MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Hundreds of families across Memphis and the Mid-South are still recovering from the winter storm in January, including Jim and Anne Marie Chambers.
“I never like seeing somebody's house get destroyed,” said Rowdy Legg, owner of Homeway Construction. “This one's pretty bad.”
This home filled with love is also full of water damage from burst pipes. Monday, Legg got a call from Jim Chambers who needed help.
“He went to visit his wife in the hospital. She's a kind of a casualty of the ice,” said Legg. “She fell and broke her hip.”
But when Chambers returned home, he found nearly two inches of water on the floor.
“The pipe busted over the master or the hallway bathroom here,” said Legg.
As Jim Chambers tended to his wife, Anne Marie, crews with Homeway Construction were repairing their home. It’s one of many service calls this week.
“Since last Friday, we've received probably over 150 calls,” said Legg.
Homeway Construction is one of several companies hired to help homeowners.
But the Better Business Bureau warns not every company is legitimate. Spokesperson Randy Hutchinson said to watch out for storm chasers.
“That’s a name for less than reputable out-of-town companies or individuals who follow bad weather and then go door-to-door offering too good to be true deals on repairs,” said Hutchinson.
According to the BBB, here’s a look at the red flags of storm chasers:
- Lack the proper licensing for your area
- Only accept cash
- Drive vehicles with no company identifying signage
When you hire a company, Hutchinson said to document the process.
“It’s a good idea to take pictures of any damage, pictures, videos - these days of any damage. And get everything in writing with a description of the work materials,” said Hutchinson.
Sharing pictures and videos is a great way to show your insurance company what happened. According to AAA, damage caused from burst pipes and repair costs are covered under most policies, as long as your home was well-maintained and you had heat in your home.