WATERTOWN - This hail came fast and it came with strength.
Tom Berlin missed the storm, but he arrived home in Watertown on Monday afternoon to find his shed pounded with dents and his roof in ruin. His garden was a mess and a spotlight on his shed had been destroyed by the hail.
"Everything's shredded," Berlin said.
Almost immediately, contractors arrived in Watertown with offers to fix homes and repair damage. One contractor told Berlin he may have a total loss, but before he makes any hiring decisions, he's going to talk to his insurance company and do a little research.
"If they wanna look at it, they can look at it, but I'm not committing to nobody at this time," Berlin said. "Right now, I wanna find out what's all damaged myself, too."
KARE 11 spoke with Mark Kulda of the Insurance Federation of Minnesota and with the Better Business Bureau for some homeowner tips after hail damage. Here's a few things to keep in mind when you're making a decision on contractors and dealing with insurance companies:
-- Get references on the company
-- Get everything in writing, and make sure you get a contract for any work that's being performed
-- Get multiple estimates on price -- the Better Business Bureau suggests at least three
-- Make sure the company is licensed and has worker's compensation -- otherwise, if a worker gets hurt while working on your home, you could be liable for medical costs
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