We sometimes experience erratic weather patterns that can affect your roof, such as snowstorms, hail, hurricanes, and tornados. Since you can’t always predict what Mother Nature will bring, it is best to take proper precautions and be knowledgeable about how to make an insurance claim for your Columbus roofing system. In this article, we outline five simple steps that will guide you through the process.
1. Forget the Eye of the Storm – Keep your Eye on the Damage!
If your town experiences a severe storm or other weather condition, try not to panic. It is crucial to begin assessing damages as quickly as possible, and you must remain calm to do so. Carefully use a ladder to examine your Columbus roofing system for any potential damage. If you locate any, be sure to take pictures of your roof system to show your insurance agent. In addition, write down the date the damage occurred so that you have it for your records.
2. Call a Columbus Roofing Contractor…or Rather Contractors
Once you’ve located damage on your Columbus roofing system, it is time to call a qualified contractor to come assess your home and provide you with an estimate regarding how much it will cost to fix. This should take the Columbus roofing contractor about 15 minutes for minimal damage and longer if it is more severe. Be sure to ask the contractor is they think you should file a claim with your insurance company. It is smart to contact several different Columbus roofing contractors to ensure they are arriving at similar estimates. Remember to always get these estimates in writing.
3. Smile – It’s Time to File!
Now it is time to file the claim with your insurance company. When you speak to them, tell them when the damage to your Columbus roofing system occurred and offer to send pictures. While the insurance company is going to send their own representative to your home, you should still offer to provide them with the estimates from your Columbus roofing contractors so that they have all the information upfront.
4. Meet with the Adjuster
After you filed the claim with your insurance company, you will be asked to meet with an adjuster at your home so that they can assess the damage to your roof. If at all possible, you should definitely have one of your original Columbus roofing contractors present when the adjuster is there. This way, they can compare notes and make sure their measurements and estimates are the same. Once they agree with each other, you should be provided with the settlement amount.
5. Get the Show on the Road: Repair the Damage to your Columbus Roofing System
After your claim has been approved, you should complete any necessary work as soon as possible. If you were approved for the full amount, your insurance company will mail you a check for said amount, less the deductible, so the work on your roof can be completed. If you were not approved for the full amount, you have the option to ask your contractor to dispute the settlement.
Now, that wasn’t so scary, was it? Well, not as scary as having a storm hit your Columbus roofing system and not knowing what to do!
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