Dealing With Roof Damage Insurance Claims And Roofing Inspections
Roof damage insurance claims can often be tricky to inspect and prove your case. Some roofing damage is always covered by a home insurance policy, while other roof damage is not. Were providing the most crucial tips you should know about roof insurance claims, dealing with a roof insurance adjuster, and handling an insurance roof inspection.
Some Contracts Arent What They Seem
Its a common practice you get a knock on the door, usually after a major storm, and a roofing contractor is there to ask if youd like your roof inspected for free. They usually ask you to sign something allowing them to do the inspection, when in actuality, youre signing a form authorizing them to contact your insurance company on your behalf. Now they can find damage and roll the dice that theyll get a big insurance payout. This is also a problem for you because if the insurance company comes out, you get the claim on your record. This claim will follow you even if you sell the house, so you should only be making claims if you legitimately think there is damage there to be fixed.
Dont sign anything without reading it over completely and you intend to hire this contractor, and dont let anyone up on your roof unless you call them.
Determine What You Need
Inspect your roof carefully. Does it need to be entirely replaced, or are some parts newer and in better shape? How do the gutters look? How about the flashings? Is there rot in the fascias or sheathing? Is your attic properly ventilated? You can get free help from each estimator you consult, since each of them may recommend slightly different remedies. Request estimates on the same work from each company. But also ask them to propose deviations from the basic work plan, the reasons for these deviations, and their effects on the total cost.
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Roof Replacement Experts You Can Trust
At Long Roofing, were proud of our reputation for skill, safety and reliability. Our whole roof system is backed by a 50-year, non-prorated, transferable warranty and a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
We build trust and peace of mind into every roof we install. Give us a call at 844-602-LONG or contact us online today.
The Roofing Company Is Not Local
Choosing a local roofing company is a very important step towards avoiding storm chasing scammers who are only after your insurance money.
However, local doesnt always mean from your immediate area.
For example, HonestRoof.com is located in Arlington TX, but we actually service a 90 mile radius around our office.
If you live in the Dallas Fort Worth area, by local we mean a local Dallas Fort Worth Roofing Company. Avoid companies that claim to services multiple states.
When hiring a roof installer, you want to know that they will be around if something goes wrong down the line either with the work or with the shingle materials being used.
There is no shortage of roofing contractors that show up after every hail and wind storm, especially in the Dallas Fort Worth area. Many of whom may claim to already be working on other roofs in your neighborhood.
This may or may not be true. However, even if they are working in your area, it does not mean they are right for you. Homeowners are taken advantage off every day. Dont be one of them.
- QUICK SEARCH OF REVIEWS/COMPLAINTS
Next, try a quick Google search.
These 2 searches have saved millions of homeowners a lot of money and aggravation. It only take a few minutes to avoid a nightmare.
We are told daily by homeowners just how close they were to hiring a middleman, sales person or scam company before googling their company name and finding their complaints.
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How To Deal With A Bad Contractor
If your contractor has fouled up your home improvement job, delivered poor work or disappeared altogether, you have recourse.
We all know that remodeling can be a hassle. But occasionally a construction project turns into a total disaster and you end up at odds with your contractor — even though you thoroughly vetted the contractor and the remodeling contract before signing. Shoddy workmanship, unexplained delays, and amenities that never get installed can lead to frustration and anger.
Dont get mad get motivated to defend yourself. Heres how.
Four: Get Your Roof Repaired
Once your insurance company approves the adjusters quote, after reviewing all information provided, including the quote from your preferred roofing contractor, they will approve the funds release and you will only be responsible for paying your deductible. Having a roofer involved from the beginning helps the process go smoothly and ensures the repair process starts sooner.
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How Insurance Companies And Roofing Contractors Work Together
Roofing contractors are key players in ensuring you get the full amount you deserve from your homeowners insurance company after damage from a storm or falling tree.
While insurance companies and their adjustors are experienced in making accurate assessments, you still deserve an expert on your side, and thats what a smart local roofing company can be for you.
The Roofing Company Does Not Have A Professional Website
Lets face it, the world we live in today can be pretty scary. Trust is a huge issue.
Pretty much anyone in business today should have a website to let their customers know who they are, where they are located and what services they provide.
If a roofing contractor tells you that they do not have a website or they are working on it, they probably do not deserve your trust. They are either just getting started or they are hiding something.
In either case, you dont want to trust them with something as complex as a new roof installation for your home! Its nothing personal. Its just business.
