It’s not very often that we think about the roof over our heads. It’s not until something happens that we realize how valuable its job is. Whether it’s a fallen tree, hail damage, or rodents start tearing it up; the damage can lead to many other disasters if not handled in a timely manner.
And the first thing that we do when we notice damage is to call our homeowner’s insurance. After all, we don’t want to pay anything out of pocket if we don’t have too. You’ll learn quickly that you seem to be in over your head with the entire process.
Filing a claim can be difficult. There’s so much that goes into it, much more than we initially expected. Just as you don’t want to pay, neither does your insurance, which is why it’s so difficult. If you don’t fill out all of the information properly, they will deny your claim, and you’ll be forced to pay for your roof repairs or replacement.
Let’s avoid that by following these simple steps.
Understanding Your Coverage
There are two types of roof insurance coverage, which are repair and replacement. Repair coverage often reimburses the homeowner for a percentage of the cost to repair your roof. While replacement coverage provides replacement of a roof that is beyond repair.
Replacement coverage is a more challenging claim process because of its payout. You’ll want to be sure to document the damage and submit a claim sooner than later.
Regardless of which coverage you have, unfortunately not all damage will be covered under it. Where you live, your specific policy and the cause of the damage will determine whether or not it is covered. You can find this within your homeowner’s policy, or you can simply call your insurance agent.
Document the Damage
Okay, so now that you know or believe that the damage is covered, you’ll need to start taking pictures of the damage. The more photos, the better, and be sure to include the interior of your home as well. If you’re unable to assess the damage, you should call one of the experienced Nashville roofing contractors to inspect the damage and take the pictures.
It’s equally as important to send information regarding the storm that damaged your roofs, such as a hurricane or tornado. This will help to back up your claim.
Once you have all the data, you can visit your insurance companies’ website to learn how they want you to file a claim. Most policies have specific requirements such as time frame and method of submitting. Never assume you have all the information because someone told you what the protocol was for them.
Research the Nashville Roofers
The goal is to find the most reputable roofing company that has experience with insurance claims. Once you submit your claim, you’ll want them to come out to perform a roofing inspection to compile a report for your insurance agency. You want to have this done before the insurance company hires a third-party inspector that represents the insurance agency and not you. They will find a reason to deny your claim.
Stay Clear of Storm Chasers and Scams
Disasters can sometimes bring the worst out in people. There are often scammers looking to take advantage of you after a big storm promising a free roof. These are more than likely not a real business, just trained salespeople looking to get your money.
They will tell you all sorts of things such as your old roof is covered, and the damage is so bad you must act right now and probably offer you a price that sounds too good to be true. That’s because it is, and their aggressive sales tactics should have you slamming the door immediately.
You should always ask to see a copy of their liability insurance, ask for their address and business license number. These are all things that a reputable roofing company should have and will have if legitimate.
Is Your Claim Approved or Denied?
Usually, within 15 days, you’ll find out whether or not your claim was approved or denied. If your claim was denied, it’s important that you appeal the decision as quickly as possible. The procedure for this will be different for each insurance company, so you may want to talk with your insurance agent. They should be able to guide you through this process.
If your claim was approved, you would be able to then contact the Nashville roofer you selected and start the process for repairing or replacing your damaged roof. At this point, you’ll want to be sure that you also set up regular roof maintenance. Not only will this help to extend the life of your roof, but it will help with any future claims.
How Do You Choose From All of the Nashville Roofing Companies
The best place to start is recommendations from friends and family members that have used a roofing company. You’ll want to choose a company that provides roof replacement as well as roof installation services for the most common roofing materials in Tennessee, such as asphalt shingles and metal roofing. Be sure that they have experience with insurance claims. This will make communication with your insurance company much easier and help prove that your claim is valid.
Most reputable companies will have a website as well as a Google My Business page. This will allow you to read reviews from other customers. This is important to ensure that your roof is getting replaced correctly. A bad roofer can cause additional damage to your home and charge you an unreasonable amount.
It can quickly become an overwhelming task, but it’s an integral part of finding the best roofers Nashville has to offer. Choosing just any can lead you to many problems in the future.
Contact us today. We will walk you through the entire process for your insurance claim. We want you to get approved, and we want to handle the roof repair or replacement.