Recently, Hurricane Isaias left a trail of destruction along Florida’s Gulf Coast. When a hurricane passes through Florida, the immediate danger may subside, but the most difficult part of recovery may still be to come, as homeowners face damaged roofs, flooded interiors, broken windows, mold concerns, insurance questions, and an onslaught of contractors vying for jobs.
In such a stressful environment, it can be difficult to tell which contractors are legitimate and which ones are just out to make a quick buck on the heels of a storm. St. Petersburg-based Indigo has just launched a platform designed to change the post-storm experience. By combining contractor connections, risk-management tools, and homeowner education, Indigo aims to help Floridians recover from storm damage with confidence.
“We want to help Florida homeowners avoid the ‘storm chasers’ and bad-faith contractors that tend to pop up after a disaster,” says Matthew Cleary, founder of Indigo.
Helping to solve problems after the storm
Florida homeowners can feel especially vulnerable in the days and weeks after a big storm, and that’s when the vultures tend to strike. Florida residents have probably had flyers show up in their mailboxes promising “Free Inspections!” or “Half-Off Window Installations!” The truth is, however, that repair demand can far outpace the availability of reputable contractors, and homeowners may feel pressured to act quickly before their homes suffer more damage.
“This pressure that homeowners can feel following a storm can, unfortunately, open the floodgates to fraud,” explains Cleary.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services warns that many fraudulent contractors will attempt to collect deposits on work and then disappear, leaving homeowners with a home that is still damaged without the money to fix it. This is the problem that Indigo aims to solve.
Rather than treating a home renovation or repair as a search for the lowest bid, Indigo has created a managed project platform that helps homeowners identify risks, make key decisions about their specific renovation or repair project, and access a stable of legitimate contractors. The platform is powered by Indigo’s own RiskFeed software, allowing homeowners to take control of their project with confidence and less fear of being defrauded.
“Where commercial construction projects typically involve contracts, schedules, budgets, scope definitions, insurance requirements, and accountability measures, home renovation or repair projects can often be entered into by people with little to no experience in those areas,” explains Cleary. “Indigo was created to close that gap.”
Helping homeowners before, during, and after a project
Indigo helps homeowners create much-needed structure before, during, and after a project. Users can create a free account, claim their property, register upcoming or ongoing projects, add contractors, use the platform’s risk-management tools, monitor issues, and review completed work.
The property claim feature is the first step that Indigo offers to help homeowners avoid fraud. Once a property is claimed, it prevents others from fraudulently claiming one’s property as their own.
With registered projects, homeowners can define the scope of work and identify potential snags early in the process. Indigo works diligently to meet its goal of reducing most homeowners’ risk by up to 75%, with a longer-term target of 100%.
“The tools are intended to protect against common issues, including fraud, bad-faith contractors, and security concerns,” says Cleary.
The platform emphasizes transparency and communication above all else. “Those are the two things that often vanish when a project goes sideways,” says Cleary. “We have built a platform on the values of trust, balance, wisdom, and the importance of keeping homeowners informed.”
The added value of the Indigo Partner Contractors
One of Indigo’s primary benefits is its Indigo Partner Contractors list. Through the platform, homeowners can find vetted professionals sorted by trade and location while still retaining the ability to add reputable contractors they already know and trust.
After a storm, Indigo’s contractor-matching capabilities can reduce guesswork for homeowners by helping them find contractors who have already demonstrated their commitment to quality and reliability. For contractors, Indigo provides access to viable projects and the opportunity to earn Indigo Badges — a signal of reliability in the market.
“We’ve created an incentive structure for contractors, giving reputable contractors a way to distinguish themselves and giving homeowners another layer of information before they choose a contractor for their project,” says Cleary.
Built for the reality of Florida homeowners
Given the reality of Florida’s storm season, the tools offered by Indigo are more than just convenient. Recovery from hurricanes, tornado damage, and flooding can involve seeking the help of multiple tradespeople, and most homeowners need a helping hand when looking for assistance following extreme weather or a natural disaster.
By giving homeowners a place to organize projects, connect with vetted contractors, and apply commercial-style risk management to home projects, Indigo offers a practical response to the reality of being a homeowner in Florida. For homeowners, this means access to professionals who can help not only restore a home but restore faith in Florida contractors.
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