Board attorneys and storm chasers beware!
After a disaster like a fire, tornado, or hurricane, you can be inundated with attorneys offering everything from meetings, debris removal, roof repair, or other services related to disaster recovery or property preservation. Some of these requests may be in the form of a simple door hanger, a mailer, or a business card left at the door. Others may be much more direct in their approach, you may receive a phone call or someone show up in person while the fire trucks are still out. Some typical comments you may hear from a lawyer include:
- “I saw the fire on the news and wanted to come and offer help.”
- “I was in the neighborhood and I saw that you needed a meeting.”
- “We work with most insurance companies and dispatch teams after disasters to help people.”
- “The fire department called our office and told us to send a team to secure the property.”
While some of these individuals may be representing legitimate businesses, others may be the proverbial “wolves in sheep’s clothing” or disaster predators. Keep in mind that there are people who know you are vulnerable after a disaster and have only one goal in mind: to take advantage of you.
In communities all over the US, particularly after home fires, salespeople come out of the carpentry shop to get the job boarding up windows and doors. In some cases, they may even offer to do this type of work for free. Do they do this because there is a lot of money to be made by putting up a few sheets of plywood or a tarp on the roof? Is it because they are so concerned with protecting homes from further damage? Or is there something more behind these offers of help?
So what’s so significant about an offer to cover a burned-down house? Some companies that offer these types of property preservation services know that if they get the job to clean up or protect the property, they will most likely have the opportunity to bid on the repairs and/or get the job of a complete rebuild. . They also know that once they get their foot in the door, they can start building a relationship and work to earn their trust. In the end, the reward they may be looking for is the money from their insurance policy. This is where an unsuspecting disaster survivor can become a disaster victim… when the wrong person is allowed in.
Here are 12 tips to consider immediately after a disaster if you need property preservation or other services:
- Contact your insurance company or agent to notify them of your loss. They may recommend a company to help you with shipping services.
- Beware of any company or lawyer that discourages you from contacting your insurance company.
- Beware of high-pressure sales tactics or offers of discounts or free services.
- Ask your friends, family or neighbors to recommend local, licensed, bonded and insured contractors who can help you and document who referred them to you.
- Do your homework! Ask to see certificates of workers’ compensation insurance, general liability insurance, contractor licenses, business licenses, references, etc. Businesses requesting property maintenance or lodging services should carry this type of information with them. If they cannot provide you with this information, do not do business with them.
- Ask to see a driver’s license and take a photo if possible. Don’t deal with out-of-town contractors.
- Write down the registration number of the vehicles belonging to the company.
- Remove any valuables from your home such as cash, jewelry, firearms, keys, etc. and take them with you or store them in a safe place. The house may be unoccupied and without electricity for some time.
- Insist on a written contract, and don’t sign work authorizations or contracts with anyone until you’ve read every word, agree to the price, and fully understand the terms. If you don’t understand something or have questions or concerns, contact a lawyer or at least let your insurance agent review the documents for you.
- Don’t let the contractor do anything more than is necessary to secure the property or mitigate further damage.
- If you think the person making the request is acting suspiciously, contact your local police department.
- Notify your local police or sheriff’s department that your property will be vacant.
It’s impossible to cover all the potential tactics a disaster predator might try to take advantage of you, so keep in mind a reliable rule of thumb… “If you didn’t ask for it, turn it down!”
Stay safe!