How to File a Roof Damage Claim
Your Roof Received Hail Damage. Now What?
With summer storm season just around the corner, this is a good time to discuss how to prepare to file a claim for hail damage to your roof in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota area. While roof damage is never something you want to find yourself dealing with, hail damage is a fairly common occurrence in our region, which means if you own a home, you could very well wind up filing a hail damage claim at some point. As a licensed general contractor based in Hartford, SD, Restoration Rx is often called upon to perform roof repair services for customers, as well as file their hail damage claims, in and around Sioux Falls. Here are a few things we’ve learned throughout the hail damage claim and roof repair process:
Don’t Delay
It’s important to start your hail damage claim as soon as you can to ensure your claim is processed quickly and the damage to your home can be contained. If you wait a week and another storm passes through, sending water into your home, the subsequent damage will not be covered.
Documentation
The more detailed your evidence when you file a claim for roof damage, the stronger your case.
- Write down the date and time of day the storm passed through.
- Use your phone or digital camera to snap photos (with a date stamp) or take video that prove a storm was in the area, including shots of the actual hail around your yard and hail stones lying next to a tape measure or coin for size reference.
- Do a visual inspection for roof damage, including torn, bruised or missing shingles, and photograph these, as well. Inspect your eves, facia, trim and gutters, as we commonly do hail damage repairs in the Sioux Falls, SD area for all of these.
Look Over Your Insurance Policy
Locate your policy number and note of how much your deductible is so you know the amount you’ll be responsible for when you hire a licensed general contractor to fix your roof.
Inspection
Now you’ll want to find a general contractor, such as Restoration Rx, to inspect your roof to determine the extent of the hail damage. Ask for proof of licensure and insurance. If the inspection shows roof damage, the general contractor will offer an opinion on whether they think your insurance would approve a claim or not. If they believe the hail damage to your roof is worthy of a claim, ask them for a quote for the full cost of repairs, including materials and labor. Ask how soon they can begin making the repairs and what their payment schedule is. Do not sign anything at this time. Check the general contractor’s references, and be certain the company is licensed to do hail damage roof repairs in the Sioux Falls, SD area. Angie’s List offers some great tips on how to spot roofing scams.
File a Claim
Gather all of the evidence you have accumulated, including your policy number, photographs, inspection and quote. Write down any questions you have about the process. Your insurance claims adjuster will provide you with a claim number and should guide you through the process from here.
We Can Handle Your Hail Damage Claim for You
Many property owners and contractors don’t understand the hail damage claim filing procedures required by insurance carriers or mortgage companies, which can sometimes slow down payment or result in a claim being rejected. Restoration Rx is a licensed general contractor based in Hartford, SD that knows the regulations in the Sioux Falls region, as well as the standards of the industry, to maximize your hail damage claim and protect your property. We would be happy to answer any questions you have on how to file a claim for roof damage. We consider working directly with your insurance agent to be part of our job when hired for hail damage roof repairs.