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Dealing with insurance adjusters on hail damage claims can be a very daunting process if you are not prepared ahead of time. There is a process that has to be followed on both sides; he homeowner and the claims adjuster that will determine how much money you will be given to cover repairs.

What is actually covered in your homeowners insurance policy and the age of your roofing system that could affect the amount of money that you receive for your claim.  Then, there is a step-by-step process that you have to follow to make sure that you get the money that you need for repairs, plus variables that can come into play that can all affect the outcome.

In this article, we will give you step-by-step instructions to help guide you through the hail damage claims process and alert you of important things to look for at every turn. We will also be giving you some helpful tips on identifying hail damage to shingles, so that you don’t end up costing yourself money in the long run over something that should have been covered by your insurance company.

 Step-by-Step Instructions for Dealing with Insurance Adjuster with Hail Damage Claims

When a hail storm, wind storm, or other severe weather occurrence puts your home in jeopardy, the first thing that you should do is inspecting your entire property for any signs of damage.

If you notice signs of storm damage such as broken or missing shingles, dents, bruises, or holes in your shingles, or cracks or holes in your siding, take pictures immediately to send to your insurance company.

Be sure  to check your air conditioner, Windows, car, and other property that has exposure to the elements of damages while you’re at it.

Once you have any damages documented, the next step is to call your insurance adjuster and choose a qualified roofing contractor to help you get the money you need for needed repairs, and get your home back to being safe and beautiful.

There are a few variables that can affect the claims process, and the amount of money that your insurance company pays for the damages like; the age of your roof, whether or not your mortgage company has to approve the checks, exactly what is covered in your policy etc.

Because the process can have twists and turns, we decided to write this step-by-step guide on dealing with insurance, the adjuster on hail damage claims to help you handle your homeowners insurance claim like a pro!

Step 1 – Note Time and Date of the Incident

The first thing that you want to do after a hailstorm has hit your home and you believe that you might have taken on damages writes down the time and date of the event.  Keeping everything documented and organized from the start will make everything easier during the hail damage claims process.

Step 2 – Inspect for Damages

When you suspect that you have taken on damages to your roof, your siding, or any other part of your home or property, the first thing to do is inspect thoroughly for signs of damage.

This is the time where most homeowners decide that they feel more comfortable getting a qualified, experienced roofer involved to inspect for damages for them.

If you’re too afraid to get on your roof, or you feel under qualified to thoroughly inspect your property for damages after a storm, call us at 651-703-2336 or click any of the buttons like the one below on our site to have a team member call you back and set up a good time for you to meet with one of our expert roofers.

Here are some storm damage inspection tips

Minnesota is ranked number four in the nation for the number of yearly hail damage claims. Many of the residents here already know that’s hail damage can very distinctive (like in the picture above) with the holes and the pieces of shingle missing.

But what many homeowners don’t know. Is that depending on the size, speed, angle, and shape of the hailstones, hail damages can be difficult, if not impossible to detect from the ground. In fact, sometimes even standing on the roof, you will have to run your hand across the shingle to be able to identify the damage.

Tips on how to identify hail damage to your roof:

1. Dents or Holes – Hail falls from heights of up to 130,000 feet, and reaches speeds of over 120 mph. Depending on the size of the hail, your shingles can take a beating. Look for any holes, dents, or tears in your shingles that have been caused by hail.

2. Loose Granules – Loss of protective mineral granules from roof shingles is a common problem associated with hail damage that could lead to bigger, more expensive problems down the road. Check your gutters, downspouts, and valleys for the loose granule buildup to determine whether your roof has lost integrity during a storm.

3. Bruising – Hail damaged shingles also show another sign of damage called bruising. This. Is the type of damage that has to be inspected closely, because many bruises won’t be visible from the ground. Just run your hand across the surface of the shingle and feel for small dents or dimples in the material that hail has caused.

How To File a Homeowners Insurance Claim – Steps

Step 1 – Take Pictures

When you inspect your home for signs of storm damage, make sure that you have a camera ready so that you can take pictures of the damaged area to send to your insurance company.

Step 2 – Inform Your Agent

After you have documented the incident and taken pictures of the damages, it’s time to call your insurance company and schedule a time to meet with your claims adjuster to let them inspect and assess your damages.

Step 3 –  Hire a Roofing Contractor

Hiring a reputable and experienced roofing contractor is one of the most important steps in dealing with insurance, the adjuster on hail damage claims, because an experienced storm damage repair expert will try to save you money and make sure that the job get the job done right.

At Sellers Roofing Company – New Brighton, our years of experience and friendly storm damage experts are some of the main reasons our clients love working with us during the claims process.

We have a ton of experience navigating the insurance claims process, and have worked directly with most, if the homeowners insurance companies already, so out Clinton enjoy the highest quality workmanship and care, while we make the claims process easier and save them money.

Step 6 – Meet with Your Insurance Adjuster

Insurance adjusters inspect  for damages on your roof, siding, and the rest of your property on behalf of your insurance company so that they can negotiate your claim. Your insurance adjuster will check your roof, siding, and the rest of your property for damages from hail.

They will look for damages to windows, air conditioners,  screens, fences, and personal property, They have to document all of the storm damage and decide what is covered in your homeowners insurance policy in order to determine how much your first check will be.

VERY IMPORTANT: Read over your insurance policy, it’s a good idea to write down any questions you might have coverage and ask them when you meet with the agent.

Your roof hail damage claim can be denied or reduced if you have an older roof, or if they can prove that the damages came from lack of maintenance or normal wear and tear over time.

Step 7 – Wait for Your First Check

After you meet with your insurance  adjuster to file your hail damage claim, the company may contact you again to gather more info about the case, and give you an estimate after they have prepared it After you have approved the estimate, the check is issued, sometimes there will be a secondary check that goes out, it just depends on your insurance policy.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Working with Mortgage Companies During Insurance Claims

If you have a mortgage company your lender may have to approve the estimate and sign for the final check before you can get it. The insurance company will generally cut a check for you AND the mortgage company, so that both signatures will be required to cash it.

Step 8 – Get Your Roof Repaired or Replaced

When you receive your check from your insurer, pay the roofing contractors and make any other needed repairs to your home. Try to keep everything documented!

Keep dates and times, notes from interactions with insurance agents, adjusters, roofing contractors, etc., and all of your receipts in a folder that can be easily referenced during and immediately after the claims process..

Step 9 – Finalize Work and Second Check (When Applicable)

In some cases, for example, if your homeowners insurance policy has replacement coverage, you may have a second check coming from the insurance company.  The check may be issued to the roofing contractor for the remaining cost of replacement.

Again, for expert roofing contractors with years of experience working with homeowners insurance claims adjusters on storm damage claims, click any of the buttons on our site and let our storm damage claims experts help you get the money you need for repairs!

Dealing with Insurance Adjuster with Hail Damage Claims – Final Thoughts

One of the most important parts of being the homeowner is the responsibility that you have to protect your home and your other investments.

Whether you are facing a storm damage claim with your insurance company after a violent storm has hit here in the Twin Cities, or you just need some minor repairs done to your roof or siding, Sellers Roofing Company – New Brighton has you covered! We hope that this article has helped you understand the process of dealing with insurance adjusters on hail claims.

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