How do I spot a storm-chasing contractor?

Check the license before anything else. DPOR says to verify that a contractor has a legitimate Virginia license using its License Lookup tool or by calling (804) 367-8511.^[1] DPOR warns that scammers frequently attempt to profit from disasters by taking advantage of individuals who are rebuilding.^[1] These are the signs to look for, and what to do instead.

The knock on the door

After a storm, crews go door to door. Some are legitimate local firms. DPOR says to be wary of door-to-door solicitations promising repairs at a discounted price.^[1] The department lists these scam signals: high-pressure or scare tactics, over-friendly sales pitches, "Material left-over", escalating prices, and deals that sound too good to be true.^[1]

The Board for Contractors' hiring guide adds more warning signs: a salesperson who says your home will be used for advertising purposes (as a model job or show-house) in exchange for a low price,^[2] and a contractor who tells you this is a special price available only if you sign the contract today.^[2] Another is a contractor who refuses to provide references, or whose references have reservations.^[2]

Verify the license, not the business card

The Board warns that a license number in an advertisement or on a business card does not necessarily mean the contractor's license is valid.^[2] Look the number up yourself, and check that the class and specialty cover your job. Class is set by the size of the contract: a Class C license covers a single contract over $1,000 but less than $30,000, and a Class B license a single contract of $30,000 or more but less than $150,000.^[3]

This is not paperwork for its own sake. Virginia law makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor to contract for or bid on repair work on someone else's property without a license, or without the proper class of license for the value of the work.^[4] And DPOR is blunt about the practical risk: consumers have very little recourse against unlicensed contractors.^[1]

Red flags in the paperwork and the payment

• Pressure to sign today. A real estimate does not expire at dusk.
• Cash only, or the whole job up front. DPOR's advice is to insist on a written contract, not pay in cash, and never pay for the entire job upfront.^[1]
• A big deposit. DPOR says to pay 10 percent down or $1,000, whichever amount is less, unless the job requires custom-made items or special orders, when the limit is 30% of the contract value.^[1]
• A request for full payment in advance, or to sign your insurance check over. Virginia's Bureau of Insurance says it is highly unlikely that a reputable contractor would request full payment in advance, and the contract should specify that payments will be made as the work is completed.^[5] Its answer to a contractor who offers to work faster if you sign the check over is no.^[5]
• Work starts before the insurer has seen the damage. The Bureau advises you not to sign any contracts for major repair until the company representative has determined how much damage there is and how much the company will pay.^[5]

If you already signed

Virginia's Home Solicitation Sales Act can give you a way out. A home solicitation sale involves the seller engaging in a personal solicitation and the buyer's agreement being given there.^[6] In that case you can cancel until midnight of the third business day after the day on which you sign.^[7] The right can be lost if you ask the seller to start without delay because of an emergency, the seller in good faith makes a substantial beginning of performance, and your request is in a dated writing you personally signed that expressly says you are waiving the right to cancel.^[7] Read anything marked "emergency" before you sign it. Cancellation occurs when you give written notice of cancellation to the seller at the address stated in the agreement,^[7] so cancel in writing and keep a copy.

Finding someone you can trust

Ask the people you know, check references and review past work, get at least three estimates whenever possible, and insist on a written contract.^[1] DPOR also advises that you keep records of all payments and documents relating to your project.^[1] Make sure the contractor is qualified to do your job (right class, right specialty).^[1]

When to call a licensed pro

For all of the repair work, and for the decision of who does it. Roof, structural, electrical and gas repairs after a storm need a contractor licensed in Virginia for that work. Our guides on first steps after storm damage and what storm damage repair costs cover the insurance and quoting side.

Browse restoration services, where Loclis lists DPOR-licensed businesses with their license details, or read more restoration answers. To get quotes, describe the job once.