We have read a lot of customer complaints recently stating homeowners were given a website URL by contractors that redirected them to a free Google Site page. This gave the appearance the roofer was legitimate when in fact they were not. As soon as the money was collected, the google site was pulled down and the contractor disappeared with the money.
These sites are usually easily identified as poorly done or as basic as they can be.
For true verification you will want to see more then just a website page. Google should immediately recognize a legitimate roofing company and display other links from other online sources for you to scroll down the page and view.
If not, then this is usually the first sign that you are not dealing with an established local company.
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How Roof Damage Insurance Claims Work
Most home insurance policies cover unexpected roof damage. If your roof was damaged in a storm or by fallen debris, then your home insurance should cover the cost of repairing your roof to its pre-loss condition.
However, roof insurance claims from storm damage arent always that easy. Some insurance policies have stipulations about the age of your roof. If your roof is less than 10 years old, for example, then the full value of your roof will be covered. If your roof is older than 10 years, then the insurance company will only reimburse you for the depreciated value of your roof.
With that in mind, heres a step-by-step on how a typical roof insurance claim works:
How To Estimate Your Own Approximate Roof Replacement Cost
The cost to install a new roof usually works out according to this formula: 60 percent for labor costs and 40 percent for the actual roofing material. So if you shop around and price the type of roofing you want, you can calculate a rough ballpark figure for your roof replacement.
TIP: The total cost will be affected by factors such as:
- Old Roofing. Do you need your old roofing to be removed? Its often possible to install a new roof on top of the old one, for a cost saving.
- Number of Floors. A multi-story home will be more expensive to roof than a ranch house.
- Repairs. Any necessary repair perhaps fixing a damaged chimney or rotted soft adds to the price.
- Roofing style. A complex roof style, especially one with a steep pitch, is likely to cost more.
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Are You Going To Install Drip Edge/edge Metal When You Install My New Roof
Drip edge and edge metal are small pieces of aluminum situated under the shingle, where it extends off the roof. This helps guide runoff into the gutters instead of behind them, protecting the wood and fascia of your roof. Some roofers may not default to installing this unless its mentioned, so be sure to bring it up before you hire a roofing company.
Provide Reliable Contact Methods
If youre going to have a contractor working on any part of your home, you owe it to them to be easy to reach you. Whether this is by phone, email or text message, you need to provide at least one reliable contact method. Even if the project is going as smoothly as possible, your roofing contractor should be able to speak with you at any given time.
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If The Roofing Contractor Or Claims Adjuster Finds Evidence Of Hail Damage You Are Responsible For Hiring The Roofing Contractor Who Will Repair Your Roof
It is important to contact more than one roofing company for an estimate, and the estimates you receive may not match the estimate provided by the adjuster.
Ultimately, the roofing company you hire will work with your insurance adjuster to ensure that your estimate includes everything necessary for your project. At this stage, you should know what is being covered by the insurance company and what your out-of-pocket expenses are
Essential Roofing Contractor Software For Insurance Restoration Specialists
There are many moving parts when it comes to insurance restoration roofing business management. From job assignments and contracts, tracking progress and invoicing customers, staying on top of the details is challenging without the right software. To maximize your productivity, you need to excel at project management.
AccuLynx roofing software helps you successfully manage every aspect of your business so you can serve more customers and scale your business. With one simple operating system, you can efficiently manage every aspect of the jobfrom sales and production, to supplementing and collectionsand everything in between.
Here are a few ways AccuLynx can help roofing contractors get their business up and running.
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Do Your Research First
Talk to various companies about their pricing models to get a bigger picture of industry standards. Its important to be on the same page with your contractor about project timeline and pricing, including any down payment, prior to signing any documentation. Once you sign a legally-binding contract, it becomes a very messy process to reverse. A reputable contractor will never hide information or evade questions about costs or materials.
If You Find Rotten Roof Or Soft Roof Decking How Much Will The Plywood Cost
This can end up being one of those hidden costs that surprise homeowners as some less-than-honest roofers might not cover this as they go over the agreement with you. Youll want to know upfront how much plywood will cost you if the roofer determines it needs replaced. Ask for a dollar amount per plywood sheet, and you can use that number as you compare roofing contractors for the best savings.
