Memorial Day weekend, 2019.
A Dallas roofing contractor got the call every contractor loves — emergency storm damage, customer needed it fixed before the holiday ended, and they were ready to pay.
He knocked it out in two days. Customer was happy. He got paid.
Three weeks later, the roof leaked.
The customer blamed his work. He filed a claim. His insurance company investigated.
Claim denied.
Not because he didn't have coverage.
Not because he did bad work.
Because he couldn't prove what he'd done.
─────────────────────────────────────────
HERE'S WHAT WENT WRONG:
He worked Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day weekend — fast, like the customer needed. But in the rush, he skipped three things:
He didn't document the site conditions before starting.
He didn't photograph the pre-existing damage.
He didn't get the customer to sign off on anything.
Three weeks later when the leak appeared, the insurance company had one question: "How do we know YOUR work caused this? How do we know the roof wasn't already compromised?"
He had no answer. No photos. No paperwork. No signed acknowledgment.
He paid $14,000 out of pocket.
─────────────────────────────────────────
THE REAL RISK OF HOLIDAY WEEKEND JOBS:
Holiday work comes with one built-in danger that has nothing to do with the job itself.
Urgency.
The customer needs it done fast. You want to keep them happy. You move quickly.
And in that rush, you skip the documentation steps that protect you when something goes wrong later.
Here's what to do before you touch anything this weekend:
─────────────────────────────────────────
DOCUMENT SITE CONDITIONS BEFORE YOU START
Photos. Video. Written notes.
Get the customer to sign a statement acknowledging any pre-existing damage before work begins.
If you skip this, you can't prove the damage was there before you arrived.
─────────────────────────────────────────
PUT HOLIDAY RATES IN WRITING
If you're charging a premium for emergency or holiday work, document it with a signed change order.
It should say: "Customer requested emergency service. Holiday/weekend rate applies. Customer acknowledges and agrees."
Without this, a disputed invoice becomes a disputed job — and then a disputed claim.
─────────────────────────────────────────
BUILD YOUR COMMUNICATION TRAIL
Text messages are documentation. Emails are documentation. Timestamped photos are documentation.
"Customer called at 2 PM Saturday requesting emergency repair due to active leak" — that's evidence.
Screenshot it. Save it. Keep it with the job file.
─────────────────────────────────────────
GET SUBS' CERTIFICATES BEFORE THE WEEKEND
If you're bringing in a subcontractor, get their Certificate of Insurance before Friday afternoon.
Don't wait until Tuesday. If someone gets hurt over the weekend and they don't have coverage, you're the one holding the bag.
─────────────────────────────────────────
TAKE COMPLETION PHOTOS BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Show the finished work. Show the cleanup. Show the condition you left the site in.
If a problem surfaces three weeks later — like it did for our roofer — you have proof of exactly what you handed over.
─────────────────────────────────────────
WHAT HAPPENED AFTER:
After writing that $14,000 check, the roofer built a pre-work checklist for every job — especially rushed holiday jobs.
He hasn't had a denied claim since.
The checklist didn't change how he works.
It just made sure he could prove it.
─────────────────────────────────────────
YOUR ACTION ITEM THIS WEEKEND:
Before you start any Memorial Day job, do these four things:
Photograph the site conditions before you touch anything
Get the customer request in writing (text or email is fine)
Note any pre-existing damage — and get the customer to acknowledge it
Take completion photos before you leave
It takes 10 extra minutes.
It can save you $10,000+.
Have a safe and profitable Memorial Day weekend.
John Crist
Founder, Prestizia Insurance
28 Years Protecting What Matters
─────────────────────────────────────────
Working this weekend? Insider members already have the paperwork.
This week, Protection Circle Insider members received:
✅ The Pre-Holiday Job Checklist
What to document before, during, and after every rushed job
✅ Customer Acknowledgment of Pre-Existing Damage Template
One signature protects you from bogus claims before work begins
✅ Photo Documentation Process Guide
The exact shots to take — with examples pulled from real claims
✅ Holiday & Weekend Change Order Template
Documents your premium rates and gets customer sign-off in writing
✅ Certificate of Insurance Red Flags Guide
What to check before you let a sub set foot on your job site
─────────────────────────────────────────
PLUS — Monthly Live Q&A
Bring your specific jobs, coverage questions, or "what does my policy actually cover?" moments. Get real answers.
─────────────────────────────────────────
FOUNDING MEMBER RATE: $29/month — locked in forever.
Regular rate goes to $39/month on June 15, 2026.
👉 Lock in your rate before it goes up:
Join Protection Circle Insider
Not ready yet? No problem. Free protection tips keep coming every week.
─────────────────────────────────────────
📖 Want the full picture?
The Prestizia Protection Playbook walks through real-world claim scenarios — and shows you exactly how to protect yourself before problems happen.
Available on Amazon → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GM94983Q
─────────────────────────────────────────
P.S. — Working this weekend and have a coverage question? Hit reply. I check email on holidays.