After a hurricane or severe storm, your priority is to get your home secured as quickly as possible. This high-stress, vulnerable moment is exactly what “storm chasers” prey on.
Storm chasers are out-of-town, often unlicensed contractors who sweep into a disaster-stricken area, perform cheap, subpar work, and disappear as soon as they’re paid—leaving you with a bigger problem than you started with.
At Krüger, we believe an educated homeowner is a protected homeowner. Here are the 5 critical red flags to look for.
Red Flag #1: They Demand Full Payment Upfront (Especially in Cash)
The Scam: A storm chaser will pressure you to pay for the entire job, or a very large deposit (over 50%), before any work begins. They prefer cash or a check made out to them personally. Once they have your money, they may do a poor job or disappear entirely.
The Legitimate Pro: A professional contractor (like Krüger) will have a clear payment schedule tied to project milestones. While a deposit for materials is standard, a reputable company will never demand the full payment before the job is complete and you are satisfied.
Red Flag #2: They Offer to “Cover” or “Waive” Your Insurance Deductible
The Scam: This is a very common tactic. A contractor knocks on your door and says, “We’ll do the roof, and you won’t have to pay your $1,000 deductible. We’ll just bill the insurance company for more.”
This is insurance fraud, plain and simple. Not only is it illegal, but it’s a sign that the contractor is willing to cheat the system—and they are likely cheating you, too, by using inferior materials or cutting corners to make up the profit.
The Legitimate Pro: A professional contractor will provide you with a detailed estimate and ask you to pay your deductible as required by your policy. They work with the insurance company, not against them.
Red Flag #3: They Have No Local Address or Proper ID
The Scam: Ask them for their office address. A storm chaser will be vague, give you a P.O. Box, or point to their truck (which often has out-of-state license plates). They have no ties to your community and will be unreachable when your new roof starts leaking in six months.
The Legitimate Pro: A real contractor has a physical, local office address (like our headquarters in Boca Raton). Their trucks are professionally branded, and their team is uniformed. They are part of your community and will be here to stand by their work long after the storm is gone.
Red Flag #4: They Use High-Pressure Sales Tactics
The Scam: The contractor will create a false sense of urgency. “This price is only good for today,” or “I just did your neighbor’s roof, and I have leftover materials.” They pressure you to sign a contract on the spot without reading it.
The Legitimate Pro: A professional will give you a detailed, written estimate that is valid for a reasonable period (e.g., 30 days). They will encourage you to read the contract and ask questions. They want you to feel confident, not pressured.
Red Flag #5: They Can’t Provide a License or Insurance
The Scam: When you ask for their Florida State Contractor License number or proof of insurance, they’ll get defensive or show you a generic “business license.” If a worker gets injured on your property and the contractor has no insurance, you could be held liable.
The Legitimate Pro: A real contractor will proudly show you their State License number and their Certificate of Insurance (which should include General Liability and, crucially, Workers’ Compensation).
How to Protect Yourself: The Legitimate Contractor Checklist
When your home is damaged, don’t panic. Use this checklist to vet any contractor:
- [ ] Ask for their Florida State License Number. (You can verify it online).
- [ ] Ask for Proof of Insurance. (Both General Liability and Workers’ Comp).
- [ ] Check Their Reputation. (Look them up on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Google Reviews).
- [ ] Ask for a Local, Physical Address.
- [ ] Ask if They Use Their Own Crews. (Many storm chasers use random, untrained subcontractors).
Your Safe Choice in a Storm
At Krüger Disaster Recovery, we were here before the storm, and we’ll be here long after.
We are a state-licensed and fully insured contractor with an A+ Rating from the BBB. We have a permanent office in South Florida and use our own in-house, uniformed crews for every job. We are a preferred vendor for a reason: we provide peace of mind.
If your property is damaged, don’t take a risk. Call the trusted, local professionals.
