FAQ about Insurance Claims:
- Do I need to get three estimates for my roof?
No, your insurance company does not require you to get three estimates for your roof. You have the right to choose a company you trust, and the company should get approval for their bid from your insurance company before they start. Your insurance company will only pay up to the amount of your final bill (minus your deductible) so trying to find the lowest bid may only get you the least qualified contractor. It is more important to choose a contractor who you trust and has the expertise to work with your insurance company.
- What if my insurance company bid is lower then your bid?
At Quality First Roofing we have been working with insurance companies for years, we use the same data base they use to set our prices. Our dedicated staff has been trained to adjust your claim working with your insurance carrier; we have 100% success at coming to an agreement with any carrier.
- What if my claim is denied or damage is not included in my adjusters papers?
We can help; If your claim is denied or damage was overlooked by your adjuster call us. We specialize in dealing with insurance companies and adjusters, usually we can fix theses problems with a phone call or requesting a re inspection. Quality First Roofing has a 95% success rate of correcting denied claims or overlooked damage.
- Can I pay cash for my roof?
Yes if you wish to handle your insurance claim yourself, we will provided you with a cash offer contract with payment due upon completion.
- Will my premium increase if I file a claim or my policy be cancelled?
You would think since you where not at fault for an extreme weather event; your premium should not go up or your policy cancelled, for making a valid claim. This is basically true homeowner’s insurance focuses more on the region that you live in, the number of catastrophes your area has suffered in the past few years, the potential risk in your area, as the factors that dictate the bulk of your premium. Filing one claim will not spike your premium. Unfortunately, we can’t answer this question for all cases many factors that go into determining each individual answer, such as your policy coverage, claim history, type of loss and length of time that you have been insured with your carier. It’s a good idea to discuss your concerns and other questions you may have about your claim with your your agent. Your premium may go up regardless if you make a claim or not, and the bottom line is you have insurance to cover damage caused by things like a hail storm. Not filing a claim and fixing the problems will be something you may regret in the future. So, if you have a loss with significant damage, the right thing to do is file the claim. After all, you’re paying a premium every year, why not use your insurance for what it’s designed to do.
- What’s the difference between actual cash value and replacement cost?
Actual cash value is typically defined as replacement cost less depreciation (the amount deducted based on the age and condition of the item). With replacement cost coverage, the depreciation is withheld but then paid back to you after the repair or replacement of each item.
- Do I need to make all the repairs on the adjusters summary?
No, your first payment or ACV amount is payment for the damages. This insurance payment is for the diminished value of the home, you do not need to make the repairs and can dwell with the diminished value if you wish. Often your ACV check will have your mortgage company as a co-payee, and they may require repairs to be completed in whole or part before they endorse payment checks. If you do not make the repairs you will not be eligible to future damages via your insurance carrier and this could be something you can regret.
- How much money will I get back after your done?
- Do I have a time limit to file a claim or do the repairs?
Common Pitfalls:
- Not showing your adjustment summary to your roofer.
Your roofer is your partner and advocate in getting your home back to normal after a sever weather event. Not showing the adjuster paper work is a mistake. When an estimator reviews your papers he can make sure all damage is included and you are receiving full benefit from your claim. By hiding your paper work you are crippling his ability to make sure fair compensation has been approved by your insurance company.
- Going with the lowest bid.
A company that is giving the lowest bid when work is plentiful, like after a severe weather event, should be suspect. Your insurance company will only pay the dollar amount of a valid invoice, less your deductible, so a low bid does not save you money. If a contractor offers to inflate his bid and offer you a "kick back" when the work is done, in exchange for your job. You got to ask yourself is this the kind of people I want working on my home? It is a crime, insurance fraud occurs when people deceive an insurance company or agent to collect money to which they aren’t entitled. Often the lowest bid will not included replacing all the part and pieces as outlined by your adjustment summary. A roof is a system and replacement as outlined by your adjustment summary is critical to a long lasting roof.
- Make sure you have a recoverable policy with no exclusoins.
