Storm Chaser or Local Roofer? What to Check Before You Sign

The storm moves through, the sky clears, and within a day or two a stranger is at your door with a clipboard and an offer of a free roof inspection. Sometimes that person is legitimate. Often they're part of a crew that follows weather across the country, signs up as many roofs as possible and is gone before the first leak appears.

You don't need to be paranoid. You just need a short checklist and the willingness to say, “Let me call you back.”

Why timing is the trick

Right after a storm, homeowners are stressed and worried about the next rain. That's the moment a pressure pitch works best. Steele Roofing's inspection page warns about this directly: some door-knockers offering free inspections will find damage that isn't there and push you to hire them for costly repairs. A real inspection ends with a written assessment you can take away and think about. If someone insists on a signature today, that's information.

Five things to check before you sign anything

• A local address you can actually visit. Steele Roofing's office is at 20841 Hwy 69 South in Tyler. If a company can only offer a P.O. box, an out-of-state number or a business name that changed last year, keep looking.
• Reviews you can verify. Look up the company on Google and read the recent ones, not just the average. Steele Roofing shows 4.9 stars across 187 Google reviews at the time of writing, and the recent ones describe specific work by name.
• RCAT membership. The Roofing Contractors Association of Texas is the state trade association, and Steele Roofing is a licensed RCAT contractor. Ask any roofer if they're a member and confirm it yourself.
• A Better Business Bureau profile. Steele Roofing is BBB accredited with an A+ rating, and the profile is public. Check the date the company was founded and read any complaints.
• A written assessment. If the roofer won't put what they found in writing, with photos, you have nothing to compare to the next quote or show your insurance company.

None of those checks takes long. Five minutes with your phone will sort most roofers into two piles.

What local really buys you

It isn't about loyalty to a hometown. It's practical. A local roofer has a reputation to protect with the neighbors who will hear about a bad job. They also know East Texas weather, because they work through it every year, and they can come back if something is wrong a year later. Steele Roofing describes itself as a local company, not a pop-up storm crew, and says it plans to be around long after a job is finished.

Customers say the response matters too. A reviewer in June 2026 wrote that the company came out the exact same day they called for a minor repair, and that the repair person, Carter, also did a full-roof inspection while he was there. That kind of speed is hard to match from three states away.

Tarp first, decide second

If water is getting in, stop the water before you make any big decisions. Emergency roof tarping buys you time. It protects your ceilings, insulation and belongings until you've had a proper inspection and, if you're filing, until the adjuster has seen the damage. Steele Roofing offers emergency tarping for homes and commercial buildings in Tyler and across East Texas, and it can be followed by a repair or a full replacement once the picture is clear.

A tarp is a short-term fix, not a sales opportunity. Be wary of anyone who ties an emergency tarp to a signed replacement contract on the spot.

Claims and the contractor on your side

If you're filing a claim, remember that you aren't required to collect three estimates, and that you choose your own contractor. Steele Roofing states that it works for the homeowner, not the insurance company. Whoever you hire should be willing to meet the adjuster at your house and walk through the damage with them.

Give yourself a day

Unless water is pouring in, a roof can wait twenty-four hours while you check on a company. A good roofer understands that. A storm chaser wants the signature now, because tomorrow you might find the reviews.

If you've been hit and aren't sure who to trust, call Steele Roofing at (903) 630-5751 for a free roof inspection. You'll get a written assessment, and you're free to compare it against anyone else's.