After a disaster like a fire, tornado, or hurricane, you may be inundated by solicitors offering everything from board-ups, debris clean-up, roof repairs, or other disaster recovery or property preservation related services. Some of these solicitations may be in the form of a simple door hanger, mailer, or a business card left on the doorstep. Others may be much more forward in their approach, you may get a call on the phone or someone shows up in person while the fire trucks are still present. Some typical comments you may hear from a solicitor include:
"I saw the fire on the news and wanted to come by and offer some help." "I was in the neighborhood and saw that you needed a board-up." "We work with most insurance companies and dispatch crews after disasters to help people." "The fire department called our office and told us to send out a crew to secure the property."Although 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 there are people out there who know you are vulnerable after a disaster and they have only one objective in mind - to take advantage of you.
In communities all across the U.S., particularly after house fires, salespeople come out of the wood work to get the job of 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 so much money to be made putting up a few sheets of plywood or a tarp on the roof? Is it because they are so concerned about protecting homes from further damage? Or is there something else behind these offers of help?
So what is so significant about an offer to board up a burned out home? Some companies who offer these type of property preservation services know if they get the job of cleaning up or protecting the property, most likely will get an opportunity to bid on the repairs and/or get the job of the complete rebuilding. They also know that once they get their foot in the door, they can start building a relationship and work towards winning your trust and confidence. In the end, the reward they may be looking for is the money in your 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 a board-up or other property preservation services:
Contact your insurance company or agent to notify them of your loss. They may recommend a company to assist you with board-up services. Beware of any company or solicitor that discourages you from contacting your insurance company. Beware of high pressure sales tactics or offers of discounts or free services. Ask friends, family, or neighbors for recommendations of local, licensed, bonded, and insured contractors that might be able to help and document who referred them to you. Do your homework! Ask to see certificates of workers' compensation insurance, general liability insurance, contractors licensing, business licensing, references, etc. Companies that solicit property preservation or board-up services should carry this type of information with them. If they cannot provide you with this information, don't do business with them. Ask to see a driver's license and snap a photo of it if possible. Do not deal with out-of-town contractors. Write down the license plate number of any vehicles belonging to the company. Remove any valuables from your home like cash, jewelry, firearms, keys, etc. and take them with you or put them in a safe place. The home may be vacant and without power for some time. Insist on a written contract and don't sign work authorizations or contracts with anyone until you have read every word, agree on the price, and understand the terms completely. If you don't understand something or have questions or concerns, contact an attorney or at least let your insurance agent review the documents for you. Don't allow the contractor to do anything other than what is needed to secure the property or mitigate further damage. If you feel like the person soliciting you is acting suspiciously contact your local police department. Notify your local police or sheriff's department that your property will be unoccupied.It is impossible to cover all the potential tactics a disaster predator might try in order to take advantage of you, so keep in mind a reliable rule of thumb... "If you didn't request it, reject it!"
Stay Safe!
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