COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Cleanup and recovery are underway across central Ohio after strong winds, heavy rain and even tornadoes hit the region early Wednesday.
“I have a power pole in the back, and I knocked down a couple of trees,” Blacklake resident Rodney Snyder said. I think the tree knocked down the pole. There's a pair of shingles missing, and my chimney cap is just lying there in the yard.
On Thursday, homeowners continue the cleaning process and assessing what repairs need to be made.
Unfortunately, complicit contractors or outright crooks know this and go door to door offering quick and cheap solutions to hard-hit communities, but they do not deliver.
Consumer protection agencies, such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of central Ohio, said storm aftermath occurs when “storm chasers” or shady contractors exploit the vulnerability of affected homeowners to collect their money.
The scam occurs when someone, claiming to be a contractor, shows up on someone's doorstep and explains that they have just finished a job repairing storm damage on a nearby property, and since they're already here, they can handle their repairs as well, often at a discounted price. . . Hence, they are more likely to ask for payment in advance.
“What we find is that a lot of times, you never see them again, you pay your money, you pay a deposit, you never see them again…or they start the work, but they leave before it's finished,” the BBB chief of staff said. Central Ohio, Judy Dolison.
These crews may lack proper licensing, or offer quick fixes and big promises that fail, Dollison said.
So, as convenient or compelling as it may seem right now, the BBB said homeowners should avoid agreeing to any repair work on their doorstep. Instead, they should research companies themselves, ask for references, get written estimates and compare bids, and pay no more than a third of the total cost before starting work.
“Don't pay up front, don't pay the full amount up front…pay all the way, make sure you get a contract, make sure you understand the terms of the contract,” Dolison said.
For those who don't know where to start the cleaning process, check with your insurance company. If the individual is covered, they can make suggestions to contractors, and assist when it comes to moving forward with a signed contract.
Additionally, state law gives county auditors the authority to reduce the property value of property damaged or destroyed by storms, which may result in lower property taxes on the property, until it is restored to its prior condition or value.
