Perhaps you've noticed your homeowner's insurance rates increased this year...  Almost all of them have.  One company even filed for a 76% rate increase!!!

If you're curious about how this can be possible, the reasoning is quite simple.  There are countless storm chasers going door to door right here in our neighborhoods.  They are working hard to convince homeowners like yourself that you have hail damage.  They often claim that it is damage only a professional can see and that your roof will deteriorate and leak within months if you don't replace it.

Should you be upset?  Absolutely.  But homeowners insurers paid on average 6% more than they collected in premium last year.  If it weren't for the storm chasers, your rates may have actually decreased! 

You know what makes it all even worse?  Most of these storm chasers are from out of town.  They know how to sell homeowners on turning in a claim and they know how to press the right buttons with your insurance company to just get them to pay.  After all, your company wants to serve you.  And, they know that denying a claim makes you mad and could cost you as a customer.  All the while, these out of town contractors are taking money from our already threatened economy here in Ohio and they leave you with a roof that probably doesn't even have a warranty.

A word of caution:  If you're approached by a contractor claiming that you have damage, ask your insurance company's opinion first.  In fact, try telling them that you don't have any insurance on your home and see what they say.  They are usually only interested in making claims and cashing in that way.  If they think you don't have insurance, nine times out of ten they'll go to the next house...

A recent article in the Plain Dealer does a reasonably good job at elaborating on this situation.