The Minneapolis / St Paul Yellow Pages and Internet are now full of roofing contractors,
siding contractors, and storm damage specialists ads . ( Storm Chasers) Be careful who you pick when choosing a contractor. Service issues play a big part in the construction business. My best advise is for you the homeowner to hire a local Minnesota
roofing or siding contractor.
Do some research check the companies out with the BBB and Department of
Labor and Industry. Look for their complaint history and how long they
have been in business. If it is less than 5 years you may want to think
twice about hiring them. Most companies are only around for 5 years or
less - Then they disappear or Start under a new name because of
complaints or judgments against their credit. If you do the research you
will find their are only a select number of us who have been able to
stay in the exterior remodeling business for more than a few years with
minimal complaints. Most all other companies are in it for a quick buck
stepping on who ever they need to to get to the top until all their
bridges have been burnt then they start over under a new name. Which is
business as usual to some. With us it is personal not the "business is
business" mentality. If you can make a moral judgment call in your
personal life that you know is right - there should be no reason to
change the moral decision just to make a buck in the business and if so
what does this say about ones character?
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF YOUR HOME HAS BEEN DAMAGED BY WIND OR HAIL.
- CALL YOUR INSURANCE AGENT OR CLAIMS CENTER LISTED ON YOUR POLICY. TELL THEM YOU HAVE HAIL DAMAGE. THEY WILL GIVE YOU A CLAIM NUMBER WRITE IT DOWN. FROM THERE THEY WILL EITHER TELL YOU TO GET A COUPLE OF ESTIMATES. OR TELL YOU THEY NEED TO ASSIGN AN ADJUSTER TO YOU AND YOUR CLAIM.
- GET SOME ESTIMATES / INSPECTIONS DONE FROM CONTRACTORS (PREFERABLY US FOR ONE). CHOOSE ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS YOU RECEIVED ESTIMATES FROM TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR CLAIM. WE RECOMMEND CHOOSING THE CONTRACTOR BEFORE YOUR ADJUSTER COMES OUT SO HE / SHE CAN BE THERE AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION. FROM HERE YOUR CONTRACTOR SHOULD BE ABLE TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE REST OF THE PROCESS.
- SOME INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL ADVISE YOU TO GET 3 ESTIMATES AND SEND THEM IN BEFORE THEY SEND AN ADJUSTER OUT. IF THIS IS THE CASE CHOOSE ONE OUT OF THE 3 ESTIMATES AND GO WITH HIS BID. YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO GO WITH THE LOWEST BID. INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE GIVING YOU GOOD ADVISE ON GETTING MORE THAN ONE ESTIMATE BUT ARE ALSO IMPLYING THEY EXPECT TO PAY ONLY FOR THE LOWEST ONE (THIS IS NOT THE CASE) CHOOSE WHO YOU ARE MOST COMFORTABLE WITH. COULD BE THE FIRST ONE THAT COMES TO MEET WITH YOU OR EVEN ONE YOU HAVE WORKED WITH IN THE PAST IN THIS CASE ONE ESTIMATE IS FINE AS LONG AS YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THEM.
- IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF THE AREA YOU LIVE IN HAS SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGES IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR ADJUSTERS TO BE 3 WEEKS TO A MONTH OUT IN THE HARDEST HIT AREAS. AS WELL AS CONTRACTORS.
CONTRACTOR HIRING TIPS:
- MAKE SURE CONTRACTORS ARE LICENSED.
LICENSE LOOKUP
- BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU CHECK TO SEE IF CONTRACTOR IS A MEMBER. ALSO CHECK IF THEY ARE RECOGNIZED IN THE DATABASE.
- IF ANYONE ASKS YOU TO SIGN A PROPOSAL OR ESTIMATE. IT WILL OBLIGATE YOU IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER
- SOME CONTRACTORS BEGIN WORK BEFORE DAMAGE IS APPROVED. MAKE SURE YOUR CONTRACTOR SHOWS YOU ON YOUR CONTRACT AND THE ADJUSTMENT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT COVERED. MAKE SURE YOUR CONTRACTOR EXPLAINS ADJUSTMENT TO YOU.
- TALK TO MORE THAN JUST ONE CONTRACTOR 2-3 RECOMMENDED - OR MAKE SURE THEY CAME FROM A GOOD RECOMMENDATION AND OR YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THEM.
- DO YOUR HOMEWORK IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED YOU SIGN WITH DOOR TO DOOR SALESMEN BEFORE CHECKING THEM OUT.
- REMEMBER NOTHING IN THIS WORLD IS FREE. IF THE ESTIMATE IS LESS THAN THE COVERAGE YOU CAN UPGRADE. YOU CAN ALSO PERFORM SOME OF THE WORK YOURSELVES TO RECEIVE ENTIRE CLAIM AMOUNT. IT IS CONSIDERED FRAUD AND A FELONY FOR BOTH YOU AND THE CONTRACTOR TO SUBMIT DIFFERENT AMOUNTS PAID TO YOUR CONTRACTOR FROM YOUR CLAIM. INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL NOT LOOSE MONEY IN THE LONG RUN. YOUR PREMIUMS DO REFLECT ALL CLAIMS. SO IT IS JUST LIKE TAKING A LOAN FOR 5 YEARS. GENERALLY ALL MONIES PAID OUT ON A CLAIM WILL BE PAID BACK THROUGH YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS PREMIUMS WITHIN 5 YEARS.
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Hiring a contractor - Better Business Bureau Resource