If a residential or commercial property has sustained roof damage, the owner may need to file a claim against the property’s insurance. Filing a claim and collecting money for work completed is rarely easy. Insurers often make property owners work to collect for repairs; if mistakes are made, the process could take much longer. It can be frustrating, particularly if the homeowner is unfamiliar with the claim process.
But a homeowner doesn’t need to stress about dealing with an insurance claim for roof damage. We have created a guide to filing a claim, which is shown here:
HAVE A PROFESSIONAL ROOFER EVALUATE THE DAMAGE
Although it’s tempting to call the insurance agent first, contact a reliable, professional roofing contractor for a free inspection instead. Insurers have been known to ding policyholders with higher rates just for asking about filing a claim.
A licensed roofer can tell if the damage even warrants filing a claim.
REVIEW THE INSURANCE POLICY
If the professional roofer says that filing a claim is the best option, the property owner should check out the specifics of their insurance policy. Make careful note of the deductible, the coverage, and the limits of the policy. Reviewing the policy will give the property owner an idea of whether the policy will cover the roofing damage and the deductible amount.
CONTACT AN INSURANCE AGENT
Contacting the insurance agent is the next step. Mention that a roofer has inspected the property and provided documentation to accompany the damage claim. The agent should have an insurance adjuster contact the property owner for further information and to schedule an evaluation.
DOCUMENT THE ROOF DAMAGE
While waiting for an appointment with the insurance adjuster, document the damage to the roof. Although the report from the professional roofer’s inspection should be sufficient, it doesn’t hurt to take some photos to provide a clear picture of the repair work needed.
MEET WITH THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER
The insurance adjuster will visit the property to examine the roof and determine if repairs can be made or if the roof will need to be replaced.
It is advisable to ask the roofing contractor to attend the meeting. This way, the roofer can ensure the adjuster has a clear understanding of the cause of the damage and exactly what needs to be done regarding roof repairs. Poor understanding and a lack of communication can undermine efforts to obtain a reasonable payout.
FIX THE ROOF DAMAGE
Once the insurance claim is approved, the property owner will be notified. At this point, the property owner should contact the roofing contractor to begin the work. Settlement funds may be made out to both the homeowner and the mortgage company, who may then create an escrow account from which repairs can be made.
Remember that many home insurance policies limit the time to file a claim after roof damage occurs. However, it can be a relatively short window of time. Therefore, once the property owner knows of a problem, they should begin the claims process.
Roof X Inc. offers commercial and residential roofing for customers in Brandon, Pensacola, Tampa, and surrounding areas. We install and repair metal, tile, shingle, TPO, and more. Gutters, ventilation, and insulation are also available. Family-owned-and-operated
