After every storm, the door-knockers arrive: 'You qualify for a free roof — we'll even cover your deductible.' Some homeowners get roofs. Others get liens, voided claims, and in the worst cases, a starring role in an insurance-fraud file. Here's how to tell the difference.
The red flags, plainly
- ▸'We'll waive/absorb your deductible' — paying or hiding a deductible is insurance fraud in Florida, for the contractor AND potentially the homeowner. A legit contractor will never offer it.
- ▸Pressure to sign anything on the doorstep — especially assignment agreements. Real damage will still be there tomorrow.
- ▸Out-of-state plates and no local license number on the truck, card, or contract. Verify every license on the Florida DBPR site in 30 seconds.
- ▸'We found damage' claims with no photos you can see, or damage that appears after they walk your roof alone.
- ▸A contractor who wants to run the claim before an adjuster or your own documentation exists.
What a legitimate storm claim looks like
- Documented inspection you can see: dated photos of specific damage, slope by slope.
- You file the claim (or authorize it knowingly) — nobody hustles you into signing away your benefits.
- The contractor meets your adjuster on site and argues scope with evidence, not volume.
- You pay your deductible — that's the law — and the written contract covers scope, price, and timeline.
- Permits pulled, inspections passed, license number on everything.
Why this matters beyond ethics
Homeowners caught in deductible schemes have faced denied claims and cancelled policies — in a state where getting re-insured with an open claim history is genuinely hard. The 'free' roof can become the most expensive one on the street.
We're local, licensed (CGC1540439 / CCC1337267), and we work storm claims every season the boring, legal way: document, meet the adjuster, restore, warranty.
Think you have storm damage? Get a documented inspection from a local licensed contractor — no doorstep signatures required.