types?"
Not any good ones ........... from what I saw Hazlett had it exactly right. Hailstorm came through the neighborhood and suddenly lot's of signs popped up of companies that I'd never heard of, some with names and logos resembling long established local companies. Was doing some repair work for a neighbor who had contracted with a "storm chaser" and he asked me to keep an eye on them. Good thing too. Building inspector came by and read me the riot act until I explained I wasn't doing the roof- they failed to pull a permit and had no proof of insurance. Stephen was spot on regarding the workmanship. The roof had to be resheathed (it was cedar with skip sheathing originally)- four to eight nails in a sheet of CDX doesn't cut it, and a few tubes of silicone caulk doesn't count as counterflashing. When you can see inside the attic looking down at the roof jacks (lead) that is not a good thing- they cut 'em too short. The nails were too short in the rigid style Cobra vent; the salesman insisted it was fine. I grabbed the end and yanked it off the roof. This wasn't just this house- other folks that used the chasers had issues and trying to get them resolved was difficult. Perhaps there are reputable storm chasers as Blue says but from I saw I'd take Stephen's advice- run- don't walk---- in the opposite direction.
"There can be no doubt that Socialism is inseparably interwoven with totalitarianism and the abject worship of the state…Socialism is in its essence an attack not only on British enterprise, but upon the right of ordinary men and women to breathe freely without having a harsh, clammy, clumsy tyrannical hand clasped across their mouth and nostrils" -Winston Churchill
you will do some subbing for them maybe 4-5 jobs,then one morning they are gone.
with your money.
i have rented to them before,actually have one now, one day when the sun comes up there will be nothing but dust in the air. i try and make sure they never get 1 day behind in rent.
the older i get ,
the more people tick me off