Roof Insurance Claim What To Do If Your Roof Leaks
If you have experienced a leak in your roof and need to file an insurance claim for repairs, it can be difficult to know what information the insurer will require. If you are not sure about how to proceed with filing an insurance claim that is approved by the insurer, read this blog post for some helpful tips.
What Is ARoof Insurance Claim?
A roof insurance claim is when you need to file a claim with your contractor and the insurer to proceed with making necessary repairs to your roof. In the event of a storm, such as hail or high winds, it is possible for shingles on your home’s roof to become damaged so that water leaks into the room below. A leak can occur because of broken or cracked tiles or from missing ones, so if there are any areas that are undamaged and are leaking, they will likely be an area where the water is coming through. The next step after identifying all of the damaged tiles is filing an insurance claim while a contractor provides labor and materials to make the repairs. You can also use this opportunity to install new products in order to prevent future damage caused by leakage.
Why File a Claim?
Even if you don’t have insurance, filing a claim is beneficial because it will allow your roofer to make the necessary repairs for free. If you do have insurance, filing a claim will provide coverage in case of future problems, and this can be the difference between having a policy that pays out or not. It certainly doesn’t hurt to file claims with multiple insurers in order to maximize your chance of being reimbursed for expenses related to your home’s roof. The insurer may also conduct an inspection while you are making repairs in order to ensure that no further damages occur during construction work. No matter because you choose to file the claim, gaining approval from the insurer at the beginning of the process will allow you to get your roof repaired more quickly.
The Initial Phone Call
When you choose to file a claim with your insurer, there are some items that must be included in your initial phone call. The first is the contact information for your contractor because he or she will oversee all repairs and may help you complete the required paperwork. In addition, it is important to include an address where correspondence can be sent, as well as any insurance policy numbers related to this claim (e.g., home owners’ insurance). Be sure to request permission from the company representative in charge of handling claims before supplying him or her with additional details about damages caused by leaks. By doing so, you can ensure that everything needed for approval is provided at the outset.
Don’t Forget Pictures!
In order for your insurance company to have a clear understanding of what is happening, you will need to provide pictures of damage caused by leaks in your roof. The most important details for these images are to ensure that they clearly show which areas on the roof are damaged and whether it is due to missing tiles, cracked ones or broken shingles. By including shots taken from different angles, you can give viewers an overall view of all impacted areas so that they understand where repairs are necessary. Be sure to use any documentation associated with the claim along with quality photos when filling out forms and requesting permission from your insurer before proceeding with repairs. With this information included, you can get approval more quickly and start making fixes.
Contacting Your Insurer’s Claims Department
An important factor to take into consideration is having your contact information ready in case you are contacted by the claims department from your insurer. There may be questions related to your claim that you can answer, or you may need to provide additional details about damages for inspection purposes. The answers you give could be used to make a determination regarding how much of a payout you will receive, so staying in close touch with your insurance company is key. If there are any delays due to other cases taking up time in the claims department, it might be helpful if clients can offer updates on their repairs. By giving an update every once in a while, it becomes easier for them to file another claim in the future if necessary.
After Repair Work is Initiated
When your roofer begins making repairs to your home’s roof, it will be easier for him or her to file a claim with your insurer since all of the details needed are already available. In order to ensure that everything goes smoothly during this repair period, there are some things you should do before work begins on your home’s roof. For example, you may want to contact an insurance agent so that he or she can explain what steps need to be taken and answer any questions related to filing a claim with your insurer. Once the damage is documented by photographs, along with having documentation related to repair processes associated with materials used in construction work, you should call your insurance company to request permission to move forward.