Recover & Rebuild Right: What to Know Before Hiring a Contractor

In today’s challenging insurance landscape, property owners facing damage or loss may become targets for predatory vendors looking to exploit vulnerable situations. This could compromise your claim experience and financial well-being.

In this toolkit, we address the potential predatory practices from various vendors. By understanding the warning signs and tactics these vendors take, you can make more informed decisions throughout your claim process.

Whether you’re currently recovering from a loss or simply preparing for the future, this resource serves as your guide to recognizing and avoiding predatory practices. It also highlights how Travelers can help you every step of the way and connect you with trusted, pre-approved contractors and services to ensure a smooth claim experience.

Warning signs of predatory contractors after property damage

Someone offers a fast or easy lifeline during a stressful time. Tempting, right? That’s exactly the situation predatory vendors exploit in the aftermath of disasters or significant damage. They capitalize on vulnerability and urgency, often through misleading or unethical practices.

These vendors appear across a broad spectrum of otherwise legitimate companies: roofers, arborists, water mitigation contractors, general building contractors and more. But the way they do business is anything but usual – often pressuring you to make immediate decisions, pay upfront, and agree to damage estimates that are significantly inflated. They can make a bad situation even worse through substandard repairs, inflated costs…even legal issues. This may complicate the claim process, delay your recovery and devastate you financially. Be aware of the warning signs to protect yourself.

Source: https://www.travelers.com/resources/home/insuring/rebuild-the-right-way-property-damage-guide