Working with an roofing insurance company can be a nightmare, especially if you don’t have someone armed with experience on your side. While some insurance companies will provide the help you need, others will try to fight every claim and pay out as little as possible.
Hometown Roofing and Restoration can work with you to ensure your insurance company provides all of the benefits they are required to with your policy, and help you avoid settling for less than you are entitled to. We will also provide prompt estimates and timelines to both you and your insurance company, and guarantee the price of our work so you’re not surprised with a bill after the work is complete.
Steps to Filing an Insurance Claim
1. Get Your Roof Inspected
First, we come do a free no obligation inspection of your roof to confirm and document the damage. We will take plenty of photographs in order to “build a case” for proper repairs of your roof. We are software-equipped to survey your home remotely and even examine high-resolution imagery with features like Eagleview aerial imagery.
2. Make Temporary Fixes, Then Start the Filing a Claim
We can begin temporary repairs to your home, if needed, in order to protect from further damage. It is always a good step to get us to do a preliminary inspection because it will also validate what the insurance adjuster finds. We will submit paperwork to your insurance provider on your behalf, and work with the adjuster.
3. Schedule Visit by an Insurance Adjuster
Once we confirm the damage, contact your insurance company. Within a few days, the adjuster should come out to your property. Let us know when the adjuster is scheduled to visit your property to do the inspection. We want to meet you and the adjuster at that time. It is very important that we are present to point out areas of damage and concern.
4. Take Notes. Ask Questions!
While the adjuster is with you, take down a few notes, including the adjuster’s name, the date and time of the visit, and the claim number. This makes it more convenient and faster for you and the insurance company to communicate details about your claim moving forward. Also, don’t be afraid to ask a few questions…
- “Is the damage described covered under the terms of my policy?”
- “How long do I have to file a claim?”
- “How long will it take to process the claim?”
- “Do I need to obtain estimates for repairs?”
5. Understand All the Details of the Job.
After the adjuster inspects your property, the insurance company will approve whatever roof work is needed while we work with the insurance company to be sure the scope of work is understood by all.
6. Insurance Repair Estimate.
The insurance company will issue a repair estimate and the funds which will be needed to cover the repairs or roof replacement.
7. The Job Begins…
We will set the time-frame for work to begin and will order the materials necessary. These materials will arrive at your property prior to the start of the project. We will be responsible for completing the work according to the agreed-upon schedule we set with you and the insurance company.
8. How Payments Work.
If you hold a mortgage on your home, the insurance company’s settlement check will usually be made out to you and the mortgage lender. Mortgage lenders therefore have equal rights to the insurance check. They do this in order to ensure that the necessary repairs are made to the property. After all, your mortgage company has a financial interest in your home. Therefore, the mortgage company or bank will have to endorse the check. Lenders generally put the money in an escrow account and pay for the repairs as the work is completed.
9. What About Extra Expenses?
Next, we will invoice your insurer for any additional supplemental funds owed for the work we completed on your behalf. You will receive these funds from your insurance company and they will be paid by you to us.
10. Your Mortgage Company Takes a Look.
It’s possible that your mortgage company will come to inspect the work after it’s done.
Final Things to Note…
Roofing contractors only have influence over the assessment and cost estimate of damages. They do not have any say-so in insurance policy matters. If there is a gripe over the insurance coverage, it’s a matter that the adjuster and us will need to work through.
Overall, we, as well as your insurance company, want your new roof to be the highest quality it can be and the insurance coverage should reflect that. The last thing the insurance company wants is to pay out another claim next time there’s a severe weather event. The same goes for us, who promise to stand behind their workmanship.
Incidentally, if you own your home and no longer carry a mortgage balance, you might have elected to forego homeowners’ insurance. Nevertheless, if your roof was damaged due to a catastrophe, you might still be able to file a claim by registering for Federal Disaster Relief at DisasterAssistance.gov. Federal assistance can help with temporary housing, home repairs, and other disaster-related expenses.
Finally, be on the lookout for scams following any natural catastrophe. It’s hard to believe that some people seek to take advantage of homeowners during difficult times, but it happens.