Review Your Insurance Policy
The first good step in making a roof claim is to try to understand your policy. Theres no point going to battle for coverage that you never had. For example, is the roof damage actually covered, or did you choose to exclude wind and hail damage? Is your coverage for replacement cost or actual cash value?
Prepare For The Insurance Adjuster
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It isnt that you shouldnt trust your insurance company. After all, you wouldnt be a customer if you believed they were dishonest. But knowing that their main objective is making money, not paying claims, its important to act in your own best interest.
Your claims adjuster will come to your home and inspect your roof, as well as review any other documentation you have ready. This is why its important to have all your documentation and independent roof inspection before your insurance adjuster comes out.
What will the insurance adjuster look for during their inspection? There are several things the adjuster will assess. Your roofing contractor will use the same criteria to inspect your roof, and having two professional opinions will only make your case stronger.
Beware Of Storm Chasers
Storm chasers are salespeople that descend on a community after a storm occurs, trying to convince homeowners to sign up for repairs, often before they even have time to speak with their insurance company.
While some storm chasers may work with reputable roofers, many do not. They may inflate your claim to pocket the difference or tell you that to get the best price you need to get your roof done immediately. These are nothing but sales tactics to get you to sign a contract before you do your research to find a reputable roofer.
If you come across a storm chaser, ask them which company they work with and where their physical office is. Ask for a copy of their license, bonding, and insurance coverage. You can also look up their website and third-party reviews to see if they are reputable before making a decision. Or simply say no thank you, and do your research to find a reputable roofer in your area.
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How To Get Homeowners Insurance To Pay For A Roof Replacement
Unfortunately, if you dont follow the proper steps when filing a claim, your insurance company may deny your claim. So its very important to know exactly how to get homeowners insurance to pay for your roof replacement.
Know Your Roofing Insurance Coverage
The best time to know exactly what your policy covers is before anything bad happens, the second best time is immediately after you first notice damage to your roof.
This may take a bit of time if youve never paid much attention to your policy, but the information will help guide your financial decisions about roof repairs. You can request a copy of your policy from your insurance company.
The majority of insurance agencies offer two types of roof insurance: repair coverage and replacement coverage. Repair coverage usually reimburses the homeowner for a certain percentage of repair costs. Replacement coverage provides for the replacement of a roof thats beyond repair. These policies are more expensive and make it harder to get a claim accepted. Thats why its so important to document the damage and submit a claim as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately, not all roof damage will be covered by homeowners insurance. Your coverage depends on your specific policy, your location, and the cause of the damage. For example, a hail storm that damages a roof may qualify for coverage because its an unusual and unpreventable event.
Contact Your Insurance Company Right Away If You Have Damage
Research Roofing Companies & Request A Free Inspection
After you submit your roof insurance claim, seek out a reputable roofing company with insurance claims experience to perform a roofing inspection. They can look for damage and compile a report for your insurance agency.
If you dont hire professionals for the inspection, your insurance company may pay someone to inspect the roof on their behalf. Because this third-party inspector represents the insurance agency, they may try to find any reason to deny your claim.
However, by taking charge and hiring your own inspectors, you give yourself the best chance to get your insurance to pay for your roof repairs.
But how should you choose a roofing company?
First, look for a company that provides both roof replacement and roof repair services for the roofing materials that your roof uses.
Make sure the roofers you choose have experience in dealing with insurance claims, as this will make it easier for them to communicate with your insurance agency and offer proof that your claim is valid.
A reputable roofing company will replace your roof correctly, without causing more damage or charging you an unreasonable amount. If you choose roofers with a poor reputation, then your future insurance claims could be denied due to prior improper installations.
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Four: Get A Professional Roofing Contractors Opinion On The Damage
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One of the best pieces of documentation you can present to your insurance adjuster is a full assessment from a professional roofer. This assessment will prove that your roof needs immediate repair and attention whether youre suffering from a few roof leaks, broken gutters, or multiple damaged areas. Depending on the type of roof material you have, it could last anywhere from 15 years if you have asphalt shingles, or up to 50 years if you have a metal roof, which makes routine inspections crucial.
Your insurance agent will want to set up a roof inspection to determine whether youll need a few minor repairs or a roof replacement. This professional statement will aid you in your roof insurance claim process and help your insurance understand exactly what needs to be done to your roof.
