How to spot a storm chaser
Within 48 hours of a metro hailstorm, out-of-state crews are knocking on Minnesota doors. Some are legitimate. Many are not.
Minn. Stat. § 326B.802 · Minn. Stat. § 325E.66
The warning signs
Offers to pay, waive, or "take care of" your deductible. Illegal in Minnesota (Minn. Stat. 325E.66) and void. Anyone who opens with it has told you who they are.
No Minnesota license. Residential roofers and remodelers working directly for homeowners need a state license (Minn. Stat. 326B.802 and related law). No license number on the contract, truck, or estimate is disqualifying. Verification takes two minutes in the free Department of Labor and Industry lookup, or in this site's directory, where license status comes straight from the state's nightly file.
Pressure to sign before the adjuster has even visited, or contracts with blank or vague scope, "insurance proceeds" as the only price term, or no notice of your statutory rights.
Promises about what insurance "will definitely" pay. Nobody knows that before adjustment, and contractors are prohibited from negotiating your claim for you.
Large upfront payments, a temporary local address, a phone number that does not match the company name, or a company registered last month.
Requests to sign over your insurance claim or benefits.
What legitimate looks like
A Minnesota license number that checks out, a verifiable local history, a written itemized scope, the statutorily required deductible notice in the estimate, insurance the contractor can prove, and zero pressure to sign today.
You have time
You have time. Radar data, permit history, and license records are public, and this site exists so you can check all three yourself.