If your roof has ever been damaged during a storm, you know you may be dealing with pricey repairs. Water damage alone can cost in the hundreds when repairing your home.
It’s important to file an insurance claim when you need to get your house repaired from storm damage. Unfortunately, one of the most common problems homeowners experience is having a claim rejected. To help avoid this annoyance, this guide will show the top seven residential roofing claim mistakes that you can avoid when repairing damage.
- Consulting Your Insurance Company Before Talking to a Roofer
You should talk to a roofing contractor before you to talk to your insurance company and before any repairs start on your home, . This is primarily because you need a qualified roofer to determine how badly damaged your roof is and to document the condition of it.
A roofer can help you identify the cause of the roof damage to your insurance company to prevent your claim from being denied.
- Repairing Your Home Without Consulting Your Insurance Company First
Before you start repairing your home, you should first check what is and isn’t covered by your insurance policy. You don’t want to complete thousands of dollars in repairs without receiving reimbursement from your insurance company. If you avoid this step, you should expect to pay for your roof repairs out of pocket.
- Underestimating Your Insurance Claim
Insurance companies use a multitude of methods to try and minimize your claim so you get the smallest return possible. However, don’t put all your trust in them to make the right decision. Instead, ask your roofer who has experience, training, and the tools necessary to help you maximize your claim. Make sure to submit as much information as possible about your roof. Include the exterior and interior sections of your home that need repairs.
- Sufficient Proof Not Provided
As a homeowner, you should always make sure that your roof is in near perfect condition. If your insurance provider deems your roof was damaged before the incident, they may decide to not honor your claim for the repairs. Be sure to have plenty of documented proof that your roof was in good condition prior to the accident, as well pictures before and after the damaged occurred. In most cases, the more documentation the better. This will help get your claim approved as quickly as possible.
- Not Understanding Your Warranty
Often times, people do not fully understand the warranty on their roof. Homeowners will file a roofing insurance claim without checking out the warranty first. Your warranty may be expired or it may not even cover the event that caused the damage in the first place. Surprisingly, a lot of warranties do not include coverage for many types of natural events. In fact, your home insurance may not even cover the damage if a lapse in your warranty coverage caused preventable damage. Read your warranty before filing your claim to ensure you fully understand the coverage and its limits.
- Not Researching Before Hiring a Roofing Company
Before you hire the first roofing company you see, take the time to research the options available to you. Ask your family and friends for recommendations. Get multiple quotes for the project before settling on one roofing company. Try to choose a reputable roofing company in the Dallas/Fort Worth area that will provide you with plenty of references. You should also look for a company who has experience and is willing to work with the insurance adjuster.
- Prioritizing Cost Over Quality
Another big mistake people make is the cheapest roofing company possible. Though you may be paying less up front, cheaper companies typically provide a cheaper product. This means that you may pay for your decision later on. When dealing with roofing contractors, it is best to find a company that offers the best service, rather than focus on the lowest quote.
Having a damaged roof is bad enoughand you don’t want to deal with an insurance company that doesn’t want to approve your claim. However, by avoiding these simple mistakes that any homeowner can make, you can speed up your claim’s process by making the right choices when reporting your damages. If you are searching a contractor to repair your residential roofing, be sure to contact us today!