How to File an Insurance Claim for a Roof
Discovering roof damage is a headache that no property owner looks forward to. Still, in the event that your home or commercial building does receive extensive damage, it’s important to act quickly. Part of your response should involve contacting your insurance provider to file a claim.
While filing an insurance claim for a roof can be an extensive and complicated process, it’s vital to do so if you don’t want to cover all the repair costs on your own. After all, your insurance policy is in place for exactly these types of situations.
If you’re currently facing roof damage and have no idea how to go about correctly filing an insurance claim, you’ve come to the right place. In the article below, we’ll highlight the main steps you need to take and share a few other helpful tips about how to file an insurance claim for your roof.
Contact Your Insurance Provider
When you have roof damage that you expect your insurer to cover, it’s important to contact them quickly. Some policies require you to contact your provider within a certain time frame after discovering damage to ensure you qualify to file an official claim.
This initial contact with your provider is not the stage at which you file your official claim. However, this is the opportunity to make your insurer aware that you will file a claim in the near future and get important information from them about how to file properly.
Although it may not seem like a critical step, you should do your best to track all correspondence between you and your provider from this point on. Tracking your conversation will only help you monitor the claims process and ensure you don’t overlook any essential information. Taking notes during phone conversations and using written communication are two ways to make keeping track of the discussions much easier.
Evaluate and Log Your Roof Damage
Another early step when filing a claim for your roof is to create an accurate record of all damage. Take your time when assessing the damage, and be sure to create a written log of every defect you discover. An in-depth assessment of your roof damage will help you and your insurer determine what your policy will and will not cover.
Understand Whether Your Roof Damage is Covered
After developing a clear idea of what damage your roof has sustained, it’s time for you to review your insurance policy. Your policy should clearly explain what kind of roof damage it covers. You may find that some types of damage are available for coverage while others are not.
It’s important to perform your policy review before you file your claim. Reviewing your policy will help you have a better idea of what coverage you’re entitled to before the claim process begins.
Insurance claims can be complicated and may leave you feeling like you’re owed more coverage than they offered. Prior knowledge of your policy helps ensure you get everything you deserve from your claim.
Acquire an Estimate from a Professional Roofer
The next step in your claim filing journey is to contact an experienced and well-respected roofer in your area. Have them visit your roof, evaluate the damage themselves, and provide you with an estimate for the repair or replacement costs.
An estimate of repair costs is a crucial aspect of your claim as it plays a major role in the payout you can expect from your insurer. Additionally, make sure you receive one, well-thought-out estimate from one roofing company rather than presenting your insurer with several estimates from different companies.
Submit Your Insurance Claim
After initially contacting your provider, recording all damage, reviewing your policy, and getting an accurate estimate, it’s time to submit your claim. During your first conversation with your provider, you should have gained a clear understanding of how to file a claim. However, if you’re still unsure, it’s always beneficial to contact an insurance agent for clarification before filing.
Beyond the specific filing requirements of your insurance provider, it’s always best to include as much information about your roof damage as possible. This information should include a detailed summary of the damage, the estimate your roofer provided, and any other useful information.
Schedule a Meeting with Your Insurance Adjuster
Any time that you submit an insurance claim for your roof, an insurance adjuster will need to visit your property and evaluate the roof damage themselves. Adjusters are the ones responsible for fully investigating your claim and considering all factors before the claim is approved or denied. Only after the adjuster gets their say will your insurer make a decision about what payout you receive.
If you’re not a roofing expert, or you’d like additional opinions during this meeting, it’s wise to invite the roofer who gave your estimate to join the meeting. The knowledge of your roofer and your adjuster will ultimately allow your insurance provider to determine how much of your repairs they will cover.
Don’t Pay for Repairs Until Your Claim is Processed
After meeting with your adjuster, it’s best to hold off on repairs until your claim has been processed completely. Whether your claim is approved or not, your adjuster will need time to thoroughly review it and determine the exact details of your payout if they decide to grant you one. Only after the claim process is complete can you hire a roofer with full knowledge of what portion of repair costs you can expect to pay out of pocket.
Proceed with Your Roofing Repairs
After receiving the results of your insurance claim, the final step in the process is to hire a professional roofer to perform the necessary repairs. Whether or not your claim was as successful as you hoped it would be, repairing a damaged roof is a must.
Your roof protects your building and all those inside and helps to preserve structural integrity. Allowing a damaged roof to go without repairs permits damage to worsen, which will only increase your overall repair costs.
Want Help with Your Roofing Concerns?
Throughout this article, we’ve noted that the insurance claims process will run much more smoothly if you have a professional roofing team on your side. The right team will not only provide you with the estimate you need but also be prepared to perform the ideal repairs or replacements for your roof.
For anyone dealing with roof damage in the Columbus, Ohio area, Ascent Roofing Solutions should be your first choice when choosing a roofing repair company. Our decades of experience allow us to accurately assess your roof and serve you with the repair or replacement solution you need most. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a free estimate.
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