Find a licensed local roofer after storm damage — how to find one, and how to verify who you hire

License verification — all 13 states

What to verify before signing

• State license — Active status, correct name match to contract
• General liability insurance — Certificate of Insurance, minimum $1M
• Workers compensation — Required if they have employees. Without it, an injured worker can claim against your homeowner's policy.
• Physical local address — Not a PO Box. Storm chasers have no local presence.
• Written contract — Exact scope, materials, price, start date, completion date
• No AOB clause — Never sign over your insurance claim rights
• Permit pulled — Your contractor should pull permits before work starts

⬇ Download Free Contractor Checklist PDF

During the inspection

A licensed contractor will inspect your roof — exterior and, where accessible, from the attic — document all damage with dated photos, measure affected areas, and identify any secondary damage to gutters, fascia, flashing, and skylights.

For emergency situations: they assess whether tarping is needed, what areas need immediate protection, and the safest way to secure the structure pending permanent repair.

What you receive afterward

• Written scope of damage — the document your insurance adjuster will compare against their own estimate
• Dated photos — your pre-repair documentation baseline
• Repair estimate — line-item pricing you can use to evaluate or supplement the insurer's adjuster estimate
• Material recommendations — what replacement materials meet or exceed current local building code

Storm-specific expertise matters

A licensed roofer who specializes in new construction may not have deep experience with insurance-related storm work. Storm damage restoration is a specific skill set that involves: writing scopes in Xactimate format that align with insurance adjuster estimates, understanding what supplements are payable and how to document them, navigating lender escrow draw requirements, and managing the timeline pressures of a homeowner who needs repairs done before the next storm season.

When evaluating a contractor, ask directly: "Have you worked on insurance claim projects before? Are you familiar with the supplement process?" A contractor with storm restoration experience will answer confidently and specifically.

Local presence is non-negotiable

After a storm, contractors from neighboring states — and sometimes from states 1,000 miles away — descend on affected markets. Some are skilled and legitimate. Many are not. A contractor with an established local presence has a reputation to protect in the community, knows local building codes and permit requirements, has relationships with local inspectors, and will be around for warranty work.

Ask: "How long have you been operating in [county/city]?" and "Can you give me the names of three recent local customers I can call?" A contractor unwilling to provide references from local jobs is a contractor you should look at carefully.

🚩 Walk away if they:

• Cannot provide a state license number on the spot
• Solicit door-to-door after the storm — legitimate local contractors don't need to
• Offer to waive your deductible — this is insurance fraud in every state
• Ask you to sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) agreement
• Demand full payment before any work begins
• Have no local physical address — only a PO Box or out-of-state address
• Create urgency pressure — "this price is only good today"
• Want to start without pulling permits

📋 The contractor verification checklist

We've built a comprehensive free checklist covering every verification step — license lookup for all 13 states, insurance requirements, contract requirements, deposit limits by state, price gouging reporting contacts, and 12 red flags. Print it and keep it in your storm kit.

Also see the full contractor fraud guide → including price gouging laws for all 13 states.