Are You Getting What You Should On Your Roof Insurance Claim?

FACT: Your Insurance Company Interests Are NOT The Same As Your Interests

If your roof has sustained damage from hail, wind, or other storm damage, your homeowner insurance should cover the costs (less your deductible) to restore the roof to where it was before the damage.

At least that’s how it should work in theory. In practice, it doesn’t always work out that way.

The basic problem is that your insurance company has an interest in keeping their costs as low as possible (they are a for-profit business, after all). And their biggest costs are paying out claims.

So, it’s just a FACT: your insurance company’s interests and your interests aren’t completely aligned. You want the full and necessary amount to restore your roof to where it was prior to the storm. Your insurance company wants to control costs.

Are we saying that insurance companies are only out to cheat you? No, that wouldn’t be fair. But we are saying that you need to go into the process with your eyes wide open.

No matter how much you like your insurance agent, your agent won’t be the claims adjuster. The process is complicated, and the insurance company knows the “ins and outs” of the process a lot better than homeowners.

What You Need Is A True Professional For YOUR Interests

Filing a roof insurance claim on your own would be a lot like going into a courtroom without a lawyer. You don’t know the rules, you don’t know the right questions to ask, and the other side is going to use all that to their advantage.

Even worse, this “courtroom” is one where the insurance adjuster also serves as judge and jury, too. If they say, “claim denied” or “this is the small amount you get,” you have little recourse if you don’t understand how the process works. The bottom line is that this is a cumbersome, confusing process and you should have someone help you.

Allaince Specialty Contractor, Inc. can help you through this process to make sure you get every penny you’re entitled to under the terms of your homeowner’s insurance policy. For more about why we’re specially qualified help you through this process, please visit our Roof Insurance Experts page.

We assist Columbus homeowners who need help navigating the roof insurance claims process. We do it fairly, legally, and with great attention to detail. Contact Alliance Specialty Contractor, Inc. if you think your roof has suffered damage from hail, wind, or other storm damage.

Is Your Insurance Claims Adjuster Experienced Enough?

One thing we’ve seen far too often are roof insurance claims adjusters who don’t know nearly enough about roofs. That might sound crazy, but it happens more than you’d think. Examples of some of the things we’ve seen:

Adjusters confusing hail damage (which is covered by insurance) with “blistering” (which is heat damage caused by a poorly ventilated roofing system and not covered by insurance). If the adjuster gets this wrong, your claim will be denied.
After big storms, insurance companies will sometimes use adjusters from other areas of the company – adjusters with absolutely no roofing experience – to handle the rush of claims.
Roof claims adjusters not being able to confidently tell the difference between normal wear and tear (not covered) from true storm damage (covered).

We even had one memorable experience where we met an adjuster in the field on his very first day. He was not properly trained, had no other adjuster there to teach him, and he barely knew how to get up the ladder!

Now ask yourself…if any of these things happened with your claim, do you think you’ll get a fair shake without someone experienced looking out for you?

Contact Alliance Specialty Contractor, Inc. if you think your roof has suffered damage from hail, wind, or other storm damage.

And One Last Thing To Watch Out For...

We do need to warn Columbus homeowners about one other issue with roof insurance claims.
While we do think you should always have a roofing contractor help you through this process, you do need to be very careful about which advocate you choose. Not all of Columbus roofing companies are experts on insurance claims and not all of them maintain the highest standards of integrity.

Here are some red flags to watch out for:

1. Any roofing company that offers to get you a "free roof" or says, "they'll help you out with the deductible" (this is insurance fraud).
2. Any roofing company that "storm chases" from town to town or goes knocking on doors offering to file a roofing insurance claim - all before even knowing anything about your roof.
3. Columbus roofing companies without proper credentials and proof of reputation. (Are they RCAT Licensed? Do they have lots of 5-star Google reviews? Are they A+ Rated with the Better Business Bureau? Do they have their own team of Project Managers or do they sub-contract everything?).

Choose wisely, and you'll get every penny you need to restore your roof; choose poorly and you'll have headaches and a roof that is never made whole.