Going outdoors and enjoying the great weather we are having can be an amazing experience and it shows the better side of Mother Nature. Of course, there are times when we see the worst that she has to offer with the weather as well. This can be high winds and storms and freezing temperatures. While your roof can withstand most of what the weather throws at it, there are times when the damaging weather will be too much and that’s when your homeowners insurance kicks in. If you have roof damage in Downriver Michigan on your home and need help with roof repairs, replacement, or have questions these are the tips that can certainly help.
Tips To Help You With Homeowners Insurance Claims for Roofing Damage in Downriver Michigan
Having your home properly insured is very important. Your homeowners policy gives you the peace of mind you need in case of any accidents or weather-related damage. If you do not have a policy in place, you will face costly out-of-pocket expenses that can become a huge burden to you and your family. Insurance is meant to protect you from the “just in case” scenarios. Nobody anticipates the need to file a claim, but it is much better to have the option to do so than to be left with an expensive repair bill.
The Basics
If you have a homeowners insurance policy and an incident occurs, the very first thing you want to do is to call and report this. The sooner you are able to give your insurer this information, the sooner you will be able to repair your home. This can usually be done over the phone, through an email, or online on the insurer’s website. You will need your policy number to get started.
When you experience a covered loss, the insurance company will take down all of the details surrounding the incident. Make sure that you give them as much information as possible from the start, photos included. This will speed your claims process along. From there, you will be assigned a claims adjustor that will likely come to your home to assess the damage in person. Most of the time, the insurance company then pays for the necessary repairs.
If you cannot stay in your home during the repair work, then your insurance policy likely has funding that is made available to you for any hotel stays or other arrangements. This is known as cost of living expenses coverage.
The Offer
Once the damage has been properly assessed, you will be contacted by the insurance company. This usually takes a day or two after the assessment is made. They will then present you with an offer that allows you to select how you will handle the damage. There are typically two options that are offered to insured’s:
Partial Prepayment
Money is immediately paid out to cover necessary repair work after all of the damages have been assessed.
Full Payment
Once the repair work is completed, money is paid out in the full amount.
Advice
Do not agree on a claim offer until you have a licensed specialist view the damage first. You need to make sure you are being quoted fairly, even though you likely want to get the repairs done as soon as possible. Remember that offers are never mandatory. If your insurance company is pressuring you into taking an offer, this is illegal.
Getting a second opinion, if you can wait, is highly beneficial. The contractor will be able to validate whether or not you are being quoted correctly before you agree to a settlement option. No matter what has happened to your home, do your best to act quickly and smartly. The longer you put off filing the claim, the longer you will have to wait for your repairs.
It’s always a good idea to talk with a qualified roofing company who understands just what you need for an insurance claim and can replace your roof according to the industry standards of today. Be sure to call the experts at Downriver Roofers today at (734) 548-9919 and talk with them about roofing services for your Downriver Michigan home. They have an insurance specialist on staff that can answer your questions.
