No matter how well-prepared and well-maintained your home is, storm damage can strike at any time. Considering that the Minnesota Department of Public Safety states that winter can last from November to April, and that the summer storm season is sandwiched in that narrow region of pleasant weather, this is true especially for The Land of 10,000 Lakes!
So what happens afterwards when your roof is hit by one of our region’s nasty storms? Tony’s Lifetime Exteriors, your Sauk Rapids roofing company, is here to walk you through the storm restoration process. The right series of prompt actions is necessary in order for you to get the insurance coverage you deserve—and for your roof to get back to looking its best in no time flat.
Document the Damage and Communicate With Insurance
We know that after a storm, especially a severe one, the first thing you want to do is curl up and take a breather. But time is of the essence. The more quickly you can get photographs taken of the damage, the quicker you can file a claim, and the more accurate those photos will be in terms of reflecting what the storm did.
Getting the claim process moving ASAP is also critical because storms don’t just hit your house; your neighbors and the surrounding areas are also affected, which means that they too are dealing with the aftermath. In the deluge of claims, it’s typical to experience significant delays, which can mean more damage to your home, as storm damage has a way of snowballing if left unattended, especially if moisture is involved.
How to Know if You’re Eligible for Insurance
In the interests of getting the damage fixed as soon as possible, it’s helpful to know if your homeowner’s insurance can even come into play in the first place.
Generally speaking, according to Policy Genius, homeowner’s insurance “covers the cost of repairs or a full rebuild of your home through your policy’s dwelling coverage if it’s damaged or destroyed by a fire, storm, or any other peril listed on your policy. Your policy also covers damage or loss to structures that are technically separate from your home, like a detached garage.” So with a majority of storm damage, you tend to be in the clear. Hail damage is also frequently covered under standard policies, though each one is an individual.
What homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover: damage as a result of negligence. If it wasn’t the storm itself that did the damage, but instead your lack of care—which the bad weather worsened—you probably wouldn’t be covered.
Choose Your Roofing Contractor
Many roofing companies recommend that you work with a contractor and get a storm damage restoration inspection before filing a claim. This is because that company can act as your advocate during the claims process and can recommend the best course of action when it comes to filing a claim. The exact sequence of events can and will vary depending on the severity of the damage; weigh the opinions of your roofing contractor and insurance provider when deciding how to proceed.
No matter how you go about things, though, it’s important to choose a roofing company that will serve as your ally during the complicated, sometimes lengthy claims process. Storm restorations services aren’t always straightforward, and an experienced pro can help you navigate, vastly cutting down on your stress.
Expect Visits From Insurance
Unfortunately, photographic evidence isn’t the only information your insurance company needs to assess the validity of a claim. They’ll send personnel out to investigate the damage, hold it up next to your policy, and eventually give a verdict about the coverage. Sometimes, these professionals need multiple visits to collect the information they need.
To make their job as easy as possible, try to tidy up your yard a bit so that they have access to the damage. Know, too, that the insurance adjuster is the only person who can approve your claim. Your roofing contractor can do everything in their power to help you, but no signing of that contractor’s paperwork on your part can get things moving—so be wary of signing anything before the claim is approved.
Look Out for Scammers
After a storm, wandering roofing companies are a common sight, but they’re typically anything but competent. Storm chasers, as they’re known throughout the industry, prey on a homeowner’s trust and need for convenience and vulnerability to engineer roofing scams, and they typically do so by going door-to-door.
We’ve actually written an entire blog on fraudulent roofing and siding contractors, so check it out for the full scoop. For now, know that you should always choose the roofing contractor you work with, not the other way around. If you’re being pressured, not advised, to do things one way or another, and the salesperson showed up to your property uninvited, they’re not worth your time or money.
Tony’s Lifetime Exteriors: Five-Star Storm Restoration and More
Looking for the perfect roofing company to help you through the storm damage insurance process? Our team of Sauk Rapids roofers would be happy to lend a hand. Reach our office today at 320-252-9086.