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How The Right Roofing Contractor Can Help With Your Insurance Claim

roofer-admin • Sep 30, 2019

A storm can really do damage to your home’s roof. It is important to file an insurance claim quickly so that your home is repaired before further damage is done. One more storm and leaks can worsen and cause some serious property damage both to the infrastructure and to your furniture and other possessions. Working with the right roofing contractor can expedite the insurance claim process and relieve a lot of time, stress and energy. Roofing experts understand how to not just repair or replace the roof but the best ways to file the claim. Building a relationship with roofing experts makes a complicated situation easier.

Make Sure They are Professionals

Expert contractors understand everything from roofing techniques and materials to insurance companies and the claim process. Do not try and save money by investing in a friend’s brother-in-law who does roofing on the side. Expert contractors are an important investment. When investing in a roofing company, check online reviews, if they are insured, and their experience. Professional contractors get the job done right the first time. They understand how to inspect and assess the damage, and they can also recommend other contractors in the plumbing and electrical fields. Expert roofers should be willing to meet with an insurance adjuster and speak the same language as them.

The Insurance Company

Roof damage can mean everything from a few leaks to the shingles have fallen off, among other things. As soon as you note something is wrong, talk to the roofing expert and then immediately contact the insurance company. It helps if you have an estimate and specific details about the damage to the property. If a storm has affected you, then it could be a super busy time because other homeowners are in the same boat.

The Contractor and the Roof Damage Inspection

Once you reach out to the insurance company, you will be assigned a claim representative who will then send an adjuster for a roof damage inspection. Have the roofing contractor attend this meeting too and make sure that all damages are identified and recorded. Roofing experts have a lot of information about local building codes and the time and cost of repairs. After all, the repairs should meet the regulations and not every adjuster is from this city and town and will know the building codes. After this meeting, the insurance company creates an estimate based on the damages you have and the type of insurance policy.

The Impact of the Policy on the Estimate

It is important to know what type of roof-based insurance you have before you reach out to a contractor and the insurance company. This means you will have realistic expectations about the estimate. Generally, there are two main types of roofing coverage a property can have: replacement cost value or actual cash value. Replacement value is the most popular. It covers the replacement of the roof, minus your deductible, even if the home’s roof is over a decade old. Actual cash value coverage means that the insurance company determines the estimate by taking the amount of the repair and subtracting it by both the deductible and the amount of depreciation (i.e. the older the roof, the more that is subtracted). Actual cash value coverage is most common in areas of the country that experience a lot of storm damage. Insurance companies use this coverage to protect themselves since the likelihood of paying out is very high.

Review the Estimate and Use the Contractor

You can negotiate or appeal an estimate. Have your contractor review the estimate before a single bit of work is done. They will know if there are any mistakes on here. Sometimes, software programs are used to assign coverage values, and your adjuster may have incorrectly inputted information. A contractor can spot if inaccurate measurements have been used to predict the cost of a repair. You do not want to start the repairs and then notice the mistakes. Having a contractor by your side means that they can explain the reasoning behind changing an insurance estimate and can even submit supplemental proof on your behalf. Once you agree to the estimate, the roofing company prepares a contract that outlines how the repair will happen. It is important that you trust the roofing professional. Once you sign the contract, you are locked in, even if it turns out they are amateurs or uninsured.

Supplemental Insurance

A supplemental is additional money added to a claim because further damage was found after repairs began. This can happen because an adjuster made an error, or it could happen because the damage was not spotted until parts of the roof were removed. You may also need a supplemental if materials cost more than what was approved. For example, the adjuster may not have noticed the need for new HVAC caps during the home damage inspection, so this is not included in the estimate. Adding more to an estimate after the contracts have been signed can be time-consuming. Take some time to know how your insurance company handles these situations. Your roofing contractor is there to provide evidence, paperwork and support as you try and negotiate additional money for the repair.

If your roof has been damaged in a storm, work quickly to find a contractor and file your claim. Expert contractors have one goal in mind: to repair your roof right. They will advocate for you with the insurance company, and they can explain how this process should go. Delaying on a repair could end up costing you more money in the long run because small issues quickly become larger ones.

At Crossover Roofing, we are the Insurance Specialists and can help you with your insurance claim. Contact us today for a free roof inspection and estimate. 

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