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Document Every Bit Of Roof & Exterior Damage
Obviously we would all like to have our insurance pay for an entire roof replacement, but there are many factors that go into getting the full amount paid for. Working with a professional contractor that knows how insurance companies work is crucial when assessing the damage to file your insurance claim. Lets take a look at some of the things youll need to get your roof covered.
1. Read & Understand Your Insurance Policy Everyone sets up their insurance policy slightly different, so youll need to really look into the fine print of your homeowners insurance policy and find out what type of roof insurance you have. If you dont have your policy handy, you can just ask your carrier for a copy of it and read it over. Most policies focus on roof repair or roof replacement coverage, so check into this part especially.
Repair coverage usually means that your insurance will cover a certain amount of repair costs however replacement coverage will pay for replacing a roof that beyond repair.
Obviously the repair policy is going to be less expensive, so its very possible your policy doesnt have replacement coverage. There should also be language in your policy regarding weather events like hail and storm damage. Hail is typically covered since it is considered a rare event, but areas with regular damaging storms probably wont be covered unless you have specific coverage for those events.
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For A Claim To Be Valid There Has To Be Legitimate Damage To Your Roof Not Just Normal Aging
If a Houston roofing contractor knocks on your door talking about getting a free or discounted roof without you having called them, they are trying to drum up demand for selling new roofs in a way that gets your attention.
Its not a real offer and if it is, they are doing something corrupt.
Please know that an aging roof is not a valid reason for an insurance claim and protect yourself from these kind of companies and sales tactics.
You See Dark Spots On Your Roof
Dark spots on your roof usually indicate that the shingles are failing or were damaged by hail at some point and will need to be replaced. Black stains or mineral deposits under shingles can also mean that theres active water damage going on, which is a major safety hazard for other reasons as well.
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Claim Fromyour Home Insurance Company Within 30 Days
Homeownersare required to claim from their insurer within 30 to 60 days of the damage totheir roof. Failure to do so can result in the denial of the claim, leaving youto fit the bill yourself. The key to a successful claims process ispreparation. Start by contacting your insurance company and requesting a listof the documentation needed to submit your claim. The next step is to gatherall the required documentation and to prepare it for submission. Your insurercan require additional data and documentation, so be prepared to bescrutinized.
Oneway to do this is to get an independentroof inspectorto assess the damage before you submit the claim. Doing so can help you avoidthe run-around some insurance companies cause and can result in a smootherclaims process. The roofing inspector can assess the extent of the damage, takedetailed pictures of the damage to the roof and advise on the repair required.
Whensubmitting your claim to your insurance company include before and afterpictures and if possible, the roofing inspectors report.
Put Pressure On Insurance Company By Using Laws To Your Advantage
In Florida, a good public adjuster who has a Lawyer that he partners with, can file a CRN, otherwise known as a Civil Remedy Notice. This puts the insurance company on notice, that they should make a good faith effort to settle this claim in 60 days. Additionally, the CRN will outline, all the bad faith claim handling mistakes the insurance company made from the start of the claim. A good public adjuster will have all this documented so the attorney can be very specific on the details.
The main advantage of a CRN being filed for homeowners in Florida with a roof claim is this:
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Get A Roof Damage Inspection & Estimate
Generally, the insurance company will want to see an estimate to either do a roof replacement or roof repair for the damaged areas, so you will want to get estimates from a certified roofing company in order to help build supporting evidence towards your claim.
Wed suggest asking the roofing company if they offer inspections, usually intended either for insurance or when appraising the roof condition for a home sale, in addition to the estimate to have a record of the damage done on your end to submit alongside your claim.
Steps to take after you believe there to be damage to your roof:
As soon as you can, report the problem to your insurance company after reviewing your policy documentation. The insurance company will then send out an inspector, who will determine whether or not your roofs damage was caused by normal aging or if it was caused directly by storms.
It is critical to file for an inspection of your roofs damage as quickly as you can and as quickly as you have your own documentation in order. Doing so sooner rather than later will help validate that your roof was legitimately damaged from storms, and speed up the time itll take to process the paperwork and issue payment so you can have your roof replacement costs covered.
How To Get Insurance To Pay For Roof Replacement
Right out of the gate I do want to say that I personally and professionally help people with this particular issue, But this article is simply to help you do it yourself from the beginning or help you try to get a denied claim overturned simply by being very good at documentation and having the proper resources to provide the insurance company.
