Insurance claims associated with roofing damage can take on many forms, depending on what the damage might entail. Serious damage is usually more closely followed up by the insurer, and you’ll have to provide more extensive evidence if you hope the amount you get as compensation to be as close as possible to the amount that you deserve.
Of course, for that to happen, you have to consider carefully the process of getting a roofing insurance claim and call in respected Austin roofing companies right from the start, so they can help you evaluate the damage and give you the scoop on what to pay the most attention to.
The first stage of the process involves gathering evidence. You need to know as much as possible about the damage that your roof sustained and back up your claims with evidence such as photographs and videos. If you have a drone, then drone footage can help a lot, because the drone can film areas of your roof that are not easy to access from the ground. Also, make sure you take pictures of areas of your home that may have been damaged as a result of the roof failing during the storm, such as your walls being affected by water damage shortly afterwards.
Once you took all the photos, ask your Austin contractor to inspect the roof more thoroughly, see which areas require the most work, and have you take more pictures in key areas you may have missed. The roofer should also give you a written estimate containing the details of the damage and the extent of how much it would cost to repair it all. Make sure that the roofing contractor you hire is licensed, bonded and insured, and that they have enough experience and knowledge in the matter that they are considered an authority. Otherwise your claim won’t really carry much weight once you present it to the insurance company.
Next, it’s time to call your insurer and report the claim. You may consider having this step monitored by a public adjuster or an attorney. It’s also advisable to never accept the first offer that the insurers have, and to go over the offer carefully with the help of your roofer and the public adjuster. Having the two experts work together is crucial, as the adjuster has all the legal loopholes covered, and the roofing contractor can cover any details that the adjuster may have missed.
Finally, it’s time to negotiate the offer your insurers give you and ask for the compensation you need. Once you receive the best possible compensation, it’s time to obtain additional financing – if necessary by getting a loan – and have your Austin roofer repair or replace your roof in accordance with what might be needed.
While this is the most labor-intensive step, the previous ones are the ones that really matter the most, as they can mean the difference between paying up the entire amount of a roof replacement on your own and leveraging your insurance coverage to avoid the highest payments, or even avoid a replacement completely and get away with a less expensive repair.
