You’ve heard it before, but we’ll say it again – your home is one of your greatest assets. That being said, the roof of your house is the most crucial feature of your home. If you’ve experienced a recent storm in your area or are experiencing a pesky roof leak, it is worthwhile to check for an insurance claim opportunity to repair or replace your roof. The inspection, claim filing, and adjuster meeting process may seem overwhelming, but with the knowledge (and a good roofing contractor by your side), filing a roof replacement insurance claim will be worthwhile for you and your home.
When you hear “file a roof replacement insurance claim,” your first instinct may be to turn around and run away. Still, the roofing experts here at Signature Exteriors have provided a few tips and tricks to make the roof insurance claim process less stressful for you.
Although most insurance companies recommend you find a certified, local roofing contractor after filing the claim, we recommend finding one beforehand. Looking for roofing contractors with extensive experience in filing roof claims will give you an upper hand through the entire claim process. Not only can your roofing contractor assist with pre-adjuster meeting inspections and documentation, but they’ll also likely be familiar with your insurance company and their requirements and expectations too! Additionally, finding a roofing contractor beforehand will allow them to join the adjuster meeting to ensure that everything is covered at the inspection.
Your roofing contractor can be an excellent source of experience, knowledge, and support.
BEFORE YOU FILE A ROOF INSURANCE CLAIM
Find Out What Your Policy Covers
The easiest way to find out what your home insurance policy covers is to contact your insurance provider. Carriers and policies aren’t all the same, and it’s essential to understand what your policy will cover and what it will not. For example, some home insurance policies consider the age of your roof when it is damaged and may only cover up to the depreciated value of the roof. Other policies may cover the entire cost of roof repair or replacement at the time of the damage regardless of age.
Schedule a Professional Roof Inspection
If you haven’t done so already before you file your roof replacement claim, schedule a professional roof inspection with a local roofing contractor who has experience filing insurance claims.
Why? – A knowledgeable roofing contractor will be able to perform a storm damage inspection to give you insight into the damage on your roofing system. A qualified local roofing contractor will also provide you with photos of this inspection to use as documentation and reference during your claim process. This documentation allows you to go into the initial stages of claim filing with confidence regarding the condition of your home.
AFTER YOU FILE A ROOF INSURANCE CLAIM
Provide Documentation for Your Claim
We cannot emphasize this enough, providing adequate documentation for your claim process will help your entire process, from filing to completion. This documentation should include “before” photos of your roof and exterior (your local roofing contractor can provide these), any estimates, invoices, or bills of roof repairs, and pictures of any damage you have seen since the recent storm or event.
Write Down Your Adjuster’s Information
If you aren’t familiar with roofing insurance adjusters, their job is to inspect property damage to determine how much the insurance company should pay for the loss. Once you begin the claim filing process, your insurance company will assign an adjuster to inspect your home for the reported damages. Adjusters are the representatives that report to your insurance company, so it’s vital that you meet them, write down their contact information, and provide that to your roofing contractor to discuss your claim with them.
If possible, have your local roofing contractor join the adjuster for their inspection so they can ensure everything is accounted for in the adjuster’s reports.
Review Your Claim Estimate
Before starting your work, request that your roofer review the insurance estimate for inaccuracies. Adjusters often use a program to assign coverage values for your area and type of damage – inaccurate measurements or misunderstanding of this information can lead to covered work not being included in the estimate. Although most insurance companies try to make this easy as possible, it can still be overwhelming if you’re unfamiliar with the terms or required repairs. Your roofing contractor will be a great source of expertise and advice here.
If needed, your roofing contractor can file a supplement with your insurance company that demonstrates why specific material or specific work is required to restore your home to its pre-loss condition. The insurance experts at Signature Exteriors are happy to walk you through this process.
FINAL NOTES:
The tips we provided above will help your claim process go a bit smoother, all while ensuring you’re getting the repairs to which you’re entitled. Ideally, a partnership between you, your adjuster, and your contractor will yield you the best results. If you have any questions about this process or believe your home has recently been subjected to storm damage, give Signature Exteriors a call today. We will perform a free roof inspection and assist with your claim filing needs.