Contractors are going door to door in the area hardest hit by Sunday’s hail storm

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - Contractors are going door to door through storm damaged neighborhoods trying to drum up business.

That can spell trouble for a homeowner.

Patti Leaderich continues to clean up her yard following Sunday’s hail storm.

Leaderich says, "I’ve been in this area for 20 years. I’ve never been in a storm of this magnitude."

The storm knocked down branches in her yard, damaged eve spouts and possibly harmed her roof. She is not alone.

Piles of tree branches line the sides of streets in the area around North Brighton Avenue and NE 46th street.

Leaderich has already been approached by several door to door salespeople. She tells them to keep moving.

"When I ask for a business card or an ID, they can't produce an ID. I do ask them kindly to leave my property," she says.

In the area, work crews are busy sawing and removing trees.

Homemade signs line some streets trying to drum up business for everything from tree removal to roof repair.

But before hiring someone, you need to do a few simple steps.

"The problem with door to door sales people is the fact that they're right there and you have no time to research them," says Aaron Reece of the Kansas City Better Business Bureau.

The BBB recommends checking its database first to make sure the person or company is in good standing.

The agency also suggests hiring a local company, one that's easy to contact in case you need them to come back.

Always get several estimates from different companies.

Reece says, "You don't need to sign something with the person immediately. There’s no way on the spot to tell the good ones from the bad ones."

In recent months, the national roofing company, American Shingle, went out of business after taking thousands of dollars from Kansas City homeowners and not doing the work.

So it is important to do some homework first.

To reach the Better Business Bureau, call 816-421-7800.