During that last hailstorm that we had my house took a real beating. There was hail the size of a baseball in my gutters and all over my yard after the crazy thunderstorm that we had last night. I know my roof was damaged since I can see pieces of shingles all over my yard and there are granules inside of my gutters. How fast do I need to act in order to have everything evaluated and repaired? Are there any deadlines for getting an insurance claim filed?
The scenario above is fairly common. With the weather that we have had this summer and what we often get in Iowa, you could find yourself in a situation that is similar to the one above and have the same questions. We have written articles already on these topics to help make sure you take the right path to get your property restored.
How To Tell If Your Roof Was Damaged By The Last Big Storm
How Can I Tell If Hail Has Damaged My Roof?
FAQ: How to Deal With Your Storm Damage Insurance Claims
In this article, we will be filling in a few gaps for you, and our focus will be on how long you have until your insurance claim needs to be filed, and why it is a good idea to act sooner instead of later.
Why Do I Need To File An Insurance Claim?
After you have determined that your roof has sustained hail damage and a reputable roofing contractor has inspected your roof, you should get a claim filed with your insurance company right away. There is a reason why you have homeowner’s insurance. You have probably been paying your premiums for many years to specifically make sure you are covered for situations like this one.
How Do I File My Claim?
The first thing that you need to do is find your homeowner’s insurance policy and review it so that you know how much your deductible is. You need to ensure that the amount of the insurance payout is more than your deductible by enough to make it work it to file your claim. Write down your policy number, and organize the photos and notes that you took of the damage following the storm to ensure that you are able to report things as accurately as you can. Make sure that you have the date and time that the roof was damaged, which items have sustained damage, and the size of the hail that hit your house.
After you have everything together, your claim can be filed either by phone or online. You will be given a claim number and a claims examiner will be assigned to work with you. Next, the claims adjuster will visit your property and inspect your roof and then provide you with an estimate for the necessary repairs.
Should I Have My Roofing Contractor At The Inspection?
Yes, definitely! Make arrangements with your roofing contractor to be there. He has inspected the roof for you already and will be able to provide a second opinion when the insurance adjuster inspects your roof. It is important to have someone there who you know and trust and who can help to keep the claims adjuster accountable. The adjuster and contractor can discuss their findings and provide you with an accurate estimate. If there is a disagreement, you can call your insurance company and ask for a different adjuster to come out and re-evaluate the situation.
After I File One Claim Will My Premium Cost Go Up?
Not necessarily. It is going to depend on various factors such as your location, the number of claims that you have filed in a certain time period, and the insurance company. Weather is a natural occurrence and the damage that was sustained was not due to any negligence by you, so your home insurance rates might stay the same.
How Much Time Do I Have To File My Insurance Claim?
Most standard insurance policies require your claim to be filed within one year after determining your house has hail damage. However, in order to know for sure, you should call your insurance agent and ask what the specific timeframe is.
Why Should I Immediately Take Action?
The damage can continue to get worse the longer you wait. Also, the more serious that the damage was, the more it will cost to repair your roof. Bruised shingles may cause leaks and the structure of your house could sustain serious water damage. Having your roof repaired immediately can save you from experience numerous problems in the future that you could have avoided by taking immediate action.
If you are searching for a dependable roofing contractor in Albany, call Ultimate Roofing. We will work closely with your insurance company and you to ensure that the repair process is as smooth and stress-free as possible.