Disclaimer: Due to licensing requirements, I will not be providing legal advice, you will need to speak with your attorney about anything like that. I will be providing the proper ammunition that you or your attorney need so that you can interpret / enforce your policy. I will show you what has worked for me as a homeowner on my own claim with my own policy as well as ways that I have helped hundreds of others see successful results.
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The Different Types Of Insurance For Roofing Companies
When your roof needs to be replaced due to damage or age, they have experience working with insurance companies and filing claims for your property to get repairs done quickly.
Hiring a contractor in your area means you can check references and testimonials from past clients.
This way, if there are any problems or problems with its performance in the future, they will be easier to fix since you wont be far from traveling to get it repaired.
How Does Insurance Roof Replacement Process Work
What caused the damage will also affect the claims status. Insurers only cover damage listed under covered perils. These are events like storms or fires or even vandalism that cause damage out of your control.
But how does insurance cover roof replacement if the damage is your fault or neglect? And how does insurance determine roof replacement?
If your roof repair is necessary because you have neglected to maintain your roof, your claim will probably be denied. Policies will vary and it is best to check with the insurer to find out exactly what is covered in your policy.
If you ever need roof insurance claims help in Atlanta, GA, Colony Roofers has years of experience dealing with insurance companies and getting homeowners insurance to pay, so our clients get the full benefit of their policies. When you need help with any roof storm damage, give us a call at 365-3138.
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The Roof Decking Must Be A Necessary Part Of Repairing Or
If your roof decking is damaged, you will need to file a claim with your insurance company. You will need to provide proof of the damage, such as photos or an estimate from a contractor. Your insurance company will then determine if the roof decking is a necessary part of repairing your roof. If they determine it is necessary, they will likely cover the cost of replacing the decking.
Know Your Roofing Insurance Coverage
When you first notice damage to your roof, look at your homeowners policy and the roof coverage it offers. This may take a bit of research if youve never paid much attention to your policy, but the information will also help guide your financial decisions about roof repairs. You can also request a copy of your policy from your insurance agent.
The majority of insurance agencies offer two types of roof insurance: repair coverage and replacement coverage. Repair coverage usually reimburses the homeowner for a certain percentage of repair costs. Replacement coverage, on the other hand, provides for the replacement of a roof thats beyond repair. These policies are more expensive and make it harder to get a claim accepted. Thats why its so important to document the damage and submit a claim as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately, not all roof damage will be covered by homeowners insurance. Your coverage depends on your specific policy, your location, and the cause of the damage. For example, a hail storm that damages a roof may qualify for coverage because its an unusual and unpreventable event. However, a hurricane that damages a roof in Florida may not be covered because of the frequency of such events, or because the homeowner lacks hurricane-related coverage or didnt take adequate precautions. If the roof damage was caused by you or an inexperienced roofer, your roof replacement will likely not be covered either.
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Special Considerations For Roof Coverage
If a dramatic event causes dramatic damagethe roof comes crashing down, has a major hole, or is torn off entirelycoverage is likely. More problematic are instances when the damage is less dramatic, even if an act of nature caused it. Let’s say a violent thunderstorm nicks a bunch of your roof’s shingles. The insurance company may classify that as cosmetic damage, and not cover it. Or let’s say that, after the aforementioned storm, you notice your roof has become leaky. Even though the rains triggered it, the insurance company might claim that’s a general wear-and-tear problemreflecting your roof’s gradual deteriorationwhich is never covered.
Ironically, any water damage caused by the leaking roof to your walls, floors, or furniture probably would be covered under the all-perils section of your policy. However, the roof repair itself would not be.
What Are The Drawbacks Of Total Loss
There are a few drawbacks to total loss that you should be aware of before making a claim. First, your insurance company will likely deem your car a total loss if the repairs required exceed the value of your vehicle. This means that you will not be able to keep or sell your car after the accident. Secondly, filing a total loss claim will likely increase your premiums, as insurers view total loss claims as more risky. Finally, if you have a loan or lease on your car, you may still be responsible for making payments even after your car has been totaled.
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How To Get Insurance To Pay For Your Roof Replacement
Many homeowner policies cover roof replacements necessitated by hurricanes, tornadoes, fires and vandalism.However, coverage for wind, rain, ice or hail damage is often prorated, based upon the age of your roof. Falling trees and branches cause much of this wind-related damage.The big, heavy branches of New Jerseys oaks and maples can cause a great deal of damage. In other cases, heavy winds can peel away portions of a roof, potentially exposing the homes framing and interior.
