Contractors who offer to fix part of your house don't always have the right intentions. It's important to know how to spot a common roofing scam before it happens, so you can avoid becoming a victim. Here's some background info on roofing insurance scams in Mississippi and how you can protect yourself from them.

What Are Roofing Insurance Scams in Mississippi?

Roofing insurance scams in Mississippi involve someone who presents themselves as a contractor offering to inspect and/or repair your roof with no intention of honoring their deal. A roofing scam artist might either hit you with a lowball offer to entice you to sign a contract and then up-charge you later on, or they might take your money and run. These scammers have several tactics, and it's critical to know them all. 

Most Common Roofing Insurance Scams in Mississippi

Roofing insurance scams can take on many forms, but several are happening more frequently over time. Here are some of the most commonly spotted roofing insurance scams in Mississippi as of late:

• Lowball offers: A roofing insurance scammer can draw you in with a lowball offer that's well below any others you may have received for a similar project. But while they might start doing the work at this price, later on they're likely to ask you for more money and claim it's for newly discovered damage or extra materials.
• Huge claims: Scammers can also deceive you by beginning work on a project and then telling you there's extensive damage that requires more money to fix. The problem is, often these scammers have actually caused damage to your roof on purpose just to collect more money.
• Storm chasers: These scammers love to show up after a huge storm has rolled through your neighborhood, claiming they're here to help you fix your roof in the wake of a tragic weather event. They can either use the same tactics described above, or they can ask for a deposit and then disappear. 
• Unfinished work: Roofing insurance scammers are also notorious for leaving work unfinished or in a very poor state. If you get scammed, you can end up with worse damage to your roof than you would've otherwise had before hiring the shady contractor to "fix" it.

Knowing the tactics most commonly used by roofing insurance scammers in Mississippi can help you know when to turn down an offer rather than accept one.

Does Mississippi Homeowners Insurance Cover Roof Damage?

Yes, after paying your deductible amount out of pocket, your homeowners insurance will reimburse you for damage to your roof as long as it was due to a covered cause. The deductible is an important factor to consider, because roof insurance scammers will claim that you don't need to pay it because they can get you "full coverage," when in reality that's just not true.

Mississippi homeowners insurance covers roof damage caused by:

If your roof got damaged by a covered cause, it's a safe practice to file a claim through your homeowners insurance and have them send out an adjuster to evaluate the damage. From there, you can get connected to a legitimate contractor to get the job done right.

What Storms Cause the Most Roof Damage in Mississippi?

Mississippi is located in Dixie Alley, which is kind of like Tornado Alley's little sibling. The states located in Dixie Alley are frequently hit by tornadoes that can easily damage roofs. But Mississippi is also prone to hurricanes, wildfires, and harsh winter storms.

Wind, fire, hail, and heavy rainfall can all badly damage or destroy roofs. Luckily for homeowners in Mississippi, their home insurance will reimburse for roof replacements after these covered natural disasters. Make sure to work with a Mississippi independent insurance agent to get your home equipped with the right  insurance for the job. 

How Else Does Falling Victim to a Roofing Insurance Scam Cost Me?

There is damage beyond just those out-of-pocket costs after falling victim to a roofing insurance scam. It's critical to know the signs of a roofing insurance scam before you get deceived so you can avoid lost time and unnecessary stress, as well.

Failing to notice the red flags of a roofing insurance scam could set you back thousands of dollars, not to mention leave you with a roof possibly in worse shape than before. If you do decide to get your roof repaired, make sure to take the time to properly research a contractor's background beforehand.

Top Tips to Protect Yourself from Mississippi Roofing Insurance Scams

The best defense against a roofing insurance scam is a good offense. That means asking your roofing contractor for important information before you ever even look at a contract. Here are a few things to ask your contractor for up front:

Beyond asking your contractor these critical questions, also take a moment to do a web search of their name and business name to see if there are any customer complaints. Sometimes you can easily avoid a scam just by researching a contractor online.

Why Choose a Mississippi Independent Insurance Agent?

Mississippi independent insurance agents simplify the process by shopping and comparing insurance quotes for you. Not only that, but they’ll also cut the jargon and clarify the fine print so you know exactly what you’re getting.

Mississippi independent insurance agents also have access to multiple insurance companies, ultimately finding you the best home insurance coverage, accessibility, and competitive pricing while working for you.