Your roof is the foremost barrier to protecting your home from the impact of bad weather, falling objects, and time. However, when your roof is damaged, the cost of replacement or repair can be in the thousands of dollars. On the plus side, if you follow the right procedure, you may be able to convince your insurance company to cover the costs of your roof replacement. Unfortunately, it is common for homeowners to miss having their legitimate claims paid out by their insurance simply because they do not understand the process.
If you follow this comprehensive guide from Roofing Service NYC, you will know what to look out for, document, and file for roof damage with your insurance company to have your roof properly covered.
Understanding Roof Insurance Coverage
It can be challenging to navigate claims management, especially if you’re not up to speed with what is unique about your homeowner’s insurance policy. Most policies will cover “sudden and accidental” damage to roofs, but may not provide coverage for damage caused by neglect, age, or normal wear and tear.
For example, if your roof wears out after 25 years, then the insurance company is most likely to deny coverage. However, if a windstorm blows off the shingles or hail creates dents or leaks into a home, a homeowner would likely qualify for a full roof replacement. Roofing Service NYC encourages policyholders to study the “dwelling coverage” section of their policy and the coverage for “roof replacement” so that policyholders are able to know what to expect before submitting a claim.
Step 1: Inspect and Document Roof Damage
The first step in understanding how to ask your insurance to pay for a roof replacement is to gather the information. After a storm or damaging event, take the time to inspect your roof safely yourself or engage a professional roofing contractor to inspect your roof. Your first step is to gather clear, date-stamped photographs of any visible damage. This could include missing shingles, dents, leaks, or structural issues.
Documentation is very important to getting your claim approved. It is usually best practice to have a reputable roofing contractor like Roofing Service NYC do a professional roof inspection and provide you with a detailed roof inspection report for documentation. Roofing inspection reports document the what and where, protecting you against any changes on behalf of the adjuster from your insurance company. Your insurance company will look at this evidence and help make a stronger claim.
Step 2: Contact Your Insurance Company
Once you have collected the appropriate documentation, reach out to your insurance company so you can begin the claims process. State the damage caused to your roof by a covered peril and that you want to file a claim for replacement. Your insurance company will then have to assign a claims adjuster to visit your home and inspect the damage.
Be advised, insurance adjusters will often try to downplay the extent of damage or limit amounts. Having a roofing company such as Roofing Service NYC there to represent you can be advantageous. Roofing Service NYC can aid with ensuring that the adjuster does not overlook damage or undervalue the damages associated with repair. This is an extremely delicate moment in the process where transparency and details regarding item valuations is key.
Step 3: Get a Professional Roof Estimate
Before accepting any settlement offer, obtain a written estimate from a properly licensed and insured roofing contractor or roofing company. A written estimate issued by a licensed roofing contractor will give you some leverage when negotiating a settlement with your insurance company, as it outlines the total replacement costs, materials, labor, etc.
Roofing Service NYC provides free roof replacement estimates to homeowners throughout New York City, and from our experience, we really, truly know and understand what insurance companies want and need to see for documentation, and we will prepare professional reports that will put you in the best situation for your claim. That report may be the difference between a denied claim and you being compensated to the fullest for your new roof!
Step 4: Meet with the Insurance Adjuster
When the insurance adjuster arrives to inspect your roof, this meeting will likely have the greatest impact on your claim’s approval. The ultimate success of your claim entirely depends on your roofing contractor’s presence and capability to indicate damage that may have been overlooked, or is subtle and not readily visible.
Roofing Service NYC regularly represents homeowners in their dealings with insurance inspections. We are capable of communicating the terminology, documentation, and evidence insurers look for, and will make sure that all the storm and hail damage is used as evidence in their report. Often, this is the most significant factor in obtaining a funded roof replacement or even an outright denial of your claim.
Step 5: Negotiate and Approve the Claim
When you receive your first offer from the insurance company, and the amount is lower than your roofing contractor’s estimate, do not act on the check immediately. You can negotiate! Obtain the documentation from your roofing contractor and consult with them on the discrepancies. Once the insurance company receives a claim package from your contractor, they will change their offer and provide you with a better offer than what was first estimated.
As part of Roofing Service NY, we assist our clients through this negotiation process to ensure that our clients receive the maximum payout from their insurance policy. After the claim is settled, you will receive the money to spend on a roof replacement, less any deductible you may have.
Step 6: Schedule Your Roof Replacement
Once the claim has been settled, it’s time to schedule the replacement of your roof. It’s vital to select a licensed and insured roofing contractor with experience handling insurance claims. These contractors will be certified to perform your new roof installation properly and be able to offer other options for your roof to provide decades of quality.
Here at Roofing Service NYC, we just operate in the business of re-roofing all five boroughs of NYC. Our staff will handle every part of your project (the paperwork and communications with the insurance company, to the final banking clean-up). Put plainly, we simply want to make the entire project both stress-free and affordable for every homeowner. (Diamond Certified org)
Tips to Maximize Your Insurance Claim
- Act fast: Several policies will require claims to be submitted within a specific amount of time from the time of loss to be considered for review. To file your claim seamlessly, be sure to do the following:
- Keep records: You must keep copies of every receipt for repairs, inspections, and any communications with your insurance company.
- Do not make temporary repairs: You could lose the entire claim if you make even temporary repairs to your home.
- Enlist contractors: For example, Roofing Service NYC could document your insurance claim and present it to your insurance company for you.
- Understand your deductible: You want to know what your out-of-pocket cost will be prior to proceeding with the repair.
If you follow these steps, the overall policy claim process will be seamless to completion.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Will insurance cover an old roof?
This will differ based on your policy and the cause of the damage. Most policies do not cover roof repairs caused by age or neglect. However, if storms cause damage to an older roof, your insurance company will generally cover the damage in whole or in part, depending on the depreciation in the age of the roof and your policy limits.
2. What kind of roof damage is covered by insurance?
Wind, hail, falling debris, or fire damage is usually covered. Routine wear and tear or problems from improper maintenance are not. Roofing Service NYC may be able to help you determine whether your damage is covered under your policy.
3. How long does the claims process take?
Most claims for a roof replacement take between two and four weeks, depending on how responsive your insurance company is and the extent of the damage.
4. Should I call a roofer or call my insurance company first?
You would be better served to call a roofer like Roofing Service NYC first. We’ll check the damage, document everything professionally for the records, and help you with the insurance claim to get the best chance for your insurance company to approve the claim.
5. How can Roofing Service NYC help me with my insurance claim?
We provide full service from the beginning to the end, including inspections, documentation, going to meetings with adjusters, and tooth replacement. Our job is to ensure you are getting the maximum payout possible from your insurer while having quality roofing service.
Conclusion
In conclusion, knowing how to approach getting the insurance company to pay for your roof replacement can save a ton of money and relieve you of unnecessary stress. If you follow these simple steps, by documenting the damage, consulting the appropriate professionals, and understanding your policy, you will successfully and easily turn this frustrating situation into a successful claim.
If you have questions about the process or a roof replacement, get in touch with Roofing Service NYC. Our teams have years of experience dealing with insurance claims, durable, quality roofing installation in New York City.
