| Insurance Claims Are Intimidating | | | | Once you've identified whether or not you want to |
| Dealing with insurance claims can be intimidating. | | | | push forward based on your homeowner's deductible, |
| That's usually because you really aren't sure where to | | | | you'll want to call your local insurance agent and let |
| start. Do you call your agent first? Do you call a | | | | them know what happened. Did you have a hail |
| roofing contractor? What can you and can't you sign? | | | | storm? Are there shingles that were blown off your |
| So many questions that need answers. Let's dig in | | | | roof? Tell your agent exactly what happened and |
| and see if we can't clear away some of the clouds. | | | | give them the date of loss. That's important because |
| Do you know where your homeowner's policy is | | | | they'll be passing this information along to your |
| located? If you'll pull that out, we can start by | | | | insurance adjuster who will come out and inspect the |
| identifying whether or not there's a claim phone | | | | damage before writing up the claim and cutting a |
| number for you to call. After you've identified the | | | | check. |
| claim number, you'll want to look through your policy | | | | Schedule With Your Insurance Adjuster |
| to find out how much your roof deductible is going | | | | You'll most likely have to wait 24-48 hours for their |
| to cost you. | | | | insurance adjuster to call you. Most of the major |
| Find Out How Much Your Roof Deductible Will Be | | | | insurance companies will either have local claim |
| Many policies have separate policies for wind and hail | | | | adjusters available or they'll bring in catastrophic |
| damage to your roof. For example, a claim filed | | | | crews to help out in a major storm event. When the |
| because of a hail storm would have a different | | | | adjuster calls, ask for them to visit on a day and at a |
| deductible than a claim filed for a slab leak. You'll have | | | | time when you'll be home. It is always a good idea to |
| to look through your paperwork to find out. Look for | | | | make your own list of damaged property in advance |
| the words "storm" or "hail" or "wind" deductible. | | | | of your adjuster's visit. You may also want to get in |
| These deductibles can be as low as $250 and up to | | | | touch with a good local roofing company to help |
| several percentage points of your home's value (e.g. | | | | represent your best interests with the insurance |
| 1%, 2$, even up to 5%). | | | | company. Together, your roofing contractor and your |
| Not that your roof deductible should matter, but the | | | | insurance adjuster will develop an estimate of |
| truth of the matter is that it does matter. If you're | | | | damages. |
| deductible is 5% and your home's value is | | | | What Do You Do With The Check? |
| $350,000.00, you'll be stuck with a $17,500.00 | | | | In our next article, we'll walk through the process for |
| deductible. While it is possible that your roof could | | | | getting repairs made to your roof after you're |
| cost more than $17,500.00, it is unlikely that you'll | | | | insurance adjuster has mailed the first check. If you |
| realize much benefit from filing the claim unless you | | | | would like professional roofing help and you live in |
| have an extremely expensive roofing product like | | | | North Texas, you may want to reach out to me for |
| slate, stone-coated steel, aluminum, slate or a heavy | | | | some quick, free advice. You can avoid roofing |
| shake wood roof. | | | | scams by doing your homework first. |
| Call Your Local Insurance Agent | | | | |