Navigating Through Roof Damage Claims
Roof damage insurance claims are feisty beasts that are not to be faced on your own. Well, not without a Licensed Public Adjuster. For starters, there are some specific types of roof damage that are covered by a home insurance policy, while others are not. Some policies have strict stipulations regarding the age of your roof. For example, if your roof is older than 10 years, then you’ll only be reimbursed for the depreciated value of your roof.
Here is a step by step process to getting started, along with some facts that will help you navigate through all things roof-related, whether it be insurance claims, working with a roof insurance adjuster and handling a roof inspection.
1) When a windstorm or hailstorm hits and the damage is done, examine your roof when the storm is over and scope out any significant damage.
2) Make sure that the scene is secure and limit further damage. All holes in the roof should be covered with a tarp to avoid any flooding.
3) Contact a Licensed Public Adjuster such as Proactive Claims Solutions to get this process started
Typically, homeowner’s insurance policies cover roof leaks and other damage caused from fire, hail or wind. If these disasters cause a leak in the roof, home insurance should also cover the cost of repairs. Here are the specific cases that are NOT covered by home insurance.
– Wear and tear from an old roof.
– Damage from unresolved maintenance issues that are your fault for not taking care of.
– Roof damage caused by wind and hail if your policy has wind and hail exclusions.
– Damage from neglect after a storm. For example, if you don’t put a tarp over your roof hole and leakage causes more damage.
It’s highly important to get an accurate roof inspection when filing a claim. This estimate creates a solid foundation for the rest of the claims process, that will allow you to get the money you deserve from the insurance company. This money will allow you to repair your roof to its original condition. A public insurance adjuster can get you an estimate on your roofing damage. A lot of public adjusters are top notch roofing inspectors, so rather than hiring an independent contractor, an adjuster would be able to wear many hats and handle all aspects of the claim under one roof.
Disputes are all part of the process. The insurance company’s adjuster may challenge whether or not the damage was caused during the storm, or after it due to neglect. When these disagreements happen, your own public adjuster can swoop in and settle these conflicts.
Insurance companies will always try to limit the amount they will pay for roof damage. If you have an older roof with damage, they’ll try to use this against you. By enlisting a public adjuster, you’ll have a member of your team that will fight to get you what you deserve, through negotiation, management and overall spearheading.