DFW area and Houston area have always had very good roofing contractors who made a living off regular local event like 50-60 MPH spring, fall or winter winds. Hail from pea size to quarter size. This was in the days of the HOB which had RCC.
The salesmen were contingency paid. No new roof, no job and no pay. Most of the salemen were under 35 and could climb a roof like a mountain goat.The large companies would sent out 6-8 for a sub division and leave door hangers, then follow up with door knocking and tell the owners they would meet the adjuster on the roof and point out the damage. The contractors contract had a direction to make out a joint check with their name on the check when the job was completed, without any hold back. Needless to say if a real storm hit it was very good times. The work was first class with the fastest Mexican five man crews you have ever seen. One crew had the reputation of off and on of 60 sq roofs, clean up and gone in one working day. The rest were all in the 50-55 sq per day range.
The best prospect was a very steep roof with a female adjuster or an old adjuster like myself or better still was the desk adjuster who did not come out but used the diagram, photos and contract of the roofer to pay the loss. The salesman was always on the roof with the drawn circles when the adjuster arrived. Some of the memorable meeting were working for non/sub standard carriers who wrote RCC and ACV only. I would agree with the sales man on the ACV only take 60 to 75% depreciation and a 1% deductible and have a net of $.0.
To finish the story I saw a newscast on local TV that the largest"contingency" roofer in the Houston area lost his top five salesman who opened their own shop, took the best crews and clogged up the criminal and civil courts in Fort Bend County with litigation. But it seems the DA and many of the judges are beholden to the old boss for deer, goose and duck leases, along with a few carriers. But of course all this will run it course and then we will have 5 more, good, fast, contingency roofing contractors. But the biggest fear I have is turning these roofing crews loose on US soil as roof estimators and photographers for these FICUS TREE adjusters.