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Do You Have Workmans Comp Insurance
Although its now required by law that roofing companies offer workmans compensation insurance to their employees, regardless of their number, its wise to ask anyhow. Some contractors might choose to do without and take their chances, but if the injury happens on your property, theres a risk that you could be held liable for the medical expenseswhich no homeowner wants. Protect yourself by making sure that the roofing specialist youre hiring offers workmans compensation insurance.
Hiring A Roofer After You Receive An Insurance Estimate
The most important thing to do if you are sitting with an insurance estimate, and needing roof repair, is to watch out for fly-by-night storm chasing contractors. These are contractors who follow storms and drive into town to get some quick work, and then they leave. These are not the contractors you should hire to handle your roof repairs.
Find yourself a reputable local roofer who can handle your insurance claim in painstaking detail to get you what you need. They will take the time to make sure your roof is repaired, and they are paid the proper amount from your insurance company. A storm chaser will rush through, and often use what the insurance estimated for repairs, and either you’ll end up paying out of pocket, or they will cut corners to fit within that estimate.
The short answer for whether or not you should show a roofing contractor your estimate is yes. You can have the insurance adjuster give you a check, cash it, and use it to pay for repairs. However, doing this leaves little room for negotiations, and it also limits your ability to get high-quality roofing repairs. Instead, find yourself a reputable roofer who will advocate for you, negotiate your insurance claim, get the most money for the best repairs, and ensure you can rest easy while they do the work.
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Ask For Service Warranty
You must ask what will happen when the contractors you hire delivers inferior commercial roofing services. The idea is to see if these contractors are willing to redo the work. Also, you want to know wholl incur the cost of redoing the roofing work.
To get these answers, youll need to check the warranties various roofing companies in Illinois offers. The objective is to set clear standards for measuring the work of a given company. You want a written assurance that youll receive amazing commercial roofing services.Its a huge risk when you hire roofing contractors who dont offer any warranties. The reason is that if these contractors do a shoddy job, youve no way of forcing them to redo it. Youll therefore have to deal with this loss and spend more money on redoing the commercial roofing work.
Thats why you should only deal with roofing contractors in Illinois who provide a warranty.
Tips For Hiring The Right Roofing Contractor
Whether youve found a leak or noticed warped shingles, finding an honest roofing contractor is important. After all, youre putting your home in the hands of whichever company you hire. If their work is subpar, it increases your risk of water damage, structural damage, and costly repairs in the future. To help you find the best roofers in Buckhead to handle your repair, here are 10 tips.
- Be aware of warranties. A company with integrity will stand by their work. Pay attention to companies who offer warranties or guarantees on their work.
- Look for pictures. When checking out a prospective companys website, look for pictures of recent jobs. Detailed pictures with descriptions prove that you are dealing with a legitimate company and not scammers.
- Get everything in writing. Before you hire anyone, make sure that you know their expectations and that they are aware of yours, then get everything in writing. This helps to reduce miscommunication and frustrations.
Hiring roofing contractors in Buckhead isnt something that should be taken lightly. By taking the time to find a trustworthy company, you can rest assured that the job is going to be done right the first time.
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Do You Carry General Liability Insurance
Workmans compensation insurance covers the roofing employees while theyre on your property, but you still have to worry about damage to your actual property as a result of work. Ask to see an insurance certificate to verify that the roofer has general liability insurance, so that in the event your roof, house, or property is damaged, you wont be responsible for covering the damage that someone else caused.
Tips On Dealing With Roofing Contractors
by Deleted Users | Feb 26, 2019 | Construction, Roofing
So youve decided to replace your roof. In most cases, its a great idea and one that will add a great deal of value to your home. However, it does mean that youll probably have to spend some time dealing with roofing contractors. If the idea of doing so leaves your stomach in somewhat of a lurch, dont worry. There are a few simple things that you can do to make sure that the process goes smoothly. Here are a few time-tested ideas.
Dont Be Afraid of Details
Seattle Roofing contractors, especially ones that are legit and worth your time are all about the details. So its a good idea to make sure that all the details of your project are known and specified in the contract. Before you let anyone go up to your roof, be sure to sit down with the project manager or their representative and discuss what you want, what will be included in the contract, what will be extra, what materials they will be doing, and the time frame for completion. Trust us, any roofing contractor in the Seattle area worth your time will be happy to answer all of your checklist questions and make sure everyone is on the same page.
Specifics that youll want to cover is the type of shingles to be used in any of the flashings is to be re-used or replaced, and what material will be used. Its also a good idea to talk with them about the roofing membrane. Its important to make sure that its the proper width to ensure proper coverage.
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