7 Tips for Filing an Insurance Claim for Roof Repair
Are you dealing with unexpected roof damage?
Filing an insurance claim for roof repair can seem intimidating, but it’s a relatively straightforward process.
You can do your part to help speed up the process by knowing what to expect and what to do. Acting fast after the damage occurs is important for getting your claim moving.
Use these seven tips to make the insurance claims process easier.
1. Evaluate Your Policy Coverage
Knowing what your home insurance policy covers is crucial when dealing with a roof damage claim. Policies can differ from carrier to carrier and from one homeowner to another.
Homeowners insurance can have different endorsements and exclusions that affect coverage.
The specifics of your policy can affect how much the insurance company will pay. For example, it might pay for a full roof replacement or only pay for roof repairs related to the damage.
Your policy might take the age of the roof into consideration when deciding how much it’ll cover. If your roof is older, you might receive less money based on the depreciation of the roof.
It’s also important to know what your insurance deductible is. This is the amount you have to pay before the insurance starts paying.
For homeowners insurance, that deductible could be a set dollar amount, such as $1,000. You would pay $1,000 for the roofing repair, and the homeowner’s insurance would then start paying.
Another method is based on a percentage of your home’s insured value. If your deductible is 2% of the insured value of $200,000, your deductible would be $4,000.
If you’re not sure what your policy covers or if the damage would qualify for coverage, contact your insurance agent.
You can also get help from a public adjuster. These professionals advocate for homeowners and serve as an unbiased third party. The public adjuster can help you understand your policy coverages.
2. Document the Damage
It’s important to find out what the extent of the damage is as soon as possible.
If you have storm damage, heck the roof as soon as it’s safe to do so. If you notice leaking, check out the source right away.
This allows you to do an initial evaluation and document what happened.
In an ideal situation, you’ll already have before photos of your roof. It’s a good idea to have photos of all parts of your home to prove the original condition if something happens.
Take photos and videos of the damage once you discover it. Take photos from different angles to show the severity of the damage. If any of the damage is visible from inside the house, take photos from that angle as well.
If a storm causes the roof damage, taking a video of the storm can prove how severe the weather was. Never put yourself at risk to get these images though.
Write down the details of the incident, so you can remember what happened. Include the date and time of the incident that caused the damage. Write down a description of what you saw happen and the damage you discovered.
3. Prevent Additional Damage From Happening
Once your roof has damage, your home is exposed to additional issues. If a branch falls and creates a hole in your roof, rain, and other weather elements can get inside and cause more damage. Critters could also get inside your home and cause damage.
Covering up the damage temporarily until you get it fixed can prevent that extra damage. This can decrease the overall costs for the roof repair.
4. Get an Inspection
Having a professional roofing company inspect your roof can be helpful in determining the full scope of the damage. A roofer knows what type of details to look for when evaluating the damage.
A professional roofer can also give you an estimate of the cost to repair the roof. This is useful information for the insurance company. It also helps you prepare for the costs and helps you determine if the insurance company is willing to pay a fair amount to repair the damage.
Get detailed estimates from roofing companies in anticipation of the repairs. The estimates should break down the costs so you can see exactly what you’re paying and what it’s going toward.
5. File the Claim
Don’t wait too long to file your claim. Your policy likely requires you to file your claim as soon as you know there’s damage. If you wait too long, you could have your claim denied.
Include all of the requested information when filing the insurance claim. If you leave out any information, it can delay the claims process.
Make sure you meet all of the deadlines for filing the claim. If your insurance company asks for additional information or documentation, provide it as quickly as possible to get the claim resolved faster.
6. Work With Your Adjuster
Your insurance company will have an adjuster assess the damage and help settle the claim. This person has extensive experience in evaluating damage.
The adjuster will look at the damage to determine the extent and determine what work needs to be completed to repair it. Adjusters also determine the cause of the roof damage to verify that it’s covered by your policy.
7. Choose a Reputable Roofing Company
When your insurance covers roof repairs, you often get to choose the company that handles the work.
Check the credentials of the roofing company before you choose one. Ensure that it’s licensed and insured in your state. Verify that you don’t find complaints or lots of negative reviews to ensure the company has a solid history.
Ask the roofing company if they do much work with insurance claims. Having a roofer than understands how the claims process works can make the process go smoothly. The company might even help you handle the claims process.
File an Insurance Claim for Roof Repair
When dealing with an insurance claim for roof repair, the paperwork and processes can seem difficult and long. Knowing how to handle them and sticking with the process helps you get your roof repaired quickly.
If you want to work with the top roofing repair company in Mesa AZ, contact us to get started.
We have worked with countless insurance companies to help clients if you are dealing with roof damage and you need to work with your insurance company, call the team at AZ Roofing Works! Call (602) 283-3383 Today!
