How quickly do roofing leads go cold after a storm?

Roofing leads go cold within 5-10 minutes. Homeowners typically call 3-5 roofers after a storm and hire the first one who answers and sounds professional.

What is the best way to capture storm damage leads?

The best way to capture storm damage leads is to answer every call live, 24/7. AI answering services like CallDispatcher can handle the surge of calls after a storm when you can't answer yourself.

Storm Damage Leads: Why Roofers Who Answer First Win the Job

A severe storm just rolled through your service area. Hail the size of golf balls. Wind damage everywhere. Shingles scattered across lawns. Your phone is about to explode with calls.

But here's the problem: you're already on a roof doing an inspection. Your office manager went home for the day. And every single one of those incoming calls is a homeowner ready to hire a roofer right now.

What happens to those calls?

78%

of homeowners hire the first roofer who answers

The 10-Minute Window

After a storm, homeowners don't leisurely research roofing companies. They're stressed. Water might be coming into their house. They want someone there today.

Here's what typically happens:

Homeowner notices damage
Searches "roofer near me" or asks neighbors for recommendations
Calls 3-5 roofing companies
Hires the first one who answers and sounds professional

That entire process takes about 10 minutes. If your phone goes to voicemail, you've already lost to the competitor who picked up.

                The Math: If a storm generates 50 calls to your business and you miss half of them, that's 25 potential jobs lost. At an average job value of $8,000, that's $200,000 in lost revenue from a single storm.
            

Why Voicemail Doesn't Work for Storm Damage

Some roofing contractors think, "I'll just call them back." But storm damage leads are different from regular roofing inquiries:

Urgency is extreme — They may have water coming in right now
Competition is fierce — Every roofer in town is getting the same surge of calls
Callback rates are terrible — By the time you call back, they've already hired someone
Volume is overwhelming — You physically can't return 50 calls while also doing inspections

The Storm Chaser Advantage

You know those out-of-town roofing crews that show up after every major storm? They're often winning jobs not because they're better roofers, but because they have dedicated call teams answering every single call.

While you're climbing on roofs, they're capturing your leads.

How AI Answering Levels the Playing Field

AI answering services like CallDispatcher let local roofers compete with storm chasers without hiring a call center:

Every call answered — Even during the post-storm surge
Lead information captured — Name, address, damage description, photos requested
Emergency triage — Active leaks get escalated immediately
Appointment scheduling — Book inspections while you're on another roof

What the Caller Experiences

"Thanks for calling Summit Roofing. I can help you with storm damage. Can you describe what you're seeing? ... A section of shingles missing and some water staining on the ceiling? I'm marking this as urgent. What's the property address? ... Great, I'm getting a roofer scheduled to come out today. Is this the best number to reach you?"

Professional. Efficient. And most importantly — answered.

Preparing for Storm Season

The best time to set up your storm response system is before storm season hits. Here's a checklist:

Set up AI answering or overflow call handling
Create an emergency tarping protocol
Prepare your inspection scheduling system
Stock up on tarps and emergency supplies
Brief your team on the post-storm process

The Bottom Line

Storm damage is the highest-value, most time-sensitive lead in roofing. The contractors who capture these leads are the ones who answer every call, even when they're busy.

You don't need a call center. You don't need to hire staff. You just need a system that answers when you can't.

                Key Takeaway: In storm damage roofing, the first to answer is the first to earn. Make sure every call gets answered, even during the busiest times.
            