Are you wondering how roofing insurance claims work? Understanding how roofing insurance claims work will allow you to make the best possible decision when it comes to starting a roof insurance claim.
Firstly, find out what your insurance provider will cover and inspect the damage. Take pictures and contact your adjuster before calling your insurance company.
Below, I will explain more about initiating a roofing insurance claim, what information to collect, what roof damage to look out for, how to make sure your roof insurance company pays you out your claim, and more.
How To Start Your Roofing Insurance Claim
Right after a natural disaster such as hail damage or a major storm, you should be checking out the condition of your roof as soon as you make sure everyone is safe.
If you see damage, signs of leaks, or any other problems, then make sure to call your contractor to check out your roof. You could also ask around for a trustworthy contractor if you do not already know one.
If your roof appears to be perfectly fine from the outside and there are no signs of leaks, then make sure you get it inspected if your roof has gone through a major weather event or a similar occurrence that could lead to damage to your roof. This is especially important because there are issues that only an experienced roofing specialist can point out.
Roof Damage To Watch Out For
Remember that wind possibly can blow off shingles as well as other coverings which can lead to leaks or significant damage to underlying membranes. The weight or increased pressure from hail can lead to small problems that grow larger and become more problematic in the future.
A major catastrophe such as a hurricane or tornado can require an entire replacement of a roof. Make sure to take a look at your insurance policy or talk to your public adjuster too.
This is because there are some situations that have requirements regarding the amount of time that you can wait after a big storm or natural disaster and still have your restorations or roof repairs covered by a policy. Also, you should have your roof inspected as soon as it is safe to inspect since a natural disaster, major storm, or similar incident can result in damage that could lead to injury.
Depending on whether or not you see any noticeable and immediate damage, it is critical to prevent any potential problems (for your future insurance claim) by putting tarps over your roof and checking it for mold, water damage, or other issues that may cause further damage prior to starting your insurance claim and being paid out. Know that the insurance process can be quite long and involves a large amount of research, documentation, and follow-ups, however, your public adjuster will help you get through the process and is your advocate.
Information That You Need To Collect For Your Roofing Insurance Claim
You will need to get the pictures of the damaged areas plus a written explanation of what should be fixed. Also, the estimated costs for the repairs should be summed up.
If you have some damage but not enough damage to make an insurance claim worth your while, then your roofing contractor can probably work out a repair plan for you. As always, talk with your public adjuster if you have any relevant questions.
Large-scale damage, as well as a total loss, are two things that you and your public adjuster will need to discuss with your insurance company. You will need to include proof of the damage. Your before and after photo as well as video documentation will be useful for the proof.
Also, you will need measurements of the roof and damaged areas. You should write down the event(s) that lead to the damage and the dates and times correlated with those events.
Why You Should Contact Your Adjuster Before You Contact Your Insurance Company
The filing process of a homeowner’s insurance claim for roof damage with an insurance company’s representatives which will be on the side of the insurance company no matter how friendly and helpful they may be. On the flip side, your public adjuster is on your side and is your own advocate.
They will try to get you the highest possible payout that you can possibly get. If you have gone through extensive damage to your property’s roofing system, then you will need to talk with your public adjuster. After that, contact your contractor(s) and insurance company as soon as possible because many insurance companies have limitations on how long you can wait to submit a claim after a significant incident that lead to roof damage.
How To Make Sure That Your Roofing Insurance Company Pays Out Your Claim
If you have a wind or storm damaged roof, then you will probably be worried about getting it repaired or replaced and want to make sure that a payout and subsequent repairs as soon as you can. Therefore, the very first person you contact, after everyone is safe and your property is safe, should be your public adjuster.
You should also know that your insurance company can withhold part of your payout or depreciation to make sure that you actually do the work on your roof with the money. This is because people occasionally spend their payout on something else, especially if their building’s roof is not a complete loss.
Know that if the roofing contractors that you work with give you estimates that are much larger than your potential insurance payout or vice versa, then they likely missed something. You will need to work with your public adjuster to have the estimates re-calculated to be more accurate.
Remember you can appeal with the help of your public adjuster (who should be your best advocate) if your insurance company happens to deny your claim.
Final Words
Having to deal with roof damage and the terrible aftermath of a hurricane, major storm, or other natural disasters can be one of the most stressful situations in your life.
You have to make sure your property is safe for people to enter and then you have to go through the entire complicated roofing insurance claim process that involves contractors, insurance adjusters, and your own insurance company.
Understanding how to start a roofing insurance claim, what information to collect, what roof damage to look out for, and how to make sure your roof insurance company pays you out your claim will help you to ensure that the whole process goes by smoothly.