If you own a home you may assume that everything is covered by your homeowners insurance. However, you may be surprised to find out that you are wrong. In some cases people find that they have a non-recoverable policy or certain exclusions in their homeowner’s insurance policy that prevent the entire cost of repairs from being covered. Non-recoverable policy mean your insurance company will only pay you a ACV (actual cash value) payment, this is payment for the damages less the deprecation and minus your detectable. In this case you will be responsible for your deductible and the depreciation for full replacement. Roof exclusions may also prevent the roof of your home from being fully covered by homeowner’s insurance. Some policies may exclude the roof in whole and some may exclude your roof in part. Common partial exclusion example are code upgrades and extra layer removal. This is why it is important to choose a contractor who is familiar with policy specifics and another example of why you should make sure you share your adjusters summary with any contractor who is providing you a estimate. It is a common mistake to choose a contractor who is inexperience in dealing with insurance, then find out you are responsible for thousands of dollars out of your own pocket, due to your policy exclusion after the work is done.
- Doing the work yourself.
Many insurance carriers will not pay you "sweat equity", this means they may not pay you any deprecation if you do the labor. So now you've done all that work only for the benefit of the insurance company. Choose a professional and get the work done right, at no additional cost to you outside of your deductible.
- Not having a contractor meet your adjuster.
Immediately after you contact your insurance company, start interviewing for your contractor. Have this contractor meet you adjuster in order to insure a fair settlement and all the damage to your home is included in your claim. An honest contractor in your corner is not going to take advantage of your insurance company, pricing is dictated by standards that insurance companies and contractors have access to. At Quality First Roofing we use the same software as your insurance company and have a 100% track record of coming to an agreement with all insurance carriers.
FAQ about Quality First Roofing:
- Are you members of the Better Business Bureau?
We are are a member of the BBB. Quality First Roofing was formed in June of 2009 from our parent company AMO roofing. Quality First Roofing adheres to all BBB practices and policies. AMO is a decade old established business that is a BBB accredited company with a A+ rating.
- Who will be responsible for my job?
Your salesman will support your job and an English speaking foreman will be present the entire time of the install. Ultimately the entire staff takes full responsibility and pride for your job and the handling of your claim.
- Are your workers legal?
Yes, since we use our own crews we can control I-9 compliance and follow all laws in the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act.
- Why did you come from out of town?
Good local roofing companies often become overwhelmed unable to fulfill obligations and new business; they are often inexperienced in dealing with insurance companies and claims, this is why specialist come from out of town. This is perfectly normal and not a cause for alarm, for example your insurance company must bring many adjusters from out of state. We are not in your town to take work from local companies, we are there to fulfill our company mission and to provided the highest service.
FAQ about Hail Damage:
- How do I know if I have damage on my roof? "I can not see any."
You can not see damage from the ground!! Call us for a free no obligation inspection, we will go on your roof and take pictures, then give you a honest professional opinion about your roofs condition.
- Are there hail proof roofs?
No roofing material is fully hail proof. There are hail-resitant roofs. These products have Class 1 through Class 4 hail-resistance ratings, 4 being the highest. The ratings are given by taking a steel ball and dropping it from a pre-determined height and measuring the damage the roof has sustained. The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) performs the tests. Installing a Class IV hail resistant roof may qualify you for lower insurance premiums, depending on where you live. Call your agent for verification. Consult with your salesman to see if this option is for you.
- What does hail damage look like?
Signs of Hail Damage to an Asphalt Roof:
Bruises or small dents in the asphalt shingle
Granulation is displaced exposing the asphalt
Granulation has settled at the base of your downspouts
The spots hit by hail usually leave a soft spot in the shingle
Significantly damaged metal air vents on the roof indicate similar hit pattern for roof
Damage and denting of siding, or gutters
click here to check out hail damage photos
- Do I need to replace my roof?
This is the most common questions we get. If the granules of an asphalt shingle are removed by a hail storm, the shingle's longevity can be severely diminished. A shingle is made up of layers of asphalt when the granules are removed UV rays from the sun will quickly degrade the water repelling nature of the asphalt. As water infiltrates the damaged areas the freeze thaw cycle of winter will enlarge the hole and you will get leaks and shingle failure. So play it smart replace your roof while you have a chance.
