People go about their daily lives without really thinking about their homes. They do maintenance once in a while but don’t think about their homes a lot in general. That is until something goes wrong.
When people have an issue with a part of the home, then it can be stressful. It can also be sudden. The following article will explain the roof insurance claim process. It really can be simple if a person just goes through the necessary steps properly.
Prepare Ahead
People don’t often get a chance in life to plan. When an emergency happens, it’s too late. Yet, according to Forbes, the repair can cost between $24,000 to $50,000 for the entire roof. This is an astronomical expense to most people. It might even be half a year to a year’s salary.
This is why a person needs to know what is covered in home insurance. Typically, anything to do with roof maintenance is not covered. This means that a person should prepare ahead when it comes to the roof.
Roof maintenance should be performed every couple of years. While the expense of an inspection is there, it is nothing compared to having to get an entirely new roof.
Get a Professional Roof Inspection
Before calling your insurance, you should get someone out to inspect the roof. This may seem to be an extra step, but it is important. You will want to know how much the expense will be. Often, the deductible might exceed the roof repair.
In this case, knowing the proper price is important to avoid getting ripped off. Even if insurance covers the roof, the rundown on what exactly is wrong will help the insurance company.
Check Your Insurance Policy
Now it’s time to check your insurance policy. There is usually repair insurance or replacement insurance. It’s good to know what you have before you call the agent. You might be surprised to know that not all types of damage are covered.
While one type of weather damage might be covered under a claim, another could not. When you know a little bit more about what you have in terms of insurance, you will feel more comfortable in your conversation with an agent.
Contact Your Insurance Company
You will want to call within a day or two of the incident. If you can’t have a roof inspector come at a reasonable time, then you should call the insurance company right away. You don’t want to delay calling because the situation might get worse on its own.
For example, if you have a leaking roof, it could start to flood the home if you wait a week. It may also start to leak in other places, causing damage to other parts of the home.
Your insurance agent can tell you how long you have before you file a claim. Also, in the event of vandalism, you will want to make a prompt police report.
Schedule and Attend Your Insurance Claims Examination
The insurance company will not just take your contractor’s word for the damage. They will want to come out and survey the damage themselves. This is why you will need to make an appointment for this too.
You can do this when you call the insurance company. The agent might even prompt you to make an inspection date. You have some wiggle room if your roof needs a repair as opposed to a replacement.
File Your Paperwork
All the paperwork you obtain will need to be filed when making the claim. Once you have the paperwork, you have to submit it to initiate the claim. After the claim is filed, then the repairs can begin. Always ask for paperwork from anyone who looks at the home. This can help to facilitate a smooth repair process.
Keep Your Receipts
Once your work is completed, you will get receipts. You must hold onto these receipts. You may not get reimbursed right away by your insurance company. You will need to make sure to get the approved contractors list from your insurance company.
Your policy might only cover the work from certain businesses or contractors. You must have a good understanding of your reimbursement policies before proceeding with a given contractor.
Also, ask your insurance company if they cover hotel stays or any other incidentals. These expenses are important as well and you will need to keep receipts.
The more informed you are about your reimbursement process, the easier you will feel when it’s time to wrap up the claim. Do not lose a receipt because then you may forfeit that money.
Be Educated About Appeals
A person might not get reimbursed for the full amount of the repairs at the end. You might not think that this is a fair decision.
You do have a right to get a public adjuster out to assess the situation. You can then appeal the insurance company’s choice in the payment amount.
Conclusion
It can be slightly frustrating to go through this entire process. Keep in mind that the claim should be filed before the work is done. This is a more organized and systematic approach. Once the claim is filed, it is easier to know if the insurance company is on board with the decision.
The insurance adjuster will have visited at that time as well. This is why it’s best to book an appointment with the insurance professional right away.
It will save for hassles later on and ensure that you and the company continue to stay on the same page. A person will also know the deductible at that time, so setting aside personal money for the repairs can be easier.
The process from start to finish can be seamless, even if it can come across as complicated. Ultimately, the insurance company should be on board with the costs of the repair before the repair is made. It will save for any surprises later. Additionally, there are public adjusters should anything go wrong even if all the steps are followed carefully.
The good news is that if you repair your roof and keep it in good order, your home insurance will be more likely to renew when the policy is up.
Frequently Asked Questions
You will want to call within a day or two of the incident. If you can’t have a roof inspector come at a reasonable time, then you should call the insurance company right away
Homeowners insurance may cover a roof leak if it is caused by by fire, hail or wind. Homeowners insurance generally does not cover damage resulting from lack of maintenance or wear and tear