insurance

Roof Well, the stormy season has arrived and, in Illinois, that means it’s time to expect the unexpected. Heavy rain? Probably. Severe storms? Sometimes. Tornadoes? Occasionally. Hail? Sure, why not? Which also means it’s the season for solicitors. Specifically, roofing “specialists”.

In our neighborhood, we’ve had an influx of roofing contractors knocking on our doors offering free inspections for hail damage from a recent storm. I remember it well. I was in my classroom and several of my students jumped from their seats and flooded to the window to see the hail bounce off the lawn. A few weeks later, I answered the door to find a man with a clipboard and a smile. I offered up a cautious smile (complete with inward eye roll) as I held back my wildly barking dog. (She’s really just a big marshmallow, but I secretly enjoyed the unsure look on his face as he backed up a few steps.) He informed me that he and his crew were going around the area giving free estimates to homeowners and that it would only take him about ten or fifteen minutes to walk around my house and assess the damage.

Huh. Well.

First of all, I don’t like the fact that he blew by his, and the company, name and launched into his rapid-fire spiel. (I guess maybe he expected me to read the tiny lettering on his polo from fifteen feet away?)

Second, I don’t like being told that he is going to walk around my house, assuming that he has permission to do so.

So, I held up my hand to stop him as he began to turn, ready to start his little tour of my property. I informed him that I was not comfortable with him inspecting my house without me or my husband present, that I was not interested in getting an estimate at this time, and that I would not be moving forward with any kind of inspection or repair to my house without speaking with my husband and our insurance company.

He then said, “It’s ok. We’re good. We’ve talked to all of your neighbors on this side, over here,” he gave a vague swoop of his hand toward some houses. How nice. “And four of them have signed up with us already today, so . . .”

So . . . I told him again that I wasn’t interested, thanked him, and wished him a nice day. Then I closed the door.

Later that same day, the same man knocked on our door again, only this time I made my husband answer the door. Ten minutes later, hubby walked through the door with a doubtful shake of his head and a sarcastic smile. He informed me that the man had identified several spots on our roof and siding where there was hail damage. We went outside and I laughed. First, because my husband’s impression of the man’s intensity was spot on, second, I really couldn’t see what all the fuss was about and third, I personally knew that one of the “dings” on the downspout was not, in fact, caused by hail, but by a wayward Frisbee.

Long story short, we decided not to get our roof fixed, even with the generous $500 credit the man was willing to give us to help with our insurance deductible. It just didn’t feel right. Something was off. We felt like we were being hustled – especially when we found a note on our door that read, “I got seven of your neighbors! Don’t be left out!”

Turns out our instincts were right. We received a letter from our association stating that several homeowners have complained about contractors soliciting in the neighborhoods and that one was so bold as to say that the association had contracted them to do so. No way, says our association. Not true. They also provided us with two articles to help us make informed decisions about who we hire to make repairs on our homes. (I’ve included them at the end.) Here’s what I learned . . .

They’re called “Storm Chasers”. They usually watch storm reports and then send out teams of people to the affected areas. They’re pushy and eager to offer free estimates, they create scenarios to make homeowners nervous, and they know how to manipulate insurance companies. Here are some of the red flags to look out for:

Out-of-town license plates Not only is this a sign that they’re ‘chasers’, but it also means that, once they’re done, they move on and won’t be around to fix any problems that may arise as a result of their poor workmanship.
P.O. Box If they don’t have a legitimate street address, it could be incredibly difficult to track them down if you have any problems. Also, the phone number they provide could be temporary (which can be easily disconnected once they leave the area) or has calls forwarded to an out-of-state number.
They have their own adjusters This person works for the contractor, not an insurance agency, and does the property damage assessment. They know how to write the claim to convince your insurance company to pay for a new roof.
It has to be done now! They’re going to try every trick in the book to get you to agree on the spot. No time to waste! Or who knows what will happen the next time a storm rolls through . . . .

So, yeah. These people are pretty crafty, but you don’t have to fall victim to their schemes. There are some things you can do to ward of the predators so they don’t raze your roof and raise your blood pressure.

Trust your instincts If they show up at your door unannounced, offering free estimates, a big discount, and their visit just happens to coincide with recent violent acts of nature – politely decline and close the door! If it sounds too good to be true . . .
Do your research Make sure they’re legit. Contact the BBB and check their status as well as how long they’ve been a member. (If they’re brand new members, it could be a red flag for you.) See if they have a website or if anyone has heard of them.
Ask them for proof You have every right, as a homeowner, to ask for proof of insurance, and that they are properly licensed. Then, check it out to make sure it’s true.
Ask for a business card, brochure, or identification Make sure they have a legitimate street address and local phone number. Maybe even suggest a visit to their office . . . you’ll have to choose colors, right?
Get a permit Many counties and associations require a permit before making repairs or additions to the existing structure of your house. Find out, then don’t do anything without one.
Talk to your insurance company first Contact your insurance company before agreeing to, or signing, anything. Your agent is the expert and will explain all that needs to be done before moving forward. (Just be sure to ask how your premiums will be affected if you make a claim.)
Ask around Talk to family, friends, and neighbors who have had repairs or replacements done and find out who they hired.

