Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the size of our hailstones and the strength of our wind! If your home’s roof and other property have been damaged due to spring storms, you need to know how to repair the damage. In this article, you’ll learn the precise steps to take, when to take them, and what to expect when filing a roofing claim with your homeowner’s insurance.
About Homeowner’s Insurance
Homeowner’s insurance provides financial protection for your home and its contents in the event of covered perils, such as damage from Texas hail and wind storms, fire, vandalism, or theft. You may pay for your homeowner’s insurance annually or add to your home’s escrow account by adding the cost to your monthly payment.
Got Roof Damage? Here’s What to Do!
If you think you may need a new roof, here are the steps to take:
- Call Your Roofing Contractor: Call Chris Duty at ROI at 682-337-1849. We are a respected and proven roofing contractor that will fight for you to get all the compensation necessary to repair or replace your roof, shutters, fencing, siding, windows, trim work, and other fixtures damaged by hail or wind. ROI is an insured construction company, local to Dallas-Fort Worth, and we have awesome client reviews.
- Assessment of Damage: If your roof is damaged due to a covered peril, such as a storm or falling tree, the first step is to assess the damage. Chris will come to your home and view the roof with a visual inspection or by taking images with a drone. He can let you know if the damage is worth calling out an insurance adjuster for an inspection. If temporary repairs are necessary to keep future rainstorms from creating further damage, Chris will make the repairs or send one of our crew members out to make the repairs.
If Chris thinks you should file a claim, you’ll need to contact your insurance company to report the damage and start the claims process. In some cases, roofs need repairs rather than replacement. Chris knows the difference and will explain his findings. At this point, Chris will ask that you sign a digital contingency agreement, which simply means you intend at this point to work with ROI as your roofing contractor if your claim is not denied. - Claims Process: An adjuster from your homeowner’s insurance company will make an appointment to inspect your home to assess the damage to your roof and property. If possible, Chris will want to be there to meet the adjuster and answer your questions. Ultimately, the adjuster will determine if the damage is covered under your policy and the extent of the damage. It can take up to two weeks for your insurance company to respond, but generally, we see responses within a week.
Chris will ask for your insurance claim number, agent name, and other information pertinent to the project. He’ll also need all the paperwork you receive from your insurance company. You’ll sign a few digital forms that will allow us to enter into an agreement with you and have authorization to talk with your insurance company on your behalf. This is very important because to fight for your just compensation, we need to have the authority to speak with your insurance company. We cannot and will not make any decisions on your behalf. - Coverage Determination: Depending on your policy and the cause of the damage, your insurance company will determine the coverage for the roof repair or replacement. Typically, homeowners insurance covers damage from perils such as wind, hail, fire, and falling objects. However, coverage may vary based on your specific policy and location.
- Costs and Deductibles: When wind, hail, and rain pummel your property, your homeowner’s insurance will cover damage, but in Texas, you will have to pay your deductible. Deductibles vary widely, ranging from between 1-20% of the home’s value. Not paying the deductible is illegal; we cannot offer a workaround. Roofing contractors who are legitimate and honest will be members of organizations that hold them accountable to laws and integrity. We are members of such organizations, and proudly so.
Check your homeowner’s insurance policy or call your agent for specifics. If you don’t have cash on hand or prefer not to use a credit card for your deductible, you may want to check into a HELOC loan (home equity line of credit loan) or refinancing options. Call your lender for more information.
Your insurance policy will specify the deductible amount you’re responsible for paying before your insurance coverage kicks in. Once you’ve paid the deductible, your insurance company will cover the remaining costs, up to the limits of your policy. - Payment: Depending on your insurance company’s policies, they may pay the contractor directly or reimburse you for the repair or replacement costs. Be sure to keep receipts and documentation of all expenses related to the roof replacement.
- Policy Renewal: After filing a claim for roof damage, your insurance company may review your policy and potentially adjust your rates or coverage at the time of renewal.
Review your homeowner’s insurance policy to understand what is covered and any limitations or exclusions that may apply to roof damage. Chris can help by explaining coverage if you aren’t sure what you’re reading. Sometimes insurance documents are hard to understand.
How We Bid Roof Replacement
Roofing is different from other home improvement projects because insurance is involved. It’s difficult to provide an accurate retail bid for roofing services without seeing the insurance claim and the adjuster’s notes. Once you file a claim, the paperwork you receive in response may not include everything it should. Commonly, insurance companies don’t account for all the penetrations–those pipes and vents on your roof. They may also leave out issues like holes in window screens, dents in siding, and dings in gutters.
Chris will evaluate the paperwork and issue a response to the insurance company, with photographic proof when necessary, so that your compensation is adjusted to cover what it should. This is how we fight for our clients to get the compensation they’re truly due.
If you must have a retail bid before filing your claim, note that the bid may come in higher or lower than what your insurance company wants to pay for. A retail bid will be adjusted as we work back and forth with the insurance company.
Financing Your Roof Replacement
ROI offers low-interest financing through select lenders, so if you don’t have cash on hand to pay for roof replacement, ask us about the options.
Call Chris for a Free Roof Inspection Today!
We have had some big storms lately, with up to softball-sized hail. That’s Texas, right? Lately, Chris has made quite a few roofing bids in north Tarrant County and western Dallas County. If your home falls victim to big spring storms, call Chris Duty of ROI Contracting at 682-337-1849 for excellent service, a fair price, and guaranteed work.