When a natural disaster strikes, often one of the first parts of your home to sustain damage is your roof. Fortunately, most good insurance policies will pay to fix the damage to your roof so that you can restore it as quickly as possible. It’s important, though, that you understand the proper steps to take so that you get the most out of your insurance policy. Here are a few ways to get the best payout for roofing services after a disaster.
Take Plenty of Pictures
Even though photography isn’t high on your list of priorities after a natural disaster occurs, it should be if you want to get the most out of your roofing insurance claim. Though your roof will need to be inspected more carefully in the coming days, you’ll want to preserve a record of its condition immediately after the disaster occurred. Just be sure to use caution if you need to use a ladder to capture the full extent of the damage.
Get An Accurate Estimate
To process your claim quickly and properly, your insurance company will want a verified review of your roof’s damage. As part of this review, you’ll receive an estimate of what it will cost to fix the damage. While your insurance company will likely send out an adjuster to determine the scope of the damage, it’s a good idea to have a knowledgeable roofer also take a look at your roof to ensure you aren’t being cheated.
Use An Approved Contractor
When it comes to performing roofing repairs, many insurance companies are fairly picky regarding the roofing services provider that you use. This makes sense since it’s in their best interest to ensure that the repairs are completed correctly so that they don’t end up with another claim. To ensure your claim is approved, though, it’s important to stick to the list of approved contractors that your insurance company provides.
Ask Lots of Questions
Navigating an insurance claim can be a confusing process. To ensure you complete the process correctly, it’s important to ask questions any time you don’t understand what a specific document means. This will help you to play by the rules of the insurance company and that you don’t miss any crucial deadlines that could cause your claim to be denied.
Be Patiently Aggressive
While your insurance claim is being processed, it’s important to be polite and patient with the representatives whom you speak with. If they sense that you are willing to work with them, they’ll usually be willing to work with you, as well. However, if you sense that your insurance company is dragging their feet on your claim, it’s okay to become more aggressive, even while staying patient and polite when asking to speak with a manager.
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Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan
