What are the first steps to filing an insurance claim for my roof

Kat292587
by Kat292587
Would like a roofers point of view of the first steps I need to take when filing an insurance claim for my roof?
Thanks!
  6 answers
  • Opal Opal on Feb 07, 2014
    Been there! Our insurance co was great, it was the roofers that were the problem. Get at least 3 estimates with a full writeup of what they think needs to be done. Our insurance co. came out and inspected and recommended/paid for a full roof removal and replacement, with a higher grade product because out type was no longer manufactured.This was not equal to 2 of our roofers. Additionally, insurance co.s have a red flag list of companies that are harder to work with. You still chose your company, but they hold the money to make sure it is done correctly. Good luck
  • contact your insurance agent first! Opal has great points. We have a local agent and we call her with any questions and she is great to work with. Make sure to get estimates and references but do not just call the references ask if you can drive by and see their roof! Anyone can give you a name and number to call and you do not know who is on the other end. We were taken by a contractor who gave references and come to find out they were not customers but other crooks. good luck.
  • RTB Construction, LLC RTB Construction, LLC on Feb 07, 2014
    Before you file a claim with your insurance company, call 3 qualified roofing contractors and get estimates from all 3 companies. Make sure they provide a detailed list of what needs to be done. You may only need a simple repair and it may be less than your deductible. Once you get the estimates in hand you can then decide whether it is in your best interest to file a claim. Remember once you call your agent and file a claim it can go against your policy and they can raise your insurance premiums whether or not they pay out on that claim. I am a licensed roofer in Virginia and I deal with insurance companies on a daily basis.
  • It makes no difference on how many estimates you get. All that tells you is what most likely the insurance company will pay out to whoever is aligned with their company. Of course your deductible is part of the mix. What a roofer can do for you is provide you with the correct method to properly fix your issue. As many insurance companies, not all, will try to get around by shorting the methods to fix the issue it is that you have. What you do not want to do is to get a check and fix it yourself. If that is what you're intending to do. While it is fine to get a check for some insurance claims, its not good for items such as roofs or any structural issue claims. The reason, You have no idea what will be exposed when the roof is torn off for the repair. You get a check to add some missing shingles, and they open up the roof and find water damage plywood, insulation, and perhaps framing, your stuck as once your insurance pays out, it is almost impossible to get them to reopen the job for additional payment. Although they will, this may take several weeks at best. Also do not forget, its not the insurance companies job to replace your roof, only to fix the leak. So if your roof is near its end of life, you're still only going to end up with a partial repair, not a new roof. I would suggest depending upon the amount of the claim to contact a Public adjuster. Let them appraise the repair and work up what needs to be done on your behalf. They only get paid based upon what the insurance company claims that you need and what they attempt to get done for you. They work for you. As an example., Insurance company says 10 shingles needs to be replaced due to leak. and will have it fixed for $100 . A Public Adjuster will look at the water damage caused by the leak and work on your behalf to get the insulation that got wet replaced, the water damage to the ceiling and perhaps any mold as a result replaced or corrected. They will get the plywood repaired if its was damaged and not just wet. This can end up costing $10000 when all done. They take a % of the difference between what they get from the insurance company and what the insurance company would have paid out if they were not involved. So its worth looking into. But again depends upon your claim and what your trying to achieve. The very last thing you do not want to do is to sign any paperwork from the adjuster until you have time to review and have a professional review based upon their suggestions on repairs and costs. Once you sign, your stuck.
  • Hamtil Construction LLC Hamtil Construction LLC on Feb 09, 2014
    I see a lot of variance between insurance companies and how hard they are to work with and negotiate with. It makes a difference what adjuster you get as well. Personally, I suggest doing your homework and finding at least 2 qualified roofing contractors (get references, insurance certs, etc), and engage them first for their opinion on the roof before you call your insurance company. Many roofers will tell you, like Woodbridge says, that the ins co will want to pay for the minimal amount possible. Having more info up front is prudent, but in the end, it may not affect what the ins co will be willing to give you.
  • Opal Opal on Feb 10, 2014
    Additionally, contacting your insurance company and filing a claim are NOT the same thing. Contacting to consult is just that, state that you want information and are not filing a claim at this time. I have found this to be standard procedure. Having estimates with details helps you to work with your adjuster by bringing up repairs that they might miss and to have other opinions. It's harder to justify not agreeing with one repair company than 2 companies and the adjuster is more likely to agree. Our estimate stated that our roof material was no longer being manufactured as the reason for complete replacement. This led the adjuster to verify and confirm. This saves time because we did not have to go back after with a new estimate. It's all no fun, good luck.