Step 1
Before you answer the door
Most bad storm-repair deals start with a knock. A little checking before you ever open the door filters out most trouble.
- Check for storm damage yourself first — hail dents on window sills, gutters, and air conditioners, or shingle pieces in the yard. No damage, no repair.
- Never accept a “free roof inspection” you did not ask for. You control who walks on your roof.
- Be suspicious of out-of-state plates, out-of-town phone numbers, and crews that “just happened to be in the neighborhood.”
- Note the company name, truck information, and the salesperson's name before any conversation gets far.
- You do not owe anyone your insurance policy or claim number at the door — never hand those over to a stranger.
- Real damage is still there tomorrow. Urgency is a sales tactic, not a roof condition.
Step 2
Before you get the estimate
Verify who they are before they put a number in front of you. It takes minutes and stops most scams cold.
- Get the company's full legal name, local street address, and phone number — not just a truck decal.
- Search the company name on the Better Business Bureau site and read complaints and reviews. (bbb.org)
- Google the company name plus the word “complaints” — past storm-chaser victims are usually loud online.
- Missouri does not license roofers at the state level — St. Louis City and County, St. Charles, Jefferson, and Franklin each set their own rules. Ask the city or county which licenses or registrations your contractor must hold, and check them. (stlouis-mo.gov)
- Illinois roofers must hold a state roofing license — verify it through the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation. (idfpr.illinois.gov)
- Ask for a certificate of insurance — general liability and workers' comp — and call the insurer listed to confirm it is current.
- Ask how long they have worked in the St. Louis area and for two or three local references you can call.
Step 3
Before you sign the contract
The contract is where the money is decided. Read every line, and make sure what is written matches what was promised.
- Refuse any offer to “waive your deductible.” For property repairs that is illegal in Illinois and can be insurance fraud in Missouri — and it usually means the claim gets padded to cover it.
- Never sign a contingency or “assignment of benefits” contract that gives the contractor power to deal with your insurer for you.
- Make sure the scope of work, materials, and brands are written line by line — not “repair roof per estimate.”
- Check the total price, the payment schedule, and what triggers each payment.
- Look for start and completion dates, plus what happens if they miss them.
- Get warranty terms in writing: how long, what it covers, and who honors it if the company is gone in two years.
- Never sign anything you do not understand — ask questions until it is clear, or have someone you trust read it with you.
Step 4
Before you pay
How you pay is how you stay in control. A legitimate contractor does not need your money faster than your insurer pays.
- Never pay the full amount up front. Reputable contractors bill at milestones.
- Keep any deposit small — be very wary of anyone demanding most of the money up front, before work starts.
- Pay by a method with a paper trail — never cash, gift cards, or wire transfers.
- Do not make the final payment until the work is done and you have inspected it.
- Keep your insurance money and repair money separate — do not let anyone talk you into “covering our deductible out of the claim.”
- Keep every receipt, estimate, and text message until the job is fully closed out.
Step 5
If something feels wrong
You are not stuck. If you signed something you regret or a contractor disappeared, report it — that is what these offices are for.
- Missouri: report contractor fraud or scams to the Missouri Attorney General's Consumer Protection division. (ago.mo.gov)
- Missouri: questions about an insurance claim or adjuster go to the Missouri Department of Commerce & Insurance. (dci.mo.gov)
- Illinois: report to the Illinois Attorney General's Consumer Fraud Bureau and check licenses through IDFPR.
- In St. Louis City, the city's Contractor Fraud Legal Task Force offers free legal help for tornado and storm victims. (stlouis-mo.gov)
- File a Better Business Bureau complaint so the next homeowner sees it too. (bbb.org)
- If a contractor threatened you, took money, or damaged your property on purpose, also call your local police — that is a crime, not a dispute.
Official sources to check
Every link below goes to a government or nonprofit resource — not to us, and not to a contractor.
This page is general consumer guidance, not legal advice, and it is not an endorsement of any contractor. STL Storm Team is an independent storm-resource hub — we do not perform repair work or sell insurance. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
After you have checked them out
Choose from pros who were verified before you met them.
Every professional in our directory has required licenses verified, insurance on file, and at least five years operating in Greater St. Louis. Skip the driveway pitch entirely.