Don’t Let Storm Chasers Take Advantage of Your Bergen County Home—Here’s How to Spot the Red Flags
After severe weather hits Bergen County, you’ll likely see contractors knocking on doors within hours. While some may be legitimate local professionals offering help, many are “storm chasers”—predatory contractors who follow severe weather patterns to exploit vulnerable homeowners. These contractors are known for going into areas after a big storm to sell roofs, using scare and scammy tactics to take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners.
What Are Storm Chasing Contractors?
Storm chasers are people who will present as professional storm roofing contractors with bargain basement prices that are far lower than what the local, trusted storm roofers offer. These predatory roofing companies follow storm patterns to take advantage of uninformed homeowners and tend to show up within 1–2 days after a heavy storm, often coming from out of state.
Once they secure a down payment on the work they say they will do, they skip town, never to be seen again. But rest assured, they’ll show up in the next town that gets hit with significant storms. In other cases, they may actually take on the job but are often not experienced storm roofers and do a poor job, using the worst quality roofing materials, resulting in immediate leaks and roofing systems that won’t last.
Red Flags to Watch For
Unsolicited Door-to-Door Sales
The first lesson in not falling victim to a storm chaser’s roofing scam is to be highly suspect of anyone coming to your door unannounced. Storm chasing roofing contractors practice door-to-door roofing scams on unsuspecting victims. In truth, most professional roofing contractors are too busy after storms to cold call or go door-to-door searching for new clients. Be very skeptical if one shows up on your doorstep.
High-Pressure Sales Tactics
Storm chasers come into town with the idea that they’ll make a lot of fast money from roofing projects. They often use high-pressure, time-sensitive sales strategies to rope you into an agreement. When a scammer offers you a great deal and you tell them that you’ll need time to think about it, chances are this company will start to pressure to sign a contract immediately. This is a red flag that you should take note of immediately as a reputable contractor will always allow you to have time to think.
Offers to Pay Your Insurance Deductible
Unfortunately, bad roofing companies and storm chasers offer to take care of the deductible to seal the deal. This is one of the most prevalent scams in the roofing industry and is outright insurance fraud. They offer a free roof or free deductible. Do not go along with this. This is insurance fraud.
Lack of Local Credentials
Many storm chasers come in from out of state. Any potential roofing company should have a local office and phone number area code. That’s why one of the easiest ways to avoid getting scammed by storm chasing companies is to ask for their office address and phone number right off the bat. Storm chasers sometimes disguise themselves as local companies. They’ll go so far as to set up a temporary office and phone number to look legitimate. Ask to see their driver’s license and look at the license plate on their vehicles before accepting their claims.
How to Protect Yourself
Work with Established Local Contractors
The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to use a local roofing company you already know and trust. Unlike wandering roofers, local roofing companies are held accountable for their work. They require a good reputation to stay in business, so they’re less likely to produce shoddy workmanship.
For Bergen County residents, companies like A Russo & Son Roofing represent the kind of established local presence you should seek. A Russo & Son Roofing, Siding & Gutters is a locally owned, family-operated business proudly based in Colts Neck, NJ serving Bergen County. For over 40 years, they have been devoted to serving Bergen County, NJ, with an unwavering dedication to high quality workmanship and precise cleanup after every work. Their owner is directly present at every job site, ensuring that work satisfies the highest standards of quality, backed by a 30-year labor warranty and a 20-year craftsmanship warranty. Fully accredited and guaranteed, they provide customers with comfort and guarantee.
Verify Licensing and Insurance
Every roofing company should be licensed, bonded, and insured in the state(s) they operate in. These three pieces of paper protect you and your investment by ensuring the job is done right. That’s why it’s crucial to ask for their paperwork to ensure they’re licensed, bonded, and insured specifically in your state.
Follow the Proper Insurance Process
If you think your home has been damaged, your first call should be to your insurance agent to file a homeowners insurance claim. Your insurer will send out an adjuster to inspect the damage, and from there, you can get quotes from local, reputable roofing companies. The best way to avoid getting scammed by a storm chaser is to avoid them altogether. If a storm chaser knocks on your door saying you have storm damage, simply tell them you’ll reach out to your trusted roofer and insurance company. Even if you don’t have a roofing company yet, this at least gives you time to look for and choose one that’s local to your area.
What Legitimate Local roofers bergen county nj Offer
Established local contractors provide transparency and accountability that storm chasers cannot match. They offer detailed written estimates, proper licensing and insurance documentation, and stand behind their work with meaningful warranties. Reputable, local roofing companies are just a call away after a storm or other sudden event that damages your roof. They won’t come knocking on your door in a predatorial way, but they will show up to find a temporary solution to mitigate damage, complete a proper inspection for free, and document all damage.
Local contractors also understand Bergen County’s specific weather challenges and building requirements. They know which materials perform best in the region’s climate and have established relationships with suppliers and insurance companies. Most importantly, they’ll be there for warranty service and future maintenance needs because their business depends on their local reputation.
Take Action Before Storm Season
Before a storm hits, research and establish a relationship with a local roofing company that has a good reputation and is licensed in your state. Having a trusted contractor identified before you need emergency services protects you from making hasty decisions when storm chasers start canvassing your neighborhood.
Remember, reputable contractors aren’t pushy or demanding. You should never be pressured into making a decision on the spot, and they should understand that getting multiple bids is a part of the process. When severe weather strikes Bergen County, protect yourself by working only with established local contractors who have proven track records and genuine community ties.
Don’t let storm chasers turn your weather emergency into a financial disaster. By recognizing the warning signs and working with legitimate local professionals, you can ensure your roof repair or replacement is done right the first time, with warranties and service you can count on for years to come.