Filing a Roof Insurance Claim: A Step-by-Step Guide
Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The content is based on our experiences operating in the State of Florida and may not apply to other states or individual circumstances. Always consult with your insurance carrier, legal counsel, or a licensed public adjuster to understand your specific policy details and rights.
A storm has hit your area and there are signs of damage to your home. The first thing people do is panic. The thing you should not do in this situation is…. Panic. This is probably not the first storm to come through your area and will likely not be the last.
The best thing you can do in this situation is to call a professional to help sift through the post-storm mess.
At NEXGEN, we receive hundreds of calls per year after homeowners experience storm damage to their roof. We’ve learned, through experience, that there are a couple things you should be doing to make your process as seamless and pain-free as possible.
Find your insurance policy – ideally this happens prior to a storm.
If you can’t find your insurance policy, call your insurance agent/carrier.
Again, this is much easier to do prior to a storm. They get busy after a weather event and you may not be their priority.
Call a professional. A LOCAL Professional.
What you need is an inspection, by a professional that IS LOCAL.
You’re going to get hundreds of contractors “storming” (no pun intended) your neighborhood looking for a quick buck. You can go ahead and ignore them because they’ll do a great job collecting your money but not such a great job in doing the service you contracted them for.
Get an inspection on the books and make sure that your contractor takes A LOT of pictures. This could be the make or break with your insurance carrier. It’ll save you a lot of time when trying to get YOUR funds released.
If your professional inspector determines there is storm damage, call your insurance company, ask to open a claim, and schedule one of their inspectors to come by.
Please note that this process is crucial to get done immediately. If you want to do this prior to the contractor coming out, so be it – that is your call. If you see damage or there is a hole in your roof, you can make the call to get the ball rolling.
What we can tell you is that you get put in line and you won’t get an inspection until your time is called. Think of it like a DMV, but worse.
MAKE SURE to have your selected contractor present during the inspection, or adjustment.
This is important for you because you want to make sure that an adjuster isn’t skipping any steps and that your contractor is able to show ALL damage to the adjuster.
Remember, you are not the only stop on this adjuster’s schedule. They move quick and sometimes having an extra set of eyes present makes sure they’re catching all of the details.
That’s it. You did it!
After your adjustment they will let you know to wait a few days before your carrier “determines coverage.” Depending on the insurance company, you could get a coverage determination on the spot, or up to 14 days later.
Once you receive this “scope of loss” or adjusters report, contact your contractor. At NEXGEN Roofing, we work with both you AND the insurance carriers to make sure your home is taken care of and your roof is replaced or repaired – FAST.
