The checklists that would have saved me
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Written from the founder's own Hurricane Ian file: the information he needed and did not have.
Start here after a storm The First 72 Hours, interactive checklist →The 15 contractor red flags
Before you sign anything or hand over any money. These are the exact warning signs the founder missed after Hurricane Ian, documented and explained.
No physical address
Only a phone number, PO box, or website. No verifiable business location.
License they cannot prove
Asks you to "trust them" or shows a license that does not match their name or trade.
Full payment upfront
Legitimate contractors take a deposit (10-30%) then progress payments. Never 100% upfront.
Only cash accepted
No paper trail protects them, not you. Always demand a check or card option.
Unsolicited door knock after a storm
Predatory contractors follow storms. Legitimate ones are booked months in advance.
Pressure to sign immediately
Any urgency around signing a contract is a sales tactic. Real contractors give you time.
No written contract
Verbal agreements are unenforceable in a dispute. If they resist writing it down, walk away.
They offer to "help with your insurance"
This often means signing your insurance rights over to them (an assignment of benefits). Talk to a licensed public adjuster first.
Subcontracts everything
If they subcontract every trade, they are a middleman with markup. You want the actual contractor.
No local references
Cannot provide names of recent local customers you can call. Not negotiable.
Price drastically lower than others
Three estimates $20K apart, and one is $7K? The $7K contractor is the problem.
Vague scope of work
"Fix the roof" is not a scope of work. Demand a line-by-line materials and labor breakdown.
Wants you to pull the permit
The contractor should pull permits. If they ask you to, it is a red flag for unlicensed work.
Generic or out-of-state plates
After Ian, contractors flooded in from other states, some legitimate, many not. Verify everything.
Cannot answer specific questions
Ask what materials they use. Ask about their warranty. If they deflect or generalize, they do not know.
Document your property before storm season
Your documentation quality before a storm directly affects your claim outcome after it. Do this once in May. Update annually.
Exterior
- All four sides of the home
- Roof from ground angle
- Every door and window
- Garage, fences, outbuildings
- Pool equipment and screen enclosure
- AC units and generators
Living Areas
- Wide shot of each room
- Close-up of flooring material
- Built-ins, fireplaces, crown molding
- Light fixtures and ceiling fans
- Window treatments
- TV and electronics
Kitchen
- All appliances (model numbers visible)
- Cabinetry and countertops
- Backsplash and fixtures
- Pantry contents
- Under-sink plumbing
Bedrooms & Baths
- Bedroom furniture
- Closet contents (jewelry, clothing)
- All bathroom fixtures
- Tile work and vanities
- Mirrors and lighting
The full guide series
Claims process, contractor safety, and preparation articles, written from the founder's own claim file.
Browse the GuideThe Storm Watch list
When a named storm threatens Southwest Florida, this list gets two emails: the checklist before it arrives, and the deadlines that matter after it passes. Nothing else, no weekly newsletter, a few emails a year at most. Leaving takes one reply.