Hail Damage – What to do to Maximize your Insurance Claim
Hail storms in Texas can be devastating and we end up having our fair share every year. Hailstones can be as small as a grain of rice up to the size of a softball. Hail storms a lot of times are also accompanied by high winds and roof and other collateral damage is almost guaranteed. Large hail can even damage brick or concrete, break glass windows and perforate roofing material and enter a structure.
Hail damage is often not visible from the ground. Having a public adjuster inspect your property when you do not see the surface damage – wouldn’t make sense at the time. However, we might point out that there could potentially be damage to your home. If not taken care of, the slightest damage to the roof could create a leak and could continually bring in water over time and cause other damage that could be very costly.
When there is widespread damage to homes in an area, this will attract out-of-town contractors who may not have your best interests at heart. This is a serious issue and one where there could be extreme repercussions as they mend, fix and patch roofs too quickly and do not ensure the quality of work.
Also, there is a legal issue involved: Only you, an attorney, or a public adjuster are allowed by law to negotiate a claim on your behalf. If your contract does, he’s breaking the law. It happens every day with the insurance carriers condoning it and that is because of one reason…they pay less in the end.
YPA Public Adjusters will provide a free analysis and on-site inspection to determine if hail has damaged your property and let you know if it makes sense to file a property damage insurance claim. If you choose to file a claim, we can assist in providing expertise in handling hundreds of prior hail losses, the capacity to review the damage with your carrier, provide an estimate of the repair costs and negotiate the claim on your behalf. Then armed with that funding, you negotiate with a contractor to perform the work.
What to do After a Hail Storm
Your assigned insurance claim adjuster will ask for the date & time of the loss and the storm event can be correlated with current reports from the local weather and public safety authorities.
After the storm, grab your phone and walked around the property, and take pictures of the following:
- Hailstones in the yard, on your sidewalk, and on any patios.
- Place a tape measure next to a hailstone for measurement
- Roof damage will have occurred if you have hailstone covering your yard
- Take photos of the roof – from the ground – look for signs of damage or any shingles missing
- Air conditioning units
- Hailstones can potentially damage cooling fins, blocking the airflow.
If you have access to your attic – look for any signs of leaking. Take a photo of any active leaks or water stains. Call us at (682) 267-0336.
How to File a Roof Hail Damage Insurance Claim
These are the steps to file your own insurance claim for roof hail damage:
- Have your homeowner’s insurance policy handy
- Notice your insurance policy number
- The deductible amount
- Organize the collateral: photos, insurance records, insurance policy number, the date/time of loss, document the hail size (from the photo you took), videos, and list any damaged items.
- Once all info has been gathered: call your homeowner’s insurance – there will be a separate number to file a claim. Provide all the collateral you collected
- You will be given a claim number by your insurance company.
The next step is you will have an insurance claim adjuster assigned to your claim. Don’t forget to send all of your photos and videos of the hail storm to support your claim. The claim adjuster will review the claim and schedule a roof inspection and prepare a damage estimate.
This is where you may need the professional help of YPA Public Adjuster that will represent your best interests – because they work for you – the homeowner. Call us at (682) 267-0336.
Claims Adjuster Roof Inspection
The insurance adjuster will call you to set up an appointment to inspect your roof.
- Send them photos and/or videos of the storm.
- The claim adjuster may bring specific gear to inspect steeply pitched roofs.
- The claims adjuster will have a roof inspection report which will include the taking of photos, and looking at dents in the soft metals – gutters, box vents, and powered attic ventilators.
- Hailstone hits will be marked in chalk for identification in the photos.
The claims adjuster that is assigned to your claim will prepare an estimate to make repairs or replace the roof. The final step is to forward the report to your claim examiner. The claim examiner will review the report – make a final decision on your insurance claim.
It could happen that your neighbor’s roof hail damage claim is approved before yours is. The claim is assessed according to a variety of factors: damage to the roof, your roof’s construction, the orientation of your house to the storm, the quality of roof materials, and most importantly your particular insurance company’s evaluation criteria.
If you are not happy with the claim amount or the claim is taking too long – that is when a public adjuster like YPA Public Adjusters works for you. Our experienced, bonded and licensed public adjuster will investigate your insurance claim. They are very helpful in maximizing and speeding up the recovery of your insurance claim. Call us at (682) 267-0336.
Understanding Hail Damage Claims
We are reminded of Mother Nature’s power when severe weather hits our neighborhoods and our homes. Supercell thunderstorms and the destructive tornadoes that follow can bring on severe damage to our homes and property. When communities are damaged by these storms all homes in the neighborhood suffer significant hail damage. This also includes businesses, government buildings, and property – like schools and other municipal buildings.
It is challenging to file your own claim given the issues that are involved with the insurance policy coverage and the discretionary nature of the insurance adjusting process.
Many insurance adjusters and insurance companies have different adjusting standards outlined in their respective claim department manuals. These standards could slow down the claims process for you or delay having the roof fixed to ensure there isn’t any further damage to your home. If the hailstorm has severe damage where there is visible damage from the ground and the claim is undisputed – the claim process will be confirmed early. Again depending on the insurance company. Most insurance could be bogged down by many claims from the same neighborhood. Calling a public adjuster in the first place could save you time and aggravation. Call YPA Public Adjusters (682) 267-0336.
Your claim could possibly have issues – like the scope of damages. This could then depend on when you get paid given the insurance policy terms and conditions.
The next issue is whether will be paid to replace the entire roof or if a patch/fixes to partially repair the roof.
The next question – this is important – if the insurance adjuster will apply deprecation to your roof. Would this be fair to the homeowner and reasonable? While auguring over the price of the repairs to the roof – the insurance company could dispute the damages that were caused by hail, claiming previous wear and tear. This is where you may need the professional help of a YPA Public Adjuster that will represent your best interests – because of the work for you – the homeowner.
Remember knowledge and information is power when it comes to needing a claim done to your home. Do you know what you are entitled to in an insurance loss adjusting claim from hail damage? Whether you have hail damage to a built-up roof, modified bitumen roof, sprayed polyurethane foam application, metal roof, cedar shake roof, or tile roof – knowing your roof type will be helpful.
The roof of your home is one of the most important building components of your property. A fair and honest claim settlement for your covered roof damages is not only important but a piece of mind.
Do not get victimized in the insurance adjustment and repair replacement process. It is easy to do since most people are stressed and are not thinking clearly. Call a professional public adjuster that will work for you. Who will work by your side to get you covered for your hailstorm loss? Call us at (682) 267-0336.
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