When a storm hits town, not everyone will file a home insurance claim, but for those who have damage and need to, here are some do’s and don’ts for coming out of the insurance settlement claim satisfied.
DO’s:
Do contact your home insurance expert or Public Insurance Adjuster and roofing contractor. Ask the roofing contractor to take a few photographs of the damaged roof. Armed with these photographs, you could pay a visit to the insurance company to inform them upfront of the damages borne by the roof. Pictures could help speed up the process of replacing your roof or getting repairs done.
Do connect with your insurance advisor and roofing contractor and ask about their agenda/timeline to repair the roof in a timely manner, especially during a season when it makes sense to do the work; Winters aren’t the best time to repair roofs.
It is best if you arrange a meeting between your roofing contractor, public insurance adjuster and yourself. It is wisely advisable to share the photographs with the Public Adjuster regarding the damages and come to an understanding regarding the best possible outcome to this messy calamity.
It’s best to deal with insurance adjusters face-to-face rather than over the phone, at least initially.
Don’ts:
When you find that the claims adjuster and the roofing contractor are not seeing eye to eye about your case, you have the option of assigning the roofing insurance to a Public Insurance Adjuster of your choice who is willing to go that extra mile to get you the maximum settlement possible.
Don’t sign up with the first contractor that comes knocking at your door. After a storm hits, many contractors converge on the area. They go door-to-door and expect that work will fall in their laps by enticing customers with deals that are often too good to be true.
Try not to acknowledge the Public Insurance Adjuster’s underlying offer merely on the chance that it does completely include the extent of work and material a contractual worker has given to you after a hasty estimate. You need to ensure that the work required can be appropriately paid for. Your contractor ought to have estimation photographs of your rooftop, and a report of all materials required and their cost.
Do’s:
A contractor hand-picked by you will be better than someone chosen without any research or meetings. You want to work with someone who you feel has your best interests at heart– someone you feel you can trust.
Keep the homeowners insurance policy handy to know the insurance coverage you applied for, such that you have first-hand knowledge of the scope of the insurance policy.
Don’ts:
Do not employ a roofing contractor accredited to the insurance company– their motive here would be to get the work done cheaply and hastily using sub-par materials.