AFTER THE HAIL STORM

Residents in our neighborhood are still trying to clean up after the hail storm tore through our neighborhood on Tuesday June 2^nd.  Our neighborhood had baseball sized hail that left many of us with holes in our siding, roof damage, and even broken windows.  Now that many of us are getting insurance estimates done we are looking to find someone to repair our homes.  The town of Fishers wants to warn us to be careful in selecting a contractor to repair your home.  There have been out-of-state contractors that have been known to seek out and canvass hail-damages neighborhood like ours offering to repair roofs or make other home repairs without being properly licensed or bonded.  It is also necessary to get the proper permits from the city to conduct some repairs.  Permits are needed to replace roofs and these permits should be filed by your contractor.  However failure to get these permits could result in penalties and fines to the homeowner.  Permits are not required for replacing vinyl siding and replacing broken windows. 

To protect against the possibility of dishonest contractors, here are some useful tips:

•  Obtain more than one estimate. Don’t be bullied into signing the first contract that is presented to you.
•  Obtain all information in writing, including cost, work to be completed, repair time and payment schedules, contractor guarantees—and make sure all details are provided.
•  Ask for references and check them. The Better Business Bureaus and Angie’s List can help provide consumer feedback on companies.   
•  Ask for the contractor’s drivers license and write the number down along with a description of the vehicle and license plate number.  Some contractors come into disaster areas from out of state when damage is widespread and may not be licensed or bonded meaning you may be liable for on-premise injuries.
•  Never sign an incomplete or blank contract. There’s never a quick fix to home repairs or new roofs as some unscrupulous contractors may lead you to believe. 

•  Never allow your contractor to serve as your negotiator with your insurance company. Should a consumer allow the roofer or contractor to negotiate on their behalf, damage claims may be over-inflated or in some cases, damage may be nonexistent. Insurers are not obligated to cover false or over-inflated claims, which may end up costing the homeowner.
•  Don’t pay for the repairs or sign a certificate of completion until all work has been completed in accordance with the contract specifications.

•  Be wary of door-to-door contacts, fliers or telemarketing calls soliciting repair work. The homeowner should take the lead role in contacting companies to handle repairs and not be guided by potentially false or fraudulent marketing tactics.

•  Watch for padded repair estimates. This is especially true if the repair estimator asks ahead of time for the amount of your homeowners insurance deductible. Often these are included in the repair estimate as an added incentive to use that particular roofer or home repair contractor.
•  Don’t be tempted to conspire in a fraudulent insurance claim. Insurance fraud is a felony. Disaster repairs often heighten the opportunity for insurance fraud and abuse. Also, be aware that insurance coverage may be void if a policyholder’s intentional misrepresentation is discovered.