Storm Damage
Storm Damage Roof Claim? How to Spot Storm Chasers in Ohio
A storm chaser is a roofer who follows storms from town to town, knocks on doors, and pushes you to sign before your insurer has seen the damage. In Ohio, if you sign a roofing contract with a seller who came to your door, you can usually cancel it until midnight of the third business day after you sign (ORC 1345.22).
Spring is hail and wind season in Southwest Ohio. After a big storm, you will see yard signs and trucks you have never seen before. Some of those crews do honest work. Some do not. Here is how I tell homeowners to sort them out, and what Ohio law gives you if you already signed.
What is a storm chaser roofer?
A storm chaser is a contractor who travels to storm-damaged areas to sell roof work. The Ohio Attorney General describes them as contractors who "travel to storm-damaged communities," often go door to door, and claim they can do the work right away. Then some do "shoddy work or no work at all" (Ohio Attorney General, 2022).
The problem is not that they knock. The problem is what happens after the job. A crew from out of state may be gone when a leak shows up next winter. Your warranty is only as good as the company behind it.
How do storm chasers work a neighborhood?
Most of the pitch sounds helpful. Listen for what each line really asks you to do.
| What you hear | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| "Your insurance will pay for a whole new roof." | No contractor knows that. Your insurer decides coverage. | Call your insurer first. |
| "Sign this so we can talk to your adjuster for you." | It may hand them control of your claim. | Read every page. Do not sign a power of attorney. |
| "We can start tomorrow." | It may skip the adjuster's inspection. | Wait until the adjuster documents the damage. |
| "We'll take care of your deductible." | The price or the bill to the insurer may not be honest. | Walk away. |
| "Just sign the insurance check over to us." | You lose your leverage before any work is done. | Pay in stages tied to finished work. |
| "Can we look at your roof while you're at work?" | No one can confirm what they found or did. | Be home and watch the inspection. |
The Ohio Department of Insurance gives the same advice. Do not let a contractor inspect when you are not home. Do not give a contractor power of attorney or let them negotiate or settle your claim. Pay by check or credit card, and do not pay in full until the work is done (ODI).
Can a roofer handle my insurance claim in Ohio?
No. A roofer can inspect, photograph, and write a repair scope. A roofer can also meet the adjuster to show the damage. But in Ohio, a person paid to negotiate or settle a claim is generally a public insurance adjuster, with a few exceptions such as certain attorneys (ORC 3951.01). That work needs a state certificate of authority (ORC 3951.02).
You are the policyholder. Keep the claim in your name and your hands. Our guide to filing a storm damage claim in Ohio walks through each step.
Why are deductible deals a problem?
Your deductible is your share of the loss. A contractor who "eats" it has to make up the money somewhere. Often that means a bill to the insurer that does not show the true price, or work cut short.
Ohio's insurance fraud law covers more than claim forms. It lists estimates, invoices, bills, and photographs as statements. It is a crime to present a false or deceptive statement to an insurer with purpose to defraud, or to help someone else do it (ORC 2913.47). A deductible deal can drag you into that. I never offer one, and you should not accept one.
What does Ohio law say about door-to-door roofing contracts?
Ohio's Home Solicitation Sales Act covers many contracts you sign at home with a seller who came to you. Here is what it gives you:
- Three business days to cancel. You can cancel until midnight of the third business day after you sign (ORC 1345.22). Sundays and listed legal holidays do not count as business days (ORC 1345.21).
- No work during that window. For a service contract, the seller may not start work while you can still cancel (ORC 1345.22).
- A written notice of your right. The contract must show your cancel right near your signature and include a "notice of cancellation" form. Until the seller gives you that, the three days do not start (ORC 1345.23).
Two exceptions matter after a storm. First, the act generally does not apply if you contacted the contractor first to buy the work, and the contractor regularly sells that work from a fixed business location in Ohio. Second, there is an emergency waiver. It applies only if you started the contact, the need is a real emergency, and you write and sign a dated statement in your own handwriting giving up the right to cancel (ORC 1345.21). A pre-printed waiver that a salesperson hands you does not meet that description.
A checklist before you sign anything
- Call your insurer first. Report the damage and get a claim number. The ODI says to contact your insurer right away (ODI).
- Get the company's full name, address, and phone. Be careful with anyone who will not give it (Ohio Attorney General).
- Check that the business is registered with the Ohio Secretary of State. The ODI lists an unregistered contractor as a warning sign (ODI Severe Weather Toolkit).
- Look up complaints with the Ohio Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau.
- Get at least three written estimates. The Attorney General suggests three from three different contractors.
- Get it all in writing. Costs, scope, start and end dates, subcontractors, permits, and any spoken promises.
- Pay in stages. The Attorney General gives an example: a third at the start, a third at the halfway point, and the rest at the end.
- Do not sign a contract before the adjuster has looked at the damage. The ODI says the adjuster will usually want to see the estimate first (ODI Severe Weather Toolkit).
Our guide to choosing a Cincinnati roofing contractor has more questions to ask about insurance, workers' comp, and permits.
I already signed. Can I still cancel?
If the sale was a home solicitation sale and you are inside the window, yes. Send written notice to the address, email, or fax number in the contract. Certified mail, hand delivery, fax, and email all work. The notice does not need a special form. Any written statement that you do not want to be bound is enough (ORC 1345.22). Keep a copy and proof of when you sent it.
The required cancellation form says your payments will be returned within 10 business days after the seller gets your notice (ORC 1345.23).
If you think a contractor broke the law, call the Ohio Attorney General at 800-282-0515. If you think a contractor tried to fake or inflate an insurance claim, call the ODI fraud hotline at 800-686-1527 (ODI).
How Shamrock can help
Shamrock Restoration works from our office at 6511 West Chester Rd. in West Chester. We inspect your roof, photograph the damage, and write a repair scope. We can meet your adjuster at the house. You stay in charge of your claim, and your insurer decides what it covers. Request a free roof inspection or read about our roofing services.
FAQ
Are all door-to-door roofers storm chasers? No. Some local companies knock on doors after storms. Judge the company, not the knock. Check its address, registration, references, and written contract.
Does the three-day cancel rule apply if I called the roofer? Often not. The act generally does not apply when you contacted the seller first to buy the work, and the seller regularly sells that work from a fixed business location in Ohio (ORC 1345.21). Read your contract for its own cancel terms.
Can a roofer talk to my adjuster? A roofer can show the adjuster the damage and explain the repair scope. A roofer cannot negotiate or settle your claim for pay without a public adjuster certificate (ORC 3951.02).
Should I sign over my insurance check to the contractor? No. The ODI says not to pay a contractor the full amount up front or sign over your settlement payment (ODI Severe Weather Toolkit).