Storm damage has construction scammers knocking on your broken door

Wisconsin’s consumer protection has advice.

Heavy storms, wind, rain and plenty of damage have already brought the construction scammers out.

That’s the warning this week from Wisconsin’s consumer protection office about so-called storm chasers. Those transient, out-of-state work crews that come with big promises, often do a quick fix and then disappear in the dark of night.

Frequently, these crews do shoddy work and often leave homeowners holding the bag without a warranty and owing money to suppliers who’ve never been paid.

Get everything in writing, recommends the state. 

A lot of restrictions are in place with the state’s storm chaser law but you can also exercise some basic caution by checking out a contractor’s insurance, demanding lien waivers and having a building inspector check everything before you pay.