Working with insurance for your hail damage can be daunting. Making a claim with your insurance for storm damage does not happen very often, and it can be difficult to know just how to navigate the steps in order to make an insurance claim for any damage to your house as the result of a storm. Continue reading below for advice on how to work with insurance on hail damage.
1. Working with Insurance for Hail Damage: Ensure Safety First
Before worrying about the insurance claim, prioritize the safety of your family and property. If the storm caused significant structural damage, make sure it’s safe to stay inside. If not, seek temporary shelter.
2. Document the Hail Damage
Once it’s safe, start documenting the extent of the hail damage. Take detailed photos and videos of damaged areas inside and outside your home, including:
– Roof
– Siding
– Windows
– Fencing
– Any other affected structures (garages, sheds, etc.)
This visual evidence is crucial when filing a claim, as it helps prove the extent of the damage.
3. Review Your Insurance Policy
Go over your homeowner’s insurance policy to understand what’s covered, including deductibles, exclusions, and limits. Most standard policies cover hail damage, but it’s important to know specifics, such as whether flooding or additional damage is included. Make sure you’re clear on how much your deductible is and what your out-of-pocket costs may be.
4. Contact Your Insurance Company
Notify your insurance company as soon as possible. Many insurers have a deadline for reporting claims, so you want to avoid unnecessary delays. Hail damage on your roof or siding urgent; taking care of this as soon as possible will help avoid further damages. You can typically file a claim via:
– Phone
– Online portal
– Mobile app
When filing, you’ll likely need to provide the following information:
– Your policy number
– Date and time of the storm
– A description of the damage
– Photos or videos, if requested
5. Working with Insurance for Hail Damage: Temporary Repairs
If your home requires immediate repairs to prevent further damage (like a tarp on a leaking roof), take action, but keep the receipts. Most insurance policies will reimburse you for reasonable temporary repairs. However, avoid making permanent fixes until your insurance adjuster assesses the damage.
6. Meet with the Adjuster
After filing the claim, the insurance company will likely send an adjuster to inspect the damage. Be prepared to show the adjuster all affected areas. Having your documentation handy (photos, videos, and receipts for repairs or damaged items) will help. The adjuster will use this information to estimate the repair costs.
7. Get Repair Estimates
While waiting for the adjuster’s report, it’s a good idea to get your own repair estimates from local contractors. This will help you compare the insurance company’s settlement offer with actual costs and give you a better idea of the scope of repairs.
8. Review the Settlement Offer
Once the insurance company processes the claim, they will provide you with a settlement offer. Review this carefully, making sure the estimate covers all necessary repairs. If you disagree with the offer or believe it’s too low, you can negotiate or seek a second opinion from a contractor or a third party adjuster.
9. Schedule Repairs
Once you accept the settlement offer, you can schedule the necessary repairs. Some insurance companies may issue payments in stages, especially if the repairs are extensive. They may send an initial payment for immediate costs and then the remaining amount once the work is completed. Keep in mind that you, as the homeowner, decide which company to use. If you have a company come to your door and say you have to use them because they know how to deal with the insurance, beware. You are always in charge of what happens to your house, and you can choose to use whatever reputable company you’d like.
10. Keep Detailed Records
Throughout the process, maintain detailed records of all correspondence with your insurance company, receipts, and expenses related to the repairs. This will help if there are any disputes or issues down the line.
11. Working with Insurance for Hail Damage: Supplements
If you feel as though something was missed, you can always contact us for an inspection and we will help you negotiate with your insurance company to get that missed damage covered. Often this entails coming out to your house, taking pictures, and sending them to the insurance agent or adjuster. After they approve it, they will file a supplement to your claim and you’ll receive the funds to cover that additional damage.
By following these steps, you can streamline the insurance claim process after a storm and ensure your home is restored as quickly and efficiently as possible. If you had recent storm damage and you’d like to get an estimate for it, fill this form and we’ll be in touch as soon as possible.
