What You Need to Know About Homeowner’s Insurance and Your Roof

Buying a Homeowner’s Insurance Policy

The deductible is the amount of money the homeowner must pay before the insurance company pays a claim. Sometimes the deductible for hail and wind-related repairs is higher than for other causes of damage to a roof, which means you will have greater costs if your home is damaged in a storm.

Some insurance companies will pay the full cost to replace or repair your roof if there is a successful claim. This type of coverage is called “replacement cost coverage.” Other insurance policies pay less as the roof gets older and shows wear from the elements. This reduced payment is called “actual cash value coverage.” But homeowners should know that insurance companies can and will change replacement cost coverage to actual cash value coverage as the roof ages. The insurance company must tell you when they change the terms of coverage for your roof.

Filing a Claim

If a storm or tree or something else damaged your roof, you can file a claim. If you have replacement cost coverage, the insurance company will usually send you two checks: a partial payment to get the roof started, and then they will send the balance along as the work progresses.

Sometimes your insurance company may give you a discount to use roofing materials that are less likely to be damaged in a storm.

Working with an Insurance Adjuster

If there is a bad storm in your area, it is likely that insurance adjusters from that company will have dozens of homeowners who need their insurance company to service their account. This is just reality. The homeowner wants to be sure to get a roof repaired before the next storm blows in, but the adjuster has to follow the rules to handle the claim accurately. So homeowners need to be both persistent and patient.

Tips for Working with Your  Insurance Adjuster

• Understanding what is expected from you as you work with your insurance company can help get the claim paid expeditiously.
• Be on time for the adjuster appointments.
• Participate in your first adjuster overview appointment, ask all the right questions, and do not rely upon a contractor or roofer to represent your interests.
• Good “before and after” photos can be very helpful in the assessment. If there is a tree branch on the roof, take a picture before you remove it.
• Make a complete list of the damage you can to be sure to get all the coverage you need.
• Do not treat the adjuster with hostility or aggression. The adjuster will be required to make several judgment calls, and you may not agree with some of them. You may be entitled to a second inspection. Ask for one before you agree to a payout you disagree with.

For a no-cost inspection performed by one of our roofing specialists, call the Austin office of Alco Roofing. Let us help you protect your investment.