Storm damage is a leading cause of hail damage roof insurance claims. No one can predict when a storm will hit or how much damage it might do, but they can cause significant damage.
If you recently had a hail storm in your area and now have roof damage, can you file a claim? If you have homeowner’s insurance, you probably have the right to file a claim for the damages.
Homeowner’s insurance typically covers roof storm damage, so your plan will probably cover any damages you currently have. But, should you file a claim?
Here is a guide to help you know your options after a storm leaves your home with hail damage on your roof. Knowing your options can help you decide how to handle the roof damage you have.
Make Sure You Have Dwelling Coverage
Before you do anything, it might help to contact your insurance company to determine if you have roofing insurance. Most homeowner’s insurance policies include dwelling coverage, which is the type you need for hail damage.
The good news is that if you have home insurance, you probably have dwelling coverage. Standard homeowner’s policies typically include dwelling coverage, and most insurance companies cover all types of storm damage with dwelling coverage.
When contacting your insurance company, you might want to ask them if they cover storm damage. You might also want to ask if there are exclusions on your policy and if they cover roof leaks. You can ask as many questions as you need to when calling.
Look up Your Deductible
The next thing you might want to do is find out what your deductible is with your policy. You can ask the agent you speak to on the phone, or you can find this out by viewing your policy documents.
When you file a roof insurance claim, you usually have to pay the deductible first. In fact, when you file any type of home insurance claim, the insurance provider generally requires that you pay the deductible first.
Finding out the deductible is vital before filing a claim because it can help you determine if you should file one. Most home insurance policies have a deductible around $1,000, but yours might be more or less.
The point of finding this out before filing a claim is to learn if filing a claim is beneficial. To know the answer to this question, you must know the deductible amount and the repair costs.
If you know these amounts, you can compare them. If the repairs are around the same amount as your deductible, filing a claim wouldn’t make a lot of sense. If the repairs cost much more than the deductible, then it might make sense.
Get a Quote for Repairs
The next thing you’ll need to do is hire a roofing contractor to provide you with a quote for repairs. When you hire a contractor, choose a reputable one that works with insurance companies.
They will come to your home and get on your roof. Reputable roofing contractors know what to look for to detect and diagnose hail damage on all types of roofs, and they can tell you if you have damage and the work your roof needs.
The roofing contractor might suggest repairing the roof or replacing it. They will decide this by analyzing the roof’s condition, age, and work it needs.
When they finish analyzing your roof, they can provide you with a detailed bid. This bid includes the damage they discovered, the suggested remedy for fixing it, and the costs for the job.
Wait for the Insurance Company to Send an Adjuster
If the contractor determines that you have a lot of roof damage, you can contact your insurance company to inquire about filing a claim. One of the first steps they will do is send an insurance adjuster to your home.
An insurance adjuster is a person that works for the insurance company. This person will get on your roof to assess the damages. The adjuster also verifies that a storm hit your area, and they also determine the best method for repairs.
To verify that a storm caused the damage, the adjuster might look up weather information in your area. To determine the best method for repairs, they will examine the entire roof.
The adjuster also looks closely at the roof damage to find out what caused it. Hail tends to leave holes or dings in roofs, making it relatively easy to diagnose.
If the adjuster agrees that a storm hit your area and damaged your roof, they will write a bid for repairs. You can compare this bid to the bid you received from an independent roofing contractor, and hopefully, they will be similar in repair costs.
File a Hail Damage Roof Insurance Claim
If you decide to file a hail damage roof insurance claim, you can typically hire the contractor you want for the job. When hiring one, your contractor will negotiate with the insurance company for the repairs your roof needs and the costs.
Keep in mind; many insurance companies won’t approve bids for hail damage if the damage is only cosmetic. The damage must be severe enough to cause leaks or other problems with your home.
Your insurance agent can assist you with filing the claim and getting the work completed. At this time, you might have to pay your deductible before the insurance company approves the claim and lets the contractor begin.
Hire a Reputable Roofing Contractor
If you decide to file a hail damage roof insurance claim, your insurance company might let you choose the contractor that performs the work. If they don’t, you can fight for them to approve your request.
Hiring a reputable roofing contractor that works with insurance claims is a smart move, and our company offers these services.
You can learn more about hail damage claims and repairs in the Danville and Champaign area by contacting us. We would love to hear from you today!
