How do I choose a contractor after a hail storm?
- It’s your choice
- Unless you need emergency repairs, don’t feel pressured to decide quickly
- Don’t wait ‘til fall though – hail season is roofing season!
- Most insurance companies give you one year from the date of loss to complete your repairs
- Do some research
- Are they local???
- Out-of-town contractors won’t be there to help if you have problems in the future
- Do they have an established (and staffed) office/shop in the area? (most reputable contractors find it difficult to work out of a strip mall)
- It’s very easy to get a 605 number and say you are local. Unfortunately, many people pretend they are local because they know they won’t get work if they admit they live out of state.
- Check with your municipality to see who is licensed to do work in your tow.n
- Are they Reputable?
- Google them- What comes up?
- Read online reviews and overall ratings, especially on Google
- Are they accredited with BBB? What is their grade?
- Do they have a good reputation?
- Are they qualified?
- Look them up on social media
- Do they have a professional and helpful website?
- Ask to see licenses and insurance
- SD requires all contractors to have a Contractors Excise Tax License
- Most of our Towns and Cities require a Contractor’s License
- They should have General Liability insurance with at least $2,000,000 aggregate
- Do they have work Comp Coverage? If not, they have no employees, which means they sub everything out
- Ask for references and past jobs
- With the advent of third-party verified online reviews, many contractors no longer keep a reference list. But any good contractor should be able to point to homes or businesses nearby quickly they have worked on. If your insurance company will cover a general contractor, can they manage your entire claim for you?
- Is this what they do?
- Can they handle a project of your size?
- Do they have enough expertise?
- Did they ask the right questions?
- Did they point out any details?
- Do they do ALL of the work on the claim? If your insurance company will cover a general contractor, can they manage your entire claim for you?
- Most exterior contractors who specialize in storm damage repairs can, so that you only have one call to make, and only one person to work with.
- Not all roofers know all types of roofs.
- Just because they do siding doesn’t mean they know windows,
- Talk to your neighbors, friends, and family
- Find out who they’ve worked with and what their experience was like
- Does anyone refer them or recommend them?
- Talk to your insurance agent and/or adjuster
- Ask what steps they recommend you take