These are just some of the things to watch for and do if a contractor comes a knockin’. Remember, unless your roof has been severely damaged or ripped off by a storm and it’s raining in your bathroom, there’s no big rush to get repairs done tomorrow. Don’t panic, take your time, do your research, talk to your insurance company, and find a reputable company to do the work.

For more information and tips on how to save yourself from the frustration of fraud, read these articles:

https://www.angieslist.com/articles/roofing-scam-storm-chaser.htm

http://www.wikihow.com/Spot-a-Storm-Chasing-Roofing-Contractor-After-a-Disaster

Thanks to the director of my homeowners association, who keeps us in the loop about what’s going on in our neighborhood and for sharing these articles with us. Thanks, also, to wikiHow and Angie’s List for creating these helpful articles.

On a personal note, kudos to the REAL Storm Chasers out there who risk their lives in order to study severe weather so that we can be informed and stay safe. I find it all very fascinating.

I shudder at the mere thought of having to shop for car insurance. And it irks me that some people don’t “play nice”. In the end, many times it’s the unsuspecting (trusting) consumer that loses. The good news is: it doesn’t have to be that way!

Several years ago, my husband and I noticed that our car insurance rates kept rising, even though we were getting older, as were our cars, and our driving records were good. We had our cars and home insured together with one company so as to take advantage of the discount. We paid on time, didn’t have any tickets or accidents, didn’t drive anything fancy, lived in an area with low risk . . . and yet, every time we called to inquire about our ever-rising rates we were given some ridiculous mumbo-jumbo. “But let me see what we can do for you, since you’re such loyal customers,” they’d say. Well, to say the least it wasn’t much. And with the next bill, the rates increased again. Sigh.

Then my husband was in an accident that totaled his car. He got the ticket even though the truck driver admitted fault and it was eventually thrown out in court. (I’ll spare you the disgusting details of the entire ordeal, mainly because I wouldn’t be able to see the computer screen through the tears.) Needless to say, our insurance rates skyrocketed after that incident and we were appalled by the treatment we’d received, so we made the decision to go elsewhere for insurance.

Easier said than done. It’s true. But, we were determined, so we took our time and really investigated different companies, their policies, and the rates. We got several quotes and finally settled on a company and agent that gave us everything we needed, treated us with respect, and helped us save over $800 per year. I can’t tell you how incredibly satisfying it was to make the call to the “other” company, listen to them sputter and plead (then admit they couldn’t match the offer!), tell them they have absolutely no clue what “good customer service” means, then arrange for our refund check to be deposited into our account. Ahhh . . .

Since then, we’ve been incredibly pleased with our agent and everyone in his office. We’ve kept an eye on our rates, making the necessary calls when we had to, but the nice thing is that our agent actually works with us, making any corrections he can and when he says the rates will go down . . . they actually do! Wow! (I know, right?)

So, if you’re in the market for insurance, or feel you might need to make a change, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Get several quotes from reputable insurance companies. Don’t just rely on 1 or 2 — get as many as 4 or 5.
Write down all the information and ask that he or she also send you an official quote. It should have all the information laid out for you so you can compare.
Get the name of the representative who assists you. In this case, name dropping can give you an advantage when you’re searching locally, especially if another agent says something different. (Yes, I learned that one from experience!)
Compare apples to apples. Decide what you need, then make sure all the quotes offer the same conditions. Read them carefully to make sure nothing is flying under the radar that could come back to bite you when you attempt to make a claim.
Make sure the coverage, premiums, and deductibles are affordable for you. (One agent said he could save me hundreds in premiums, but the coverage was less than what we needed and the deductibles would have put us in the poorhouse!)
Ask the agent about any and all discounts for which you might qualify. Many companies give discounts for multiple cars plus home, good drivers, good students, paying in full (instead of every month), economy cars, low mileage, or who-knows-what else. Even your profession could earn you a discount. Be sure to ask your agent — it’s a diverse group of companies out there and not everyone offers the same things.
Finally, and very importantly, ask around. Talk to family, friends, and neighbors about their policies, coverage, premiums, and level of satisfaction.

Once you’ve chosen a company and policy, keep an eye on your rates. If there’s an unexplained increase, call! Ask why! It’s your right to know. Businesses are trying to make a profit. It’s just the nature of the beast. And we can’t go without insurance. It’s the law. But that doesn’t mean we have to go broke just to pay for it. Many people pay more for insurance than they need to, and that’s a shame, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. There are good people out there. Good agents that will do their best to help us. We have choices. And if we have the tools to make informed decisions, it makes the process easier and the outcome better. It’s up to us to make sure we’re not taken for a ride . . .

A special ‘thank you’ goes to my own agent, Steve, who took the time to answer a few questions – and share a few laughs . . . I truly appreciate it.

The Money Roadmap

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