Advice For Filing A Claim
1) Record the date of loss. Knowing the date of the loss will help in assisting the insurance company to ascertain what recent storm or high wind event caused your damage. Most all insurance companies will assign a roof loss to a storm, wind, or hail event.
2) Get an opinion from an experienced roofing contractor. If you’re not 100% sure that you have storm damage, call a reputable roofing contractor before calling your insurance company. You want to make sure you actually have storm damage and that the damage will cost more than your deductable before reporting a insurance claim.
3) Meet with your roofing contractor. Interview your roofing contractor and make sure you are comfortable with the company. Ask how long they have been in the roofing business, and ask for references in your area. If you have damage, the roofing contractor should provide you with a detailed written estimate. Ask if the contractor is willing to come back and meet again when the insurance adjuster comes.
4) File a claim. If your roofing contractor finds enough damage to justify filing a claim, call your insurance company or agent and report the loss. Let them know you have consulted with a roofing contractor. Tell your agent/adjuster what type of damage was noted by the roofing contractor.
5) Meet with the insurance adjuster. The adjuster will schedule a time to come out and assess the damage as did your roofing contractor. If the roofing contractor is present, both may compare notes and measurements and also agree upon the cost to repair or replace the damage. If the adjustor does not produce an estimate while at your home, he/she will mail you an estimate in the mail.
6) Complete inspection by your adjuster. When the adjuster agrees with the roofing contractor that you do indeed have a loss, compare estimates. Don’t be alarmed if the estimate from the adjuster is different from the one submitted by your roofing contractor. This can occur if the two came up with different measurements or if your roofing contractor is estimating work in his estimate that the adjuster did not include in his. This is almost always worked out between the adjustor and the roofing contractor.
7) Scheduling the work with your roofing contractor. Once the insurance company approves your claim, you should receive enough money to cover your loss minus your deductible. If you did not get enough money, ask your roofing contractor to help you dispute the difference with your insurance adjuster. Some insurance companies will hold back recoverable depreciation until the work is completed. Once the repairs are completed, the insurance company will send you another check for the amount withheld.