ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — After two hurricanes brought devastation to neighborhoods across the Tampa Bay area, similar scenes surround local homes.
Debris sits in piles outside while cleanup, construction and other crews in trucks surround roadways. There is also a feeling among homeowners in hard-hit neighborhoods that it may be time for them to get out, making a tough situation ripe for people looking to take advantage.
“We had four feet [of water inside our home} but again, we know the drill, and we know what the neighborhood needs,” says Courtney Stein. Stein and her husband’s Riviera Bay home was flooded out. Now gutted, it serves a bigger purpose in the community.
The home is a “command center,” as she calls it, packed to the brim with donated food, water, cleaning supplies, clothing, diapers and more, ready to be given out to anyone in need.
“We just wanted to help the neighborhood. I felt like we were a little less frazzled than some, just because we we've been there,” added Stein, who noted their home flooded after Hurricane Idalia in 2023.
The realtor by trade is also helping her community in other ways. In the past week she’s met with hundreds of their neighbors, who may not be as familiar with the post-storm process, including on how to deal with a flood of doorknockers.
From public adjustors to contractors, even real estate short-sale buyers, they’ve seen it all in their St. Petersburg neighborhood.
“A lot of these people are scammers. Some of them are legitimate, but there's a lot of scammers out there that are taking advantage of these people,” says Stein, who’s most concerned about the seniors in her area.
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She’s been reminding homeowners to check for valid licenses and insurance for any contractor stopping by, to make sure an adjustor at their home was sent by their insurer, and to not sign anything they’re unsure about.
One thing she’s especially concerned with is folks coming to offer cash for homes in any condition.
“They're trying to get bottom dollar, pennies on the dollar for your home. And, you know, their goal is to pay the least amount, and they don't have your best interest in mind,” said Stein, who adds sale contracts are binding.
“I think it definitely is worth it for someone to have representation, or at least talk to a professional, someone that specializes in the industry and get a home valuation from them [before you act],” Stein explained.
It takes a village to recover from the devastation and Stein is making sure hers is informed, as are state officials like CFO Jimmy Patronis, who has put it plainly “don’t sign anything.”
If you signed something with a contractor within the past 10 days, there may be a way for you to get out of it. The state has more tips and helpful information you can see here: https://myfloridacfo.com/fraudfreeflorida