Longevity isn't everything, but it's a reliable filter for storm-chasing fraud. A company with a verifiable local address and years of operation in your area has something to lose if they do bad work.
What to look for
Ask for a physical street address — not a P.O. box. Look them up on Google Maps. Check the BBB. Search their company name plus your city on Google and see what comes up. A real company has a footprint.
The storm chaser pattern
After every major hurricane, out-of-state contractors flood coastal neighborhoods within 48 hours. They carry door-to-door, offer too-good-to-be-true prices, collect large deposits — and disappear. This pattern costs Florida homeowners alone hundreds of millions of dollars every major storm season.
What "local" really means
A local contractor has a reputation to protect in your community. They know the local building codes, the local inspectors, and the local suppliers. They'll be there when you call about a warranty issue two years from now.
Out-of-state license plates. A phone number that goes to voicemail. No Google reviews. No physical address you can verify on Maps.
