One of the most frustrating things about having to deal with home or property repairs is going through insurance. No one wants to pay for the repair out of pocket, but filing a claim with your insurance can sometimes be more complicated than it’s worth.
At First Choice Roofing, we want to help make this process simpler, so we’ve created an easy-to-use checklist detailing how to file an insurance claim for a damaged roof.
1. Get an Estimate from a Reputable Roofer
Any roofer can come to your home, get on your roof, and make an estimate for what they think the damages will cost. However, some roofers try to offer extremely low quotes, which rely on shoddy workmanship or materials, which can end up costing you even more in the long run when you have to repair the work they originally did.
At First Choice Roofing, we only use the highest-quality materials, and our expert contractors can make sure the job is done correctly the first time. If you need an estimate for roof repair, give us a call for a free quote.
2. If the Damage is More Than Your Deductible, File a Claim
You may be thinking, “why wouldn’t I file an insurance claim?”. Let’s say you have a deductible of $1000. That means you’ll have to pay $1000 of roof repairs before your insurance company will chip in anything. If the repairs are only $800, you should just pay for those out of pocket to avoid your insurance premiums (the amount you pay monthly) from rising due to a claim.
If you do file a claim, you will get a claim number, which your insurance company will refer to throughout the duration of the claim, so make sure you keep that handy. If you’re a first-time customer, First Choice Roofing will even give you $150 off your repairs or replacement!
3. Meet With Your Insurance Adjuster
Insurance adjusters investigate claims to see if the insurance company should cover your loss. For example, if you were to claim roof damage from a storm, but the insurance adjuster found that the damage was just normal wear and tear because your roof is old, your insurance company wouldn’t pay for those repairs.
Be nice to this person when they come out to inspect the damage! They can have a lot of power in this scenario. By calling a reputable roofer (like First Choice), you will be more aware of where the damage came from, so the meeting with your insurance adjuster will go more smoothly.
4. Get the First Check from Insurance (If Coverage Applies)
If your insurance covers the damage that occurs to the roof, the adjuster will make sure you get a check covering the actual cash value (minus your deductible). Actual cash value factors in the age of the roof, so you might get less covered on a 20-year-old roof than you would on a 10- year-old roof. If this is the type of coverage you have, this is the only check you will receive.
Replacement cost coverage offers the highest level of protection for your roof and will cover more of the costs. If you have replacement cost coverage, you may be wondering why you’re getting the lower value initially. Insurance companies want to make sure you’re actually using the money they give you to fix your roof, so they hold back the second portion until the repairs are complete.
5. Have First Choice Fix Your Roof
Once the insurance adjuster has made their decisions, you can now make an appointment with us to come and fix your roof! We will make a plan for getting your roof fixed as efficiently as possible, so you can get back to living your normal life.
Make sure you keep all of the receipts from us, as well as any hotel receipts if the roof damage is so extensive that you’re unable to stay in your home. Replacement cost coverage may cover these extra expenses. If you don’t have extra expenses beyond the roof repair, we can send the receipts directly to your insurance company.
6. If You Have Replacement Cost Coverage, Get the Second Check from Insurance
Now that your roof has been fixed, there’s likely a deficit in what you owe the roofer and what you’ve been paid by the insurance agency. If you have replacement cost coverage, the insurance company will then send you a check for the rest of the replacement costs and any additional expenses that were agreed to.
7. Pay First Choice Roofing
Once you’ve received the second check from your insurance company, you’ll pass that along with your deductible to First Choice Roofing for the repair or replacement work we did. At this point, your claim is officially completed, and your roof is back to working properly.
While it may seem like a complicated system, filing an insurance claim to get your roof fixed, doesn’t have to be hard. Call First Choice Roofing and let us make things easier on you. We are experienced in the roofing industry and can help make sure you’re getting a fair deal.
Our office is conveniently located in Lexington, KY, and we serve the surrounding Central Kentucky area, including Harrodsburg, Nicholasville, Versailles, Georgetown, Winchester, and Richmond.
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