Storm Chasers Are Knocking on Your Door — Here's What to Say
Samed Guvenc
Founder & Director
Looking for the quick answer?
Skim the TL;DR list at the top, review the cited statistics in each section, and use the FAQ near the end for fast answers that match Savannah and Coastal Georgia roofing needs.
It happens like clockwork. A big storm rolls through Savannah — maybe some hail, definitely some wind — and within 48 hours, unfamiliar trucks are cruising through neighborhoods and guys in polo shirts are knocking on doors.
"Hi there! We noticed some damage on your roof while we were working on your neighbor's. Mind if we take a quick look? Totally free."
Sound familiar? If you've lived in Savannah through even one storm season, you've met these guys. They're called storm chasers, and while not every single one of them is a scammer, enough of them are that you need to be really careful.
What Exactly Is a Storm Chaser?
Storm chasers are out-of-town roofing crews that follow severe weather across the country. Storm hits Oklahoma on Monday, they're there by Wednesday. Storm hits Savannah on Thursday, they're here by Saturday. They set up a temporary office, pound on doors, file insurance claims, do the work (sometimes), and then they're gone.
The problem? When the roof starts leaking six months later, guess who's not answering the phone. They're in Mississippi or the Carolinas running the same playbook.
🚩 Red Flags — Walk Away If You See These
- • They showed up uninvited and unsolicited. Legitimate roofers don't need to go door-to-door. Their phone rings plenty.
- • Out-of-state plates on their trucks. This one's a dead giveaway. Check the plates.
- • They pressure you to sign something "before your insurance window closes." That window is typically 1-2 years in Georgia, not 48 hours.
- • They offer to cover your deductible. This is actually insurance fraud. If someone offers this, run.
- • They want a big upfront deposit before doing any work. Standard practice is a small deposit, with the bulk due at completion.
- • They can't give you a local address. "Our main office is in Dallas" is not the answer you want.
- • They want to handle everything with your insurance company. A good contractor helps with claims — a bad one takes over the process to inflate costs.
What to Actually Say When They Knock
You don't have to be rude. Just be firm. Here's a script that works:
"Thanks, but I've already got a roofer I work with. If I need an inspection, I'll call them. Can you leave a card?"
That's it. You don't owe them an explanation, you don't need to let them on your roof, and you definitely don't need to sign anything. Taking their card is fine — you can look them up later if you want. But don't commit to anything in the moment.
"But What If I Actually Have Damage?"
Good question. If a bad storm just came through, you might legitimately have damage. Here's the smart way to handle it:
- 1.Document what you can see from the ground. Take photos of any visible damage — fallen shingles, dented gutters, debris. Don't climb on the roof yourself.
- 2.Call a local roofer you trust. Someone who's been in Savannah for years, has a real address, and isn't going anywhere. Ask them to do an inspection.
- 3.File the insurance claim yourself. Your roofer can help document the damage, but you should be the one calling your insurance company. It's your policy.
- 4.Get at least two estimates. Even if you love your roofer, it's smart to compare. Just make sure both companies are local and licensed in Georgia.
- 5.Never sign an assignment of benefits (AOB) without reading it carefully. An AOB gives the contractor control over your insurance claim. Some are fine. Some give away more rights than you'd want.
How to Verify Any Roofing Company in 5 Minutes
Whether it's someone who knocked on your door or someone you found online, run through this quick checklist before agreeing to anything:
- ✅ Google their name + "reviews" — Are there real Google reviews from the last year?
- ✅ Check the Georgia Secretary of State website — Is their business registered?
- ✅ Ask for their Georgia contractor license number — They should know it off the top of their head
- ✅ Verify insurance — Ask for a certificate of liability insurance. Call the insurer to confirm it's current.
- ✅ Check BBB and Angi — Look for complaint patterns, not just star ratings
- ✅ Ask for local references — Not from their website. Actual addresses in your area you can drive by.
A Story From Last Hurricane Season
After tropical storm winds hit Pooler last year, we got a call from a homeowner in Godley Station. A storm chaser crew had already been on her roof, told her she had "$18,000 in damage," and wanted her to sign a contract on the spot. She didn't feel right about it and called us instead.
When we went up there? She had one ridge cap shingle that had blown off and two flashing nails that needed resealing. Total fix: $350. Not $18,000.
That's not an unusual story. It happens every storm season, in every neighborhood. And it's why we care so much about this topic. If we can save even a few families from getting scammed, this blog post was worth writing.
Think You Have Storm Damage? Call